Ride and lead

[slinky]

Would you ride with the horse being lead, on you're right or left side?

[brigadier]

Led horse on left Slinks- you control the led horse from spinning into traffic- opposite on continent though?

[Becca]

yep lead horsey on the left

[duckles]

How do you it? I'm looking for the finer details- like -do you tack the lead horse up? THen to you put a head collar over and lead with a lead rope or with a lunge line? ANy tips? Think I might start doing it as finding it impossible to excercise both horses at the moment. Do most horses manage with each other ok? My 2 get on really well but one of them is a bit of a messer and not great in traffic (but usually alright if out with another horse). I plan to ride the 'leader' of the 2 but i suppose it would work either way? ANy advice appreciated (I really only have roads to hack on)

[Steph]

I always thought that you normally led a horse in its bridle without the saddle. I know some do it with a headcollar only, but the bridle gives you a bit more control. Most horses get on fine with each other from my experience especially if they no each other and/or have hacked out together a fair bit. We used to try leading them in an enclosed area together first just to get them used to it and check we had brakes!

[fimacg]

just don't try it bareback - it ends up going horribly wrong if any traffic comes along - I occasionally ride Chompy bareback and lead Dexter in a 'be nice' halter the 1/4 mile down to my other field, and the road is very quiet (it's busy if 2 cars come along within half an hour of each other, 3 and its the rush hour)

[spotti]

Personally I'd lead the horse on my right, but thats only because I'm right-handed and feel more confident with leading on my right. If it was on a road though, I'd lead on the left so the 'lead' horse was away from the traffic and had the horse+rider between it and the passing cars...

[brigadier]

put bridle on and thread both sets of reins through the right bit ring, initially keep the led horses head parallel with your thigh (touching is good if it lets you)- hold the end of its rein in the right hand and further up the rein with your left- that way you have good control. No saddle on led horse. Always saddle on your horse- keep pace steady, you can canter on tracks but I would just walk and trot if its for exercise only). mounting is the tricky bit but if the led horse will stand quiet then usually you can manage it alone- initially you may need a leader to help out and hand you the led horse- great way of doing two for one!!!

[haffyfan]

This is something that would solve a lot of problems for me but my two just aren't reliable enough (even though I don't have to do road work), also the flooded paths and gates/blocked entrances to deter bikes would add to the hiccups caused by nags scrapping and Murph probably going on strike!

[duckles]

I am afraid that I wimped out of trying the ride and lead on saturday and in a way it was a good thing as I met 2 tractors on the hack (that i went on with one horse) and one was a huge noisey hedge cutter and the other a big noisey trailer so perhaps it would have been a bad day for first time out. But its something I am going to try and do during this week. Thanks everyone for tips (think I'll keep saddle on thanks Fimag). Brig- thanks for the rein explaination, it was what i wanted to know. Steph - you are very encouraging! Hope it works as well for me. I'll report back when I finally do it. The paddocks have been great in teaching me new skills like long reining and now (hopefully) ride and lead

[racaille]

I do this quite a lot (if we go long distance - ie several days - we may take a spare horse) and Brig you're right, we have the 2nd horse on our right, presumably out of the traffic. We do it in headcollars but I can very much see the point of a bridle. On the other hand, for cantering, it helps to be able to loosen the lead rope a little to give both horses more room to move.
It is important to keep the 2nd horse's head at the level of your thigh - the ridden horse is less likely to kick out if it does not have the other one's head up its bum.
Don't forget to get your horse used to being ridden with both reins in one hand - I suppose you could manage to hold a rein in the same hand as the lead rope but if no2 jinks it could jab the ridden horse in the mouth.
I am getting Racaille used to this now, although he's a bit of a prancer, he will settle down. Paco is an old hand at having another horse alongside - he quickly puts even the most bolshy no2 in his place!

[fff]

I did lots of ride & Lead in Racing. I was taught 'EXACTLEY' as Brig has suggested! only lost one once when we passed a open orchard and it went loopy and pulled back, still meant I had to jump off and catch it though which normally wouldn't be a problem but being 4'11 and on a 16.hh in a RACE SADDLE and not being able to swing up was pretty amusing! Tx

[andik]

Horse you are leading on the left (in UK) and in a bridle. I know people who put a saddle on but unless I was planning to change horses I can't see the point. I don't use the reins to lead the horse, I get all tangled, however I clip a lead rope on the near side of the bit, thread it through and out the otherside. I don't canter and only lead on the roads. But I have an ex racer who likes to race so it would be impractical and unsafe for me to go 'off road' when leading.