Ponying a horse on trail ride?

[Harley_s_mom]

Hi all! new in here, and somewhat new to horses, so forgive me if some of my questions seem a little stupid at times. I have a 16 yr old Arabian gelding which was bought about 10 months ago, and have recently acquired a QH mare (about a week ago). My 11 yr old daughter does a little showing with the Arab, but I mostly want to trail ride. We both take lessons with a coach who comes to our house, but that’s arena work. When it comes to trail riding, I’m on my own. I did grow up with horses and did extensive trail riding in my youth, but am now a 40something born-again horsey mom.

I’ve taken the Arab out a few times on some pretty short nearby trails, but he remains pretty jiggy. I thought he would do better with a companion so we got the second horse who is supposed to be a great trail horse. Only it turns out she has a bit of anxiety of her own. They are quickly becoming very bonded. I took them both out on a short trail on our property last night, my daughter on the Arab and myself on the QH, but my daughter was pretty stressed about it and does not want to do much trail riding unless I can get them both more quiet on trails. So they both need miles, only, I am only one person. Thus, my idea that I could ride them almost daily, alternating between the horse I’m riding and ponying the other. Is this unsafe? Is it better for me to just ride them one at a time? Please keep in mind that I live in an isolated area and have the horses at home so suggestions that I ask “someone in my barn” to come along are not useful. I’m open to other ideas though! Thanks!

[dreamswept]

I pony my retired mare off my gelding on the trails around our barn all the time. She’s pasture sound, but not up to the weight of a rider anymore (and I wouldn’t trust her with a wee one on her back since she used to buck when I’d ride depending on her moods), so getting her out and ponying her is the best way I can keep her exercised. It helps that she gets along with my gelding (when no food is involved) and that he’s level-headed and strong

[Highflyer]

On your property, absolutely. I would be very careful where you choose to do it on public roads or trails.

[saratoga]

My horses tend to be more relaxed while together when I pony them, as opposed to going out alone. I would certainly try it.

[Harley_s_mom]

Thanks for your replies all! Highflyer, I would only do it on my property for short rides. The idea is just to get them both used to the trail so that eventually, I can go with my daughter and she will feel safe. I think our second horse will settle down nicely and become a very solid trail horse, but she needs to build up her confidence a little. I think this would be easier if she is with my gelding and I think it will help him too. Will give it a try!

[Showbizz]

I do it all the time, either ponying a young horse that needs outings while riding an older horse or ponying a kid who can’t quite steer yet.

[Palm_Beach]

I would do ground work and arena work with both horses until they are settled and listening to you. Then take them out one at a time. Ponying one anxious and jiggy horse with another anxious and jiggy horse is a recipe for disaster, IMHO.

[SonnysMom]

We used to pony a young horse all the time before he was saddle broke. When he was eventually broke to saddle he was great trail riding. He had seen it all for the last 2 years.
The first couple of times you try ponying I would do it in the area and then in a field with the gate closed. This will give you time to get comfortable with ponying in a controlled environment.
I used to pony 2 horses at a time down a busy road with quarry trucks going by. It could get a little hairy. If you do need to go a short distance on the road keep the horse you are ponying on the side away from traffic. Obviously only take them on the road if they are road safe.
Stay safe, carry your cell phone and wear a helmet and gloves.

[tabula_rashah]

I do a lot of ponying but I always do it from a solid horse- no way I’d pony with something that had iffy behavior, that could go disastrous in an instant. Also, I think you’re just going to exacerbate the problem. They need to work independently so that you can fix whatever issues they have- working them together isn’t actually going to solve your problems and may even create a good dose of buddy sour issues for you.

[SonnysMom]

[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8708311]
Ponying one anxious and jiggy horse with another anxious and jiggy horse is a recipe for disaster, IMHO.[/QUOTE]

I would agree with this. However I think that the expectation is that they won’t be anxious and jiggy with the buddy and are only anxious and jiggy because they don’t like trail riding alone.
My current horse is not a fan of trail riding alone but will do it. He just is very anxious and much more forward. If I ponied a buddy from him on a trail ride he would be back to solid trail horse he is in company. Some horses just don’t like being on trails by themselves.

[Guilherme]

Yes, it can be done. But it requires some skill and judgement on the “ponyer” horse rider. If you are new maybe you’re not the one to do it. Or maybe you are. Or maybe you can be with some coaching.

I’ve done it a few times in years past but generally did not see a lot of benefit and there is some risk (if you get dismounted now you have two loose horses, not one).

Start by working in the arena at home and get the two horses used to the idea. Then move to an open field. The maybe a close in, and preferably fenced, larger field and then maybe you’re ready for The Big Time.

Good luck in your project.

G.

[Palm_Beach]

[QUOTE=SonnysMom;8708370]
I would agree with this. However I think that the expectation is that they won’t be anxious and jiggy with the buddy and are only anxious and jiggy because they don’t like trail riding alone.
My current horse is not a fan of trail riding alone but will do it. He just is very anxious and much more forward. If I ponied a buddy from him on a trail ride he would be back to solid trail horse he is in company. Some horses just don’t like being on trails by themselves.[/QUOTE]

I understand, but rather than training to extinguish the undesired behavior, you are simply avoiding the underlying problem by catering to the horse. You have 2 horses that don’t have enough trust, respect and confidence in the rider, and the only way they will relax is if there is another horse. What if a deer jumps out? Or an ATV or mountain bike comes along? Do you consider these horses well trained enough to deal with the event calmly, or is one or the other likely to have a big reaction? If one has a big reaction, what is the other one going to do?

I can only answer these questions with horses I’ve worked with, and I know what I want my answers to be before I trail ride with or without company. When out on the trail, you have 0% control over your environment, and the trails themselves may pose a hazard. I don’t have nice open trails, mine are narrow, wooded, steep in places with some dicey areas where you don’t want your horse to put a foot wrong. So I’m real solid before venturing out on the trail.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

I pony out on trails all the time. But I’m doing it to exercise two horses at once…or to get exposure to trails to a very young horse before I’ve started them under saddle (I pony out my 2-3 year olds to teach crossing water etc before they have a rider on their back). You really need a good horse to pony off. It is not something I would do on a horse I’m trying to get quiet and calm on trails…as it is just a recipe for disaster if they both lose it at the same time…or feed off one another.

It sounds to me that you need to work on both horses individually.

[SomedaySoon]

Since you said they are short rides, have you thought about having you and your daughter, alone and/or together, just hand walk the horses a few times to build trust and confidence? We did that for a few months with the young stallion to get him familiar with the trails while he was being started in the arena under saddle. Once he had stop/go/turn he went on his first trail ride under saddle and never batted an eye (it was with a solid older horse, but his second ride was with a very forward less settled horse and he was just as good).

[Harley_s_mom]

Thanks for the additional responses.

I agree with those who said the horses need to be worked individually first and I did some reading about ponying. I still want to try it, but plan on building up to it gradually… So today, I took each of them out, one at a time. Our gelding, the one I’ve been riding for 10 months, was quite a handful at first. It was windy and he didn’t like the way the trees were looking at him, LOL. He wouldn’t head into the trail in the woods even though we’ve done it a dozen times or so. I rode him in a big wide circle in an adjacent field until he quieted down. I still had a lot of refusals, but eventually, he went into the scary abyss that is our trail in the woods. Did I mention he’s an Arab?

So then I took out our second horse, the one that’s been with us for all of a week and has nervous tendencies. Rock solid. No hesitation, no spook, took it all in like a champ. That was the whole point of buying her, btw, so we would have at least one really solid trail horse. The Arab was bought for show jumping, which he does wonderfully. But it would be nice if he could eventually make a good trail horse as well.

Once I get them both used to just doing the short trails on our 13 acre property and surrounding area (our property also backs on very large unoccupied pieces of land with lots of trails on them), I’ll try ponying them in a closed area. First the paddock, then maybe the pasture, then the trail on the property.

So which would you use as a ponying horse? Would you use the Arab gelding, who is spooky, but which I’ve ridden extensively, including on these very trails, or the quiet, but brand new to me, QH mare? Left to themselves, the Arab gelding definitely takes the lead and the QH mare follows so it seemed more natural to me to do it this way. And yes, as a poster pointed out, my hope is that the Arab will be more quiet with another horse. I think one of the big issues for him is leaving her behind. He keeps calling out to her. I still need to ride each of them away from the other so they don’t become even more buddy sour, but ponying would allow me to exercise both at the same time, desensitize them, and occasionally tow a beginner (or my daughter until she feels comfortable).

As for walking our Arab down the trail, I feel that’s not safe for my daughter. He thinks he’s a puppy and if he spooks, he wants to crawl into my lap. Yes, I know that’s not good ground manners, but he’s good otherwise, he just wants to hide behind me if something scares him. It’s not a safe situation. And the mare is quiet enough that I feel comfortable riding her already. I think that after a few more rides, I could put my daughter on her and take the Arab myself. Neither, including the spooky Arab, has ever been completely out of control or tried to dismount me. But you have to be on your toes when riding the Arab.

[Harley_s_mom]

And yes, I always wear a helmet. Cell phone not so much since there is no service out in the back of my property so it’s pointless.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

You ride the one that is better on trails and lead the other one. In this case, it sounds like you would ride the QH mare and pony the Arab.

You our have to be careful and keep the horse you are leading up with you. Do not let them lag behind OR get ahead. His head should behind the horse being ridden but not behind your knee. Do not have the lead shank wrapped around you hand. Do not let them play.

It can a big time saver to be able to pony when you have two horses to get worked.

[OldLadyYoungOTTB]

I’m glad you had such a good ride on your new horse today! Sounds like you may end up riding her & ponying your Arab!

[saratoga]

I would ride the quieter horse and pony the other, but seiously, you may be surprised at how much less spooky / barn sour/ hot/ tense, whatever the case may be, a horse is with its buddy right next to it. That has been my experience.

One example is my old mostly retired tb. If I take him out alone, he is a PITA, doesn’t want to move out on the way out but as soon as we turn for home, he jigs and is tense the whole time. Pony someone off him, totally different behavior, good as gold. My Arab endurance gelding has always been an enthusiastic trail horse but in his younger days was incredibly spooky, ponying helped that tremendously.

[Rackonteur]

Talk to your trainer about it. Would s/he take one of them out for you? Even if her doing so replaced an arena lesson or two (or more) it might be worth it if it got the horse/s used to being out on the trail alone. (Of course, just because they were quiet with the trainer doesn’t mean they would be quiet with you, but it might help.)