With the cold spell things took a break on this topic, but we got our Intro to Ponying with one of the BOs horses today! Charlie did well, he expressed he was only tolerating it because mom said so, but really did great for our first try at anything like this.
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Very good! They both look compliant enough and I’m impressed with your “tunnel”. Out of curiosity, why the saddle on the ponied one?
They did great with the tunnel, we had everything set up for our “weekend playground”. BO was joining in on the fun right after we pony-ed!
Posting a little late. I’ve always ponied my horses, from the get go when I’ve started them; I find it very helpful for the young ones, and have liked to pony one while riding on a long trail ride, then switch horses at a break, back and forth. It can be a great way to leg a horse up, and get a greenie out and about exposed to things. I’ve also done such things as ponied a good friend’s horse along on a multi-day ride, when requested, when she couldn’t join us for the first day or so.
Agree with the general guidance given above, although there are a few things I might have done slightly differently when ponying multiple horses at a time, or when riding with a hand horse (an extra horse in hand) rather than strictly ponying. I’ve given demo exhibitions at events, doing various maneuvers with multiple horses, and was fortunate to be instructed by a couple of mentors. One thing that was emphasized to me was how important it was that the ridden horse be respected by the ponied horse(s), and also, when ponying multiples the horses needed to be carefully organized as far as which one was next to which other one (also taking into account relative speeds).
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned yet (unless I missed it), which I personally do, is to have cage stirrups on the saddle, especially with a horse new to being ponied. I use the type with metal toe cages. As important as it is to keep the ponied horse up alongside (rather than trailing the ridden horse), what can happen is that it can end up very (too) close. I like the cage stirrups because they not only protect my toes in such a situation, but I can easily push the ponied horse over a bit with the stirrup. Just a suggestion.
IME, ponying becomes second nature with practice, and I think the horses like it.
Good job! In the future, if you turn your phone sideways to “landscape” to take video, you don’t lose 2/3 of the screen image to ceiling and flooring, and gain 2/3 of the side-to-side image of your horses.
But it makes for better Instagram reels 
“Normally”, you would have the horse you are ponying with your RIGHT hand, and your pony’s reins in your LEFT hand. For your purposes, I don’t suppose it matters that much. But since no one has mentioned it so far, I thought I’d just point this out. The horse you are ponying is more accustomed to being led with you on his left side, with your right hand on the shank. Your right hand and arm may be stronger (if you are right handed) and more dexterous and accustomed with handling the lead shank than your left hand. Try putting the horse you are ponying on the right side of your pony, and guiding the pony with your left hand… see how it feels for you.
That totally makes sense!
All good advice. Also, pay close attention to the excess lead rope that extends from your hand to the loose end. At anything above a walk, that section has a bad habit of snaking around your arm, hand, horse’s leg, etc.
And I wrap my horse’s front legs to avoid missteps by the ponied horses.
I have nothing of value to add at this point, but this thread has really made me miss ponying with my mares! I would lead my younger mare off the (now retired) old lady and we got really good at it. We could WTC all over, switch the side the ponied horse was on without getting off, etc. It really was so much fun. Also the only time in the pony horse’s life where she would even consider bossing another horse. I really think she enjoyed being given the authority lol.
Don’t ever tie even if it’s a rope horse. That is a recipe for disaster.
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