jim lead rein pony

[cirocco]

last night I took my 2nd eldest '11 year old' G daughter to have a lesson on Jim, the reason he was purchased in 2010.

He had been in due to the ice for two days, 'apart from a couple of half hours in the indoor', so knowing he is a rather bouncy little 'bomb', he stayed on a lead rein. First of all, he walked into me, ignored her. refused to walk in a line up the long side of the school, and was a total little sh*t.
So I explained about turning her body to face the way she wanted to go, a far cry from the 'riding lessons' at the riding school, where its pull reins, and kick.  After fifteen minutes he listened to her, and she understood the difference between a riding school lesson and learning to ride on a schooled pony. Rather than having reins tight, she relaxed them, and learned to 'tweak' her fingers asking him to listen. No kicking, but leg pressure to turn.
We had a little bit of trot, again gently done, and only short no need to ask any more, until she becomes more confident.
He settled and relaxed, giving her a great feeling, she grinned for the whole half hour.
She even tried leg yield, and a walk pirouette. Of course he is happy to do everything from the ground, so it wasn't a big deal, but for her to feel that must have been terrific.
I have looked forward to having the family ride him for such a long time, so now its done I feel so pleased.

[Larri DB]

 

He really is a multi-tasking pony, bless him. So lovely to hear your granddaughter had such a super ride on him 

[pico]

 

[crdodgeon]

Great - will be a very different thing for both him and her and bound to do both the world of good 

[whisper's mum]

  It is definitely different riding a pony who is used to being ridden properly.    A couple of summers ago, I let a horsey friend and her daughter come to ride Drummer. My friend was telling her daughter to "Show him who's boss, give him a kick, pull the reins, make him go this way, " etc. Drummer eventually had enough of this and walked into the land owner's garage.     

[wozzer]

Clever Jim - how lovely for you and for your grand-daughter  xx