Bandit the weanling TWH learning to be ponied off Avi - 22 Sept 2023

Bandit the weanling TWH learning to be ponied off Avi - 22 Sept 2023

Ponying horses in training helps them to learn from the more experienced horse which is ponying them. Ideally you want the pony horse to be a calm well trained good example. The pony horse needs to be rock solid neck reining and doing lateral movements especially if teaching a youngster to be ponied. You are working towards the ponied horse accepting responsibility to keep itself positioned correctly in relationship to the horse it is being ponied off of. IMO the ideal position is with the head of the horse you are ponying near your leg or barely in front of it. This translates to very similar position as if the rider was on the ground leading the horse - where it is responsible to keep the human handler between its head and shoulder.

The horse doing the ponying should NOT try to boss around the horse being ponied off of it. That takes training work - especially when riding the boss mare who is ponying a horse that is not part of her herd. So at times you may have to drop the lead of the ponied horse and do some hard hip yielding turns on the pony horse to let it know that when it is working for you it may NOT boss other horses around - it has to simply let you be the boss of both horses (or all three if you are ponying two horses at once).

Training horses always involves some risk of injury (or even death) to the horse, the trainer, any spectators, equipment used, etc. - this risk is totally your own as you will be making your own judgements on what to do. As with any suggestions on any subject you must weigh them out for yourself and proceed accordingly - at your own risk.

Remember to intentionally, on purpose, learn of God each day by prayerfully reading, studying, and pondering upon God's word each day. Talk to God in prayer as your Heavenly Father who would like for you to be His friend. Find out what He would like you to do for Him as His friend and go and do it for Him as His friend. Yes very intentionally, very much on purpose, become the friend of God. And have a blessed day!!

Jack Griffes
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