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Position the ponied horse on the right side of your pony horse. Holding the lead rope and reins in your left hand, move to your pony horse’s left side, and mount up. As soon as you’re in the saddle, keep the reins in your left hand, but transfer the ponied horse’s lead rope to your right hand.Pony horses help calm nervous racehorses.

A strap, called a lead, is held by the pony rider and attached to the racehorse bit. The lead is used to control the racehorse, and sometimes they encourage a horse to trot, so it’s warmed up before the race.Cue your horse to trot by squeezing your legs or giving it a gentle kick. Allow your horse to get comfortable with you at a lively walk. Shorten the reins by 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm), then squeeze your legs to signal it to trot. If necessary, say “Trot!” or give it a light kick to send it forward.

Why do people pony horses?

Pony horses help calm nervous racehorses.

A strap, called a lead, is held by the pony rider and attached to the racehorse bit. The lead is used to control the racehorse, and sometimes they encourage a horse to trot, so it’s warmed up before the race.

How do you make a pony trot?

Cue your horse to trot by squeezing your legs or giving it a gentle kick. Allow your horse to get comfortable with you at a lively walk. Shorten the reins by 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm), then squeeze your legs to signal it to trot. If necessary, say “Trot!” or give it a light kick to send it forward.

Which side do you pony a horse on?

Position the ponied horse on the right side of your pony horse. Holding the lead rope and reins in your left hand, move to your pony horse’s left side, and mount up. As soon as you’re in the saddle, keep the reins in your left hand, but transfer the ponied horse’s lead rope to your right hand.

How do you lead a horse to ride another?

Hold the rope so that the end connected to the horse is laid over the front of your hand, between your index finger and thumb. “Keep the led horse’s rope in one hand and the ridden horse’s reins in the other,” adds Chris.

Why do they train horses early in the morning?

“The main reason for this is that all participants strongly agreed that early mornings allowed them to get to almost any racecourse in Victoria after completing track work; they were able to get horses back into their boxes in time for a feed, rest and then afternoon session; and it also allowed jockeys and apprentices …

Are ponies stronger than horses?

Ponies are incredibly strong for their size. They can pull or carry heavy loads with more strength than a horse, relative to their size. They are hardier than horses and can withstand greater ranges in temperature.

Do horses know they’re racing?

After the race, while the horses might not grasp the excitement of winning the Triple Crown or even just the Derby and Preakness, they do know that people around them are excited — or sad said Nadeau. “They take a lot from how the people around them are reacting because they are sensitive,” she said.

Why do cowboys wrap their saddle horns?

Both of these types of horn wrap allow the dallies to slide as the roper demands, which help facilitate lower stress handling on cattle and saddle horses alike by offering greater control over pressure and release. While both elk and mule hide are “slick,” elk hide is a little bit stickier with more grab to it.

What is a Dalley?

Dally definition

To consider or occupy oneself with something in a careless or unserious fashion; toy. verb. 1. To waste time; loiter.

How do you canter without bouncing?

In order to stop bouncing in the saddle at the canter, you need to have a balanced riding position with your core activated, to move your seat in the same motion as your horse’s back, and to stay relaxed and supple in your joints to absorb the movement.

What’s faster canter or gallop?

The canter and gallop are variations on the fastest gait that can be performed by a horse or other equine. The canter is a controlled three-beat gait, while the gallop is a faster, four-beat variation of the same gait.

How long does it take for horses to accept a new horse?

This may take days or even weeks. Introducing a new horse to a single resident is similar to introducing one horse to a herd of two of more. Your existing herd already has its pecking order established. Even if it’s only a herd of two, one will be mostly dominant and the other will mostly give way.

Why is my gelding aggressive to other horses?

Aggression toward other horses is mostly associated with sexual competition, fear, dominance, or territory (protecting the group and resources). As with aggression toward people, some horses may be pathologically aggressive toward other horses.

How do you introduce a gelding to a mare?

Introduce your horses to one another slowly. Letting your horses interact with one another for short periods of time over the course of several days can help introductions go more smoothly. Start off by introducing the horses from opposite sides of a fence. Gradually lengthen the amount of time they spend together.


How to Pony a Horse
How to Pony a Horse


How to Pony a Horse – YouTube

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Pony Horses: 5 Reason Racehorses Have Another Horse With Them

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Reasons racehorses have a horse with them

Characteristics of pony horses

Pony horse breeds

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Pony horses and companion horses aren’t the same

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Pony Horses: 5 Reason Racehorses Have Another Horse With Them
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How to dally or pony a horse – YouTube

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3 Ways to Trot a Horse – wikiHow

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How to Pony a Horse

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How to ‘pony’ a horse

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Picking and using a pony horse as a training tool: Stacy’s Video Diary Review – Official Site of Stacy Westfall

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How to Pony with Confidence

Simply put, ponying means to lead a horse alongside the horse you’re riding. On the trail, ponying comes in handy when training a new horse. As the ponied horse’s herd instinct kicks in, he’ll likely follow his leader through terrain that might otherwise seem intimidating, such as crossing water. And he’ll experience spook-inducing, wide-open country without risking a rider’s fall.

You might also wish to pony a horse carrying supplies to a campsite, a horse a child is riding for greater control, an injured horse that needs exercise to heal, or a horse whose owner has experienced an accident or injury.

In each case, you’ll need to know how to pony a horse safely how to keep you, your horse, and the ponied horse safe. It’s a complex task to carefully ride your own horse and pay attention to another, all while holding the reins in one hand and a lead rope in the other.

But horses don’t mind the proximity, because it’s natural for them to travel at speed while close to one another. Once you know how to handle the ropes, ponying can become a natural, easy way to travel.

Here, top clinician/trainer Julie Goodnight will teach you how to pony a horse safely while avoiding common pitfalls.

Exercise Prep

Before you begin, make sure your pony horse –the saddle horse you’ll ride–is comfortable with other horses riding nearby. Your pony horse should also be easily controlled with one hand on the reins so you’ll have an extra hand to hold onto the ponied horse’s lead rope. He should be a safe, reliable mount that doesn’t spook.

Your pony horse should also calmly allow ropes to touch his legs and tail, and should drag logs without spooking.

Your ponied horse should be halter broke and lead well from the ground. To be safe, both horses must have good ground manners and know not to interact with other horses when a human is present.

What you’ll do: You’ll learn to how to handle the ponied horse’s rope, how to cue the ponied horse to move forward, how to teach the ponied horse to stay in position, and how to approach new obstacles while ponying.

What you’ll need: A saddle with a rigid tree (a flexible tree may apply pressure unevenly across your horse’s back if the ponied horse pulls) and a bridle for the horse you’ll ride; a rope halter and 12-foot lead rope for the horse you’ll pony. Wear gloves to protect your hands from rope burns if the ponied horse pulls.

Learn More: Ponying a Horse with Monique Potts

Step #1. Learn the Ropes

Outfit the horses in the tack listed earlier. Position the ponied horse on the right side of your pony horse. Holding the lead rope and reins in your left hand, move to your pony horse’s left side, and mount up. As soon as you’re in the saddle, keep the reins in your left hand, but transfer the ponied horse’s lead rope to your right hand.

Note: Always hold the pony horse’s rope in a way that you can easily drop it if one horse slips or spooks never tie or knot the two horses together.

Double the lead rope so you can easily lengthen and shorten it. When the lead rope is safely doubled, you’ll see a loop in front of your knee as your hand rests on your leg. Never wrap the lead rope around your hand; if the ponied horse pulls or bolts, you’ll likely become injured.

Note the doubled rope in Goodnight’s left hand. The rope nearest to her pinky finger is attached to the horse and lies next to the rope’s end. The rope extending from her thumb and forefinger is doubled. She’s in position, relaxed, and ready to cue her pony horse by neck reining.

Avoid holding the rope too far behind you. With this hold and without a doubled rope, too much slack allows your ponied horse to fall far behind your pony horse precisely in kicking position. The loose rope can also tangle in your pony horse’s legs or slip under his tail, potentially causing a wreck.

Goodnight will hold this rope and rein position as long as she’s working with a young horse. By holding the rope instead of fully dallying the rope around the saddle horn she can cue her pony horse to move forward or back. She also ensures that the horses won’t be connected if the new pony horse spooks.

When Goodnight knows her pony horse is obeying and compliant, she’ll often half-loop the lead rope around the saddle horn. This allows her to relax her grip and hold only one piece of the rope. The rope isn’t knotted and can quickly be released from the horn.

Step #2. Go Forward

Ask your pony horse to walk on with your usual rein and leg aids. Include a voice command so that your ponied horse also hears the cue. As your pony horse moves forward, your ponied horse will feel the rope’s gentle pull. He should understand these go-forward voice and pressure cues, because he’s halter broke.

If your ponied horse doesn’t follow along, don’t try to pull him forward; you don’t have enough strength, and the attempt could wrench your back or pull you off your pony horse.

Instead, stop your pony horse, and take a half-wrap on the saddle horn, holding both ends of the rope in your right hand, down against your leg. Then cue your pony horse forward, and let his body weight pull your ponied horse forward. It’s pretty easy for the ponied horse to pull against you, but he won’t pull long against the pony horse’s weight.

Caveat: To successfully pony a horse, you’ll need to have the skill and concentration to deal with two horses at once, such as asking your pony horse to slow down while asking your ponied horse to come forward. Not all riders are ready for this kind of challenge. You might forget to stop your pony horse. Or, you might get pulled off your pony horse by a spooky ponied horse. If you plan to pony a young or unseasoned horse, first practice these initial steps with calm, easygoing horses.

Keep the ponied horse close in at your pony horse’s hip so the horses can’t step in different directions around a small tree or other obstacle.

Practice walking while maintaining these lead rope and rein holds. First, walk straight ahead, then gradually add turns to the right. Turn only to the right until you’re comfortable handling the rope and you can trust your ponied horse to follow. When you turn to the right, you turn toward your ponied horse, enabling the rope to stay in position easily.

Turns to the left are tricky if the ponied horse isn’t keeping up. Before you turn, make sure your ponied horse is in the correct position; if he falls behind, the lead rope can droop, touch your pony horse’s tail, and even slide up under it.

If the lead rope droops, turn your pony horse back to the right to prevent the rope from wrapping around you; drop the rope, if necessary.

Step #3. Correct Poor Positions

If your pony horse falls behind, simply gather your fingers along the doubled rope to shorten the line, and pull him forward with a bumping action. Your ponied horse should respect this correction, because he knows how to lead on the ground,

Don’t allow your ponied horse to move forward so much that he’s in front of your knee. You won’t have enough leverage to control him, and he can start to lead “the herd” instead of naturally following your pony horse.

If your ponied horse moves too fast and is too forward, pick up your rope-holding hand and jerk it back, pointing the rope in the direction you’d like your ponied horse to be. A quick bump from the rope halter’s knot will correct your ponied horse just as it does during ground-work sessions.

Step #4. Move Out

When your ponied horse learns to follow along in formation, moving with your pony horse without needing constant corrections, begin asking both horses for gait changes. Put your horses to work as they transition from walk to trot.

Each time you cue your pony horse, use your verbal cue or a bump of the rope to spur on your ponied horse. Soon, your ponied horse will keep pace, move in step, and easily stay in position.

To learn more trail-riding skills, see Goodnight’s Guide to Great Trail Riding with bonus DVD, available from www.EquineNetworkStore.com.

Julie Goodnight (www.juliegoodnight.com) lives in central Colorado, home to miles of scenic trails. She trains horses and coaches horse owners to be ready for any event, on the trail or in the performance arena. She shares her easy-to-understand lessons on her weekly RFD-TV show, Horse Master, and through appearances at clinics and horse expos held throughout the United States. She’s also the international spokesperson for the Certified Horsemanship Association (www.cha-ahse.org).

Pony Horses: 5 Reason Racehorses Have Another Horse With Them

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When we were recently at the track, a friend ask why racehorses were escorted by a pony horse. Her question made me wonder about the pony horse’s role in horseracing, so I decided to do some research.

Racehorses have another horse with them before the race to help them stay calm, and as relaxed as possible before the race. Having a companion helps the racehorse focus on the race and not the crowd. The accompanying horse is called a pony horse and is a vital member of the horse racing community.

Pony horses come from various backgrounds and breeds, and they are ridden with different tack than a racehorse. Companion horses have a unique and essential job in the world of horseracing.

Reasons racehorses have a horse with them

In the United States, pony horses accompany racehorses to the track, paddock, and starting gates. There are various reasons they are indispensable.

Pony Horses escort.

Before a race, the racehorses walk to the paddock alongside another horse, often called a pony horse. After a race, the horses are escorted back to the barns by the same horses.

Horses are herd animals. When you get a bunch of young fillies and colts together, they like to kick up their heels and play. Introducing some older geldings into this group of young horses calms these youngsters. (If you are interested in reading about horses’ socialization check out this article.)

Pony horses help calm nervous racehorses.

But some horses are exceptionally high strung and need a calmer presence next to them during the excitement of race day. On their way to the starting gates horses are forced to walk in front of the grandstand loaded with noisy people and unfamiliar sounds, for some horses this experience is nerve-wracking.

A strap, called a lead, is held by the pony rider and attached to the racehorse bit. The lead is used to control the racehorse, and sometimes they encourage a horse to trot, so it’s warmed up before the race.

Pony horses warm up a horse before its race.

Sometimes a horse will warm up on its own, but frequently a trainer will instruct a pony rider to hold on to the racehorse and gallop at a steady pace before leading him to the gate.

Companion horses prevent injuries of young horses in training. When horses are introduced to the morning training routines, they are commonly sent out with a pony horse.

Pony horses keep young horses in line.

The companion horses keep the youngsters in check until they settle down. Young horses are fit and anxious to run and play after spending much time in a stall.

Experienced lead ponies and their riders know when a young horse is getting nervous. When the young horse’s nerves start to strain, the pony horse moves closer to the young horse.

The closing of the distance between the horses provides comfort and protection. If the companion horse failed to pre-empt the tension and the racehorse darted away it’s the pony horse’s duty to retrieve the runaway.

Attaching a young horse to a companion horse calms them and allows them to burn off some of their energy while under control. Together the horses gallop around the track in different directions and other times will stand still and watch other horses workout.

Pony horses are used to train other horses.

Pony horses are also used for schooling the young racehorses during morning training. Schooling may involve a race day rehearsal, going to the paddock, and then to the starting gate just like in a real race absent the crowd.

The young horses continue to train with the pony horse until their trainer believes they are experienced enough to work independently safely. Companion horses may work with eight or more horses each morning. On race day, a companion horse might lead out a horse for every race.

Characteristics of pony horses

Pony horses have a lot of responsibilities on the race track. And to handle these responsibilities takes a special horse with specific characteristics.

Pony Horses have an even temperament.

The temperament of a pony horse is probably the most critical characteristic of a competent pony horse. Temperament is the general attitude of a horse.

A good companion horse should be calm, enjoy working with other horses and people. He can’t be flighty or spook easily. But most importantly, a good pony horse must exude confidence.

A companion horse has to convey authority and strength to a frightened young horse and push back against a bully horse, not listening to its jockey. He can’t be afraid of bumping bodies when necessary. Generally, quarter horses have a good temperament for success as companion horses.

Pony horses are solidly built and hardy.

Companion horses are ridden hard and often. Their bodies have to be able to withstand the daily rigors of leading and chasing horses. You don’t want a weak pony horse. They are often called on to pull against a feisty horse or run down a breakaway. Good stable conformation in a horse is vital in a companion horse.

Pony horses are smart.

A good companion horse is smart and knows his job. He must be an able and willing learner. The best pony horses are instinctive and react quickly without hard cues from their rider.

Good instincts are critical to keeping a young horse calm and focused. If a horse detects nervous tension building he can quell it before the horse bolts.

Pony horses are good athletes

Pony horses are asked to perform a myriad of tasks. They may have to race down a track full speed after a racehorse that darted out during a training session, or they may have to push against a nervous horse to settle him down. A successful companion horse must be athletic.

Pony horse breeds

Retired racehorses are the best pony horses.

The most common two breeds used as pony horses on race tracks are quarter horses and thoroughbreds. These breeds may be the most popular because they have a racing background. Pony horse owners and trainers like to use retired racehorses that are geldings as companion horses.

Geldings are calmer than stallions and mares. The trainers and companion horse riders have spent time around the former racehorses and are familiar with their temperament. (If you’re interested in the best horse breeds suited to various disciplines, I wrote an article with a list of all my top picks.)

Quarterhorses are good pony horses.

Quarter horses have a level head, most have excellent conformation, and want to please their owner/rider. Quarterhorses are athletic and quick. These traits are ideal for a pony horse.

All horses are individuals, and thoroughbreds are no different. Trainers often find thoroughbred geldings that transition into perfect pony horses. As a whole, the thoroughbred breed is not as calm or sound as the quarter horse breed.

Draft crosses make good pony horses. These horses are known for two things, their large size, and their calm demeanor, both attributes helpful when ponying other horses.

Draft crosses are used at tracks and perform well. The only concern is their quickness to run after a breakaway horse, but the right cross can cure that problem.

Grade horses are also frequently seen used as companion horses. Of course, it depends on the different mix of breeds of the grade horse, but often a grade horse makes an excellent pony horse.

Pony horses are ridden with a western saddle.

A western seat allows a rider more maneuverability and stability while on the companion horse. While riding a pony horse, a rider will need to perform tasks more similar to a western horseback rider than a racer or jumper.

Pony horses and companion horses aren’t the same.

A lot of people use the terms pony horse and companion horse interchangeably, and that’s okay. But technically, a companion horse, or companion animal, is an animal kept with a racehorse to keep the horse calm.

By Nicholas Hartmann – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

The companion horse differs from a pony horse in that a companion horse will stay with one particular horse most of the time. It’s not uncommon for a companion horse to work double duty as a pony horse.

Some great racehorses had companion animals.

Seabiscuit had companion animals.

Horses are herd animals and enjoy the companionship of animals. Seabiscuit is famously housed with a group of animals. Kentucky Derby winners Unbridled and Smarty Jones had companion horses.

Butterscotch was both a companion and a pony horse.

Smarty Jones’ companion Butterscotch filled two roles, babysitter and pony horse for him. Smarty Jones won the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and placed in the Belmont Stakes, with Butterscotch leading him to each race’s starting gates.

The two horses bonded and Smarty and Butterscotch almost won the triple crown.

American Pharoah had a companion horse.

American Pharoah had a companion horse, a 6-year-old gelding named Smokey. Smokey helped calm American Pharoah’s nerves enough for him to win the triple crown.

Thoroughbred horses are high, strung animals. They are removed from their natural state and placed into stalls, leading to boredom and stress.

Having a companion animal helps to fill a void in their lives. A happy or content horse can endure the rigors of racing better than a depressed horse. Companion animals have their place in horse racing.

Interesting info:

Europeans, as well as some other countries, don’t use pony horses in horseracing.

Pony riders are required to wear protective helmets and vests while riding on a track.

Below is a YouTube video showing 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strikes biting a pony horse.

Related articles:

How to Pony a Horse Safely

Why Everyone Should be Able to Pony Their Horse

How to Pony a Horse Safely. Be able to pony. Are you able to lead a another horse from yours, and is your animal able to be led by a another horse? You should be. Leading is not just a skill for packers but is an essential skill for every trail rider.

Put simply, ponying is the act of leading a horse alongside the animal you’re riding. It sounds simple but it’s a multifaceted job of riding your own horse while also paying attention to another, all while holding the reins in one hand and a lead rope in the other.

Why would anyone want to do this? Here’s a few examples:

Introduce a new horse to the trail

Lead a pack horse

Assist another rider

Condition a young or older horse

In each of the above cases, you’ll need to know how to pony correctly to keep you, your horse, and the ponied horse safe.

Preparing You

Being ready to pony also means that you need to be comfortable with what you must do when ponying another horse. Get used to riding your animal one-handed. Be able to rein with either hand while holding a lead in the other. Be able to switch hands on the go.

Preparing your Riding Animal

Before attempting to lead another animal, your riding horse, or mule, should be comfortable with having a rope all around him. He needs to be OK with feeling a lead rope alongside his hindquarters, and even for the possibility that the rope might get around a leg or under his tail.

When I’m working with my animals I’m constantly tossing the lead rope around their hips, along their legs, and asking them to bend their necks and come around to face me. I do this from all sides, left, right, front, and back. Once you can do that from the ground it’s time to try the same exercises from the saddle.

Your riding animal should calmly allow ropes to touch his legs and tail, and should be able drag logs without spooking. You don’t have to be a professional roper and a lariat isn’t necessary. Just swing a lead rope to accustom your horse to the motions on both sides. Be careful.

I feel that rope training is an essential exercise for every animal. Your riding animal needs to be responsive and not afraid of a rope rubbing on it.

Preparing the horse to be led

It’s my opinion that every trail horse should be able to be ponied. There are any number of reasons why, but my biggest is that if you depart your ride unexpectedly (say in a helicopter) your riding partner should be able to safely pony your horse back to the trailhead.

Start from the ground before you start leading from another horse. The horse you plan on ponying should be able to be led, and led well, from the ground before you try it from the saddle. Once the pony horse prospect has good ground manners and is light and alert at the end of a lead rope, transitioning to ponying won’t be traumatic. Work from the ground until your prospect is consistent and responsive from a distance.

This ground work not only will prepare your horse to be led from horseback it will help him or her become a much better, more respectful, partner that doesn’t pull or crowd you. Both good things.

The equipment

Functional saddle with a solid tree – treeless or flexible tree saddles can deform and unevenly distribute pressure causing pain to your riding horse.

Rope halter for the horse to be ponied – The rope halter will reinforce your cues. This is what we use – https://amzn.to/372zVs5

12 foot lead – I’ve used both shorter and longer leads. 12 feet works best for me. This is what we use – https://amzn.to/30eSdF8

Gloves – Rope burn is a thing and it’s not pleasant. This is what we use – https://amzn.to/30bT35F

The dally

Once the three of you (your riding horse, the horse to be ponied, and yourself) have learned How to Pony a Horse Safely and you’re ready to head out you’ll be tempted to use your saddle horn. Don’t. Use the horn to hold lunch not tie off your lead rope. Should a ride become eventful while ponying you want to instantly release all connections to the pony horse. It’s much better to dismount and pick up the lead than to be dragged off the side of a mountain because you were hard tied to an animal that lost its footing.

Successfully ponying is dependent upon the response and respect you develop on the ground. If your horse handles well and is responsive on the halter rope on the ground, that training will come through when you pony him. Take the time to develop those skills.

For more information on trail riding and camping with horses visit www.TrailMeister.com

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