What is the term for riding a horse and leading another horse next to you?

Posted on 27 October 2009 at 6:15 pm in Horse Riding Training.

I can’t remember the word for leading an unsaddled, brideled horse next to a riding horse for training and exercise. It’s not lungeing, I know what that is. I want to say trotting but I think that’s wrong. Could someone un-jog my memory? Thanks,

That’s called ponying- and it’s a common sight at many race tracks, as well as at polo barns. My sister is a polo player, and that is how she conditions and trains her horses to get them in shape- she rides one horse and ponies two others. As long as the horses in question get along with each other, the risk to them and to the rider is minimal. The danger comes in when the horse which is being ponied doesn’t get along with the horse being ridden- and the result is often a fight or a kicking match.

Ponying is a great way to exercise horses when it’s not possible to ride them all the time- and it gets them fit without putting a lot of extra strain on their legs and back. In many ways, ponying is actually better for a horse than longeing would be, because it’s possible for a ponied horse to go straight for short distances, instead of turning constantly in a circle all the time. This reduces the pressure on their shoulders, lower legs, and back. My sister uses a halter with a chain shank for ponying her horses, but it’s quite common to see them ponied in bridles as well, especially at the track.
To each his own, when it comes to this.

8 Comments

  1. palomino - October 27, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    ponying. You ride the "pony horse".
    References :

  2. Hattie - October 27, 2009 at 7:24 pm

    I just know it as ride and lead.
    References :

  3. May The good force be with You - October 27, 2009 at 7:52 pm

    ponying him
    References :

  4. wenkerusa - October 27, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    when your horse needs to kick and play on the track instead of galloping with a rider, it is called ponying.
    References :

  5. rooster - October 27, 2009 at 9:02 pm

    leading
    References :

  6. Starlight 1 - October 27, 2009 at 9:45 pm

    That’s called ponying- and it’s a common sight at many race tracks, as well as at polo barns. My sister is a polo player, and that is how she conditions and trains her horses to get them in shape- she rides one horse and ponies two others. As long as the horses in question get along with each other, the risk to them and to the rider is minimal. The danger comes in when the horse which is being ponied doesn’t get along with the horse being ridden- and the result is often a fight or a kicking match.

    Ponying is a great way to exercise horses when it’s not possible to ride them all the time- and it gets them fit without putting a lot of extra strain on their legs and back. In many ways, ponying is actually better for a horse than longeing would be, because it’s possible for a ponied horse to go straight for short distances, instead of turning constantly in a circle all the time. This reduces the pressure on their shoulders, lower legs, and back. My sister uses a halter with a chain shank for ponying her horses, but it’s quite common to see them ponied in bridles as well, especially at the track.
    To each his own, when it comes to this.
    References :
    Horse owner, horse professional turned medical coder.

  7. say_what - October 27, 2009 at 10:14 pm

    it’s called ponying you usually pony a horse when it is about maybe 8 months to 1 year old.
    References :

Leave a Reply

Leave A Comment


Top