Child using reins

[ballywildrick]

Hi wondering if anyone has advise? My son 9 and daughter 5 both use too much left rein on the right rein they crook ponies to outside and pony runs though inside shoulder. On the left they have too much inside bend and if in open space again ponies drift to the right. A couple of the ponies dont mind and just keep riding but an other couple really don't like it and become confused. I school ponies and when a soft even contact is used both are fine. Have been working kids on lunge and trying to get them out of habit of pulling the left rein only and getting to bend ie look direction they are ment to be going. HELP

[gillwales]

They are only little, however some lunging lessons will help, however use a thin neck strap instead of reins, you do not want them to hold the saddle and they will need something to hold and balance them. Making sure they are long enough to have their hands with the thumbs ontop.

You need to teach them to twist their shoulders the way they are going, if you do this their leg position should also follow. I'm guessing the 5 year old is on the l/r if shown and the 9 year old F/R.

Avoid the instruction to hold them on the outside rein as I would guess this could be why they have picked up the habit. THe thing is if you can get a ridder to be able to sit on their mount and feel how it should go they will then understand it better.

Explain with using astick on the position, i.e. a straight line from shoulder to hip to heel and knee to toe and bit to hand to elbow. you can also show this horizontally to go around a corner.

Make it fun, positive, do round the worlds and thread the needle whilst standing. This is good for their balance, confidence and teaches the ponies to put up with their little jockeys.

Avoid nagging, be positive, remember it is fun. It is the most difficult thing to teach your own!

Good luck, please let us know if this works or not. Nothing is guarenteed so if after a few weeks it doesn't I will put my thinking cap on again, or another Hger will nick the nick

[gillwales]

I had another thought.. use cones or something similar for your children to weave in and out.... tell them if they can ride it correctly, turning their shoulders in the dirrection they are going you will take them somewhere nice or reward them in some way

[ballywildrick]

Thank you yes the 9yo had been having dressage lessons for past 2 years and in this time he has become more crooked. I think that yes the hole outside rein concept has caused the twisting. Great tips. I have been lunging them but great idea re neck strap as I had been getting them to hold strap on front of saddle. They both are first ridden but depending on pony and steering are on lead and lunge. Was thinking of putting up small jumps to guide them for serpentines. They do bending races at home and pc. Thank you for your advise it's much appreciated. Pulling hair out here lol

[gillwales]

yw, it is so much harder teaching your own than other people's children. I would however mention the fact that your son has become crooked, the instructor should really have picked that up. One further tip is stand behind them when they are walking away, you can see that way if they are sitting squarely in the saddle, if not this should be sorted first, this is very important. Good luck

[catkin]

Yes, I will second the fact its much harder to teach your own! Try having reins with notches too. Sometimes, just having even rein length for littlies is a challenge.