Preparation for ponying - controlling movement via low stress herding - 19 Oct 2023

Correction - Rain is NOT a TWH as I mistakenly state in the video - she is a Spotted Saddle Horse. Sorry for any confusion I caused.

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.

Ponying allows you to have a younger or less experienced horse learn very directly from a well trained horse you are riding. IF the horse you plan to pony off your well trained horse already knows how to lead well then to further prepare for ponying you need to teach it that it MUST yield to the horse it is being ponied off of. My favored way of teaching this is by doing low stress herding - controlling the movement of the herd (of two) so that the horse that will be ponied understands that the horse carrying a rider is the boss. Once they get that concept down then they very naturally per their instinct yield to that horse.

This isn't the greatest videography - I am literally shooting and narrating the video while riding my well trained mare, Avi, doing low stress herding of Rain just before teaching Rain to pony off Avi. So hopefully despite the less than stellar videography it will help you get more of an idea of this preparatory step towards ponying the horse.

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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