Working smarter, not harder: how to produce a lead-rein pony without riding them

Dartmoor lead-rein pony Springwater Tactician has enjoyed success at many major shows.

We hope that old-fashioned methods such as unsuitable-sized riders working in tiny ponies – or lungeing bright little ponies for hours on end – have been consigned to the history books. There are ways to produce a lead-rein pony ready for their tiny rider that are ethical and put the pony’s welfare first, without putting their young jockey at risk.

Craig Elenor and his partner Sara Parrott have had extensive...