Lead rein, first ridden and first year first ridden

What is the difference between lead rein sharing, first ridden, and first year first ridden? Well, lead rein is pretty self-explanatory. It's when the child is on the lead rein. Ages actually depend on the type of class. For a show pony class, it's normally eight years old, but sometimes for some of the mountain and moorland classes, because the ponies are stronger, it can be nine years old. At some shows regionally, it can be older than that.

First year first ridden refers to the first year the child is off the lead rein. Again, it's pretty self-explanatory in the name. There's no cantering in that class; it's just walk and trot. It's really designed to get children into the show ring by themselves for the first time. Some shows refer to it as tiny tots first ridden.

The proper first ridden classes do include cantering, but you only canter in your ridden show, not in the group. The maximum height for the ponies in the first ridden classes and the lead rein classes is 12.2hh.

When competing in the lead rein classes, it's important to remember that the lead rein should only be attached to the noseband and not to the bit or the bridle, this because it should only be there as a fail-safe and not actively controlling the pony.