How to ride and lead safely

■ Practise first in a safe area at walk. Practise circles, stopping, starting, and sharp turns in both directions. Both horses need to be calm and confident around other horses as they will be in close proximity, and any scraps could put the rider in danger. Horses that know each other and are either stabled next door or turned out together tend to ride and lead well as a pair.

■ Once confident in walk, progress to trot, and make sure you’re confident doing the same shapes and turns in trot. Stay relaxed, keep your shoulders straight (some grooms who ride and lead a lot get back problems from twisting), and keep your left arm at your side.

■ To stop, simply put a little pressure on the lead horse’s reins — they should stop when the ridden horse does.

■ To turn left, use rein pressure to slow the lead horse a little, then turn the ridden horse across their path.

■ To turn right, turn the ridden horse and gently guide the lead horse around with you using the reins.

■ The final thing to practise before going out on the roads is hand signals. Practise holding both sets of reins in each hand, and giving signals to turn right and left, slow down, and give thanks to drivers. If drivers don’t know what you’re doing, nobody is safe. This comes with practice, so spend a while in the school or riding around the yard before you tackle the open road.

■ The next stage is cantering. This is where a lot of people come unstuck as horses can get excited. “I would recommend only very experienced people ride and lead in canter,” says Robyn. “A relaxed, collected canter is key. Again, practise in the school or an enclosed field, and don’t allow the lead horse’s head to pass your knee. Take a friend on foot who can help if things go wrong. Be 100% confident before you try it and, crucially, stay within your comfort zone.”