Anyone have any long reining tips??

Lea1985

Lea1985

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I am ready to start long reining my youngster who is 14 months old.

I will only be doing it for a few minutes at a time, I had a little go on Sunday and got him going forward slowly. He was wearing a roller and bridle and I had two lunge ropes as the lines threaded through the roller.

He is a very stocky traditional cob, and I just wondered if anyone had any tips? I had a thought about taking him for a walk out around the village following my bombproof gelding?

Many Thanks :)
 
Make sure he's seen lots of things at home before venturing onto the road, also that he fully understands stop, go and turn. Personally I'd rather work off a headcoller or cavesson than a bridle on a young horse as there's every likelihood that they'll spook at some point and i'd rather that pressure not be on the mouth.
Not sure how experienced you are at lining but make sure you're not directly behind him so that he can see you. :-)
 
maggiesmum said:
Make sure he's seen lots of things at home before venturing onto the road, also that he fully understands stop, go and turn. Personally I'd rather work off a headcoller or cavesson than a bridle on a young horse as there's every likelihood that they'll spook at some point and i'd rather that pressure not be on the mouth.
Not sure how experienced you are at lining but make sure you're not directly behind him so that he can see you. :-)
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Thanks for this, hes been around the village quite a bit and has seen all kinds of traffic and is very very calm on the roads. Oh good idea with the cavesson too...I was standing directly behind him :( I have never done this before you see, So I will stand to the side from now on...:-)
 
I personally would only ever long rein straight from the bit. It's much safer in the event of something going wrong as you have more control. To start with I'd forget about long reining the youngster and I'd get some long reins on the old horse and practise with him in the paddock doing circles, figures of eight etc so you get an understanding of how to long rein. I would then long rein the old horse out on the roads and once you're 99% happy I'd start the youngster in the paddock and school before venturing on to a public highway. I have posted A LOT recently on long reining - it's seems to have been the topic for Sept/Oct so have a look at those posts for some more information.
 
Aces_High said:
I personally would only ever long rein straight from the bit. It's much safer in the event of something going wrong as you have more control. To start with I'd forget about long reining the youngster and I'd get some long reins on the old horse and practise with him in the paddock doing circles, figures of eight etc so you get an understanding of how to long rein. I would then long rein the old horse out on the roads and once you're 99% happy I'd start the youngster in the paddock and school before venturing on to a public highway. I have posted A LOT recently on long reining - it's seems to have been the topic for Sept/Oct so have a look at those posts for some more information.
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Thank you thats a really good idea. I will try that later, no sure what the old boy will do! probable freek!! lol :)
 
Yes, I agree with TMG, he's far too young to be long-lined - he won't have the maturity in his head and if he panics you risk injuring his joints, particularly his poll and neck which are still very soft and immature at his tender age. I would wait until he's 3.
 
^^^^^^^^agreed. long reining is a preliminary to backing, so if you want to educate him, just walk in hand and do grid work, asking for basic commands, halt square, back up three paces, turn one way and the other, progress slowly to to noises rattles, tarpaulins, balloons.
practice tacking up, slowly does it, I would have a bit in his mouth if he is OK about it but use a cavesson or handle in a pressure/release halter. You can get him used to you looking in his mouth and touching him all over. Rub the lunge reins all over and let them fall down his legs, make sure he does not panic when a rein is looped lightly round a leg.
If you can arrange some loose schooling he can pop over crossed poles, anything as long as he is happy and motivated, don't make any lessons too long, mentally he is only six or seven in human terms.
 
I didnt realise there was a problem with long lining at this age? From other threads people seem to be doing it??

I have been doing the scary baloons bags obsticles etc, i have tied bandages all over him and around his legs and also wrapped the lunge lines around him too. He has been touched all over, walked around the village (8-11 minute walk depending which way I go) seen tractors bikes motorbikes and 4x4 etc

I have bitted him and popped a little rug and numnahs on his back too, he picks up his feet well and will be hosed etc

I just thought with winter coming I could do a little long lining in the school for 5-10 minutes once or twice a week. I work 8-6 so it will always be dark and I didnt want him getting board of just pottering around the school doing the same things?
 
Whoops - I didn't realise he was only 14 months old :o :o !!

I wouldn't be doing anything other than handling him until he's a minimum of 18 months old. I go on 18 months but I am dealing with TB's so I would listen to the people with cobs on here as I would say maybe 2.5yrs then do some lunging and long reining.
In the meantime.....
Groom him, get him leading well inhand (around the yard, paddocks, school and lanes), I'd bit him and always lead him from the bridle via a coupling, feet as you've done etc.
You can also practise all of your ground work for a good year more on your old horse and then you will be fully ready to take up the challenge of the youngster! I actually think that at this stage the paragraph straight above is probably the best advice to heed - practise, practise, practise......
 
I'm with the others - I think 14 mths is too young for this kind of work, and risks blowing his mind. Mine handled by my cousin and are halter broken and taught to lead as foals, and then taught basic stable manners at weaning (when they're desperate to be your friends) and then have what they've learned reinforced periodically until they're ready to come in and start training for a working life, usually at 3.

Having said that, we don't show our youngstock, and if we did that might be different, but I still don't think I'd be longreining until they were at least 2...
 
AMH said:
I'm with the others - I think 14 mths is too young for this kind of work, and risks blowing his mind. Mine handled by my cousin and are halter broken and taught to lead as foals, and then taught basic stable manners at weaning (when they're desperate to be your friends) and then have what they've learned reinforced periodically until they're ready to come in and start training for a working life, usually at 3.

Having said that, we don't show our youngstock, and if we did that might be different, but I still don't think I'd be longreining until they were at least 2...
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He will be being shown in hand next year. we did one this year and he went really well.
 
I have a question... Can some explain why long reining would be worse for a youngster than doing some other things mentioned, inhand work, pole work etc?
Maybe mentally it's harder but surely no more pressure on his joints and skeleton?

Just curious...
 
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