Benefits of long-reining?

caitlineloise

caitlineloise

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Hi everybody,

Was thinking of trying some long-reining tonight with my boy as something a bit different, can anybody tell me the benefits of long-reining and give me any tips as I've never done it before! (don't worry somebody who knows how is gonna get me started!:) )

Thanks!
 
Are you breaking your horse to ride ?
Or is he already broken?
I have always long reined before backing, as they learn how to walk on, stop, turn left, right, and back up, brfore you get on.
Do you mean this or do you just wont to play?
If he has never been long reined before you will need someone at his head to guid him at the start. but not giving him commands, this must come from you. As you progress and he is listening to you, they drop further and further back until, they are not needed, and you take over.
 
Long reining is fab, you have much more control over your horse than lunging its almost like riding from the ground. You don't have to stop to change direction and can do school movements eg serpentines, figure 8's you can also do rein back and can progress to lateral work.
If your horse isn't really listening at the start of the session you can do lots of changes of direction & speed in quick succession to get his attention which you can't do on the lunge.

A good tip is to use 2 different colour lines maybe a red one in your right hand, lots of people say that helps (i'm a bit ocd there so have to have matching lines :rollseyes: at self) and to let the lines trail behind rather than trying to hold them all in your hand - it might not be very 'BHS' but its much easier and no less dangerous - you're just as likely to get in a muddle and have loops or the line wrap around your hand as you are to stand on a trailing line
The only other thing is not to worry, its a co-ordination thing and if you can ride you can long line, you just have to practise, if you drop a line its easily rectified - if you drop the outside one you have the inside line to reel your horse in with and start again, if you drop the inside line turn your horse so the inside becomes the outside and reel him in - simples!! :-)
 
i love long reining :)

My horse was long reined loads before she was backed - i still carry it on now.... long rein her round the field/unsure places/scary places etc - get her to build her confidence up...

you can do evertthing ridden on long reins and more.....:)
 
:rolleyes:If you decide to try it, see if you can have someone with you the first few times; just to be near the horse's head until you and the horse are both confident you're happy working together with long reins. If he's been long reined before, when being backed, chances are he'll not be too bad to get going again. Oh, and make sure you're wearing comfy shoes!!!! I had some beautiful blisters after long-reining my filly back along :rolleyes:
 
Sorry to hi jack the thread but can you long rein before starting to lunge or is it better to start of with the lungeing and progress to long rein?
 
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