Breaking what dont you do?

[TheMule]

For those who don’t lunge - how do you do it? I’m genuinely interested as I only learnt one way to break in.

Mine learn the commands when I ride and lead them- it's a very natural way to learn because the other horse does it on cue so they pair the action up really quickly. I also like ride and lead because they get used to you being at height, they get their sides bumped like a rider will and getting on/ off next to them makes doing it on them really easy.
Mine long rein in the arena to check the cues are there but also to get the idea of moving independently and moving through turns/ changes of direction

 

[dorsetladette]

Normally when backing I lunge, long rein and get on. Once the basics of stop go left and right are there I get out hacking and everything is learnt along the way in straight (ish) lines.

My last project I've spent 18 months doing ground work and then sent him away. The lady I sent him to used a dumb Jockey with a fair bit of success but, he came back with the decision he wouldn't be ridden as he is to explosive.

So, yes slow and steady often wins the race, but not every time.

 

[honetpot]

I have never understood how long reining in any way replicates hands on the reins while there is a bum in the saddle. The action is completely different physically and hands on 15 feet of rein can never have the feel of hands on 2 feet of rein.

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I think it makes them really light in the hands, because you are really using voice aids and the slightest resistance in rein to change direction without the weight of the rider to adjust their balance. I am always amazed how quickly they pick it up.

 

[GinaGeo]

I haven't got the best facilities for lunging - not allowed in the arena's and my field is not really suitable - so that is something mine do not do as much of. They do learn to walk a circle in balance, to move away from the stick.

I find long lining most important. They start in the school and then go hacking. It's all straight lines so less pressure, they learn to go forwards in front without anybody at their head. It reinforces the voice, and is useful to teach them the concept of turning. It also means they have navigated logs, ditches, water and steps before I've got on them, in a very low pressure exploring sort of environment.

Mine also do a little in hand work to teach them to yield, and to introduce the rein before getting on.

They also get lead off the older horses out hacking - it's a skill I like mine to have full stop, but also has value in that they look to the older horse's when they're not sure about something.

When I first get on, I like to know they know a lot of the principles in advance. They're also strengthened up to carry a rider and they've usually had a pretty good "fitness programme" to get their legs and body used to working.

In my mind you wouldn't pick up a backed horse that had had a lot of time off and just crack on. You'd walk it and fitten it first. For me that is where the hours spent on the Long lines, wandering around various terrain comes into it's own.

 

[Cortez]

I think it makes them really light in the hands, because you are really using voice aids and the slightest resistance in rein to change direction without the weight of the rider to adjust their balance. I am always amazed how quickly they pick it up.

If you are using long reins and passing them through a ring (or stirrups) then you are in effect creating a pulley, and that increases the weight on the horse's mouth by an exponential amount. So not "light in the hands", but sucked back from the contact. You cannot correctly give an aid for a ridden horse without the use of the seat and legs.

 

[DabDab]

I don't tend to long rein or lead out on hacks much unless the horse is a really nervous nellie type. Like some others up thread, I tend to just tat about with them until I think they would be alright for me to get on.

I also rarely have a full compliment of both saddle and bridle when I get on them for the first time, but it's fairly horse dependent. And I don't hack out in company first. I introduce hacking friends once they are confident alone.

 

[ycbm]

Since I haven't been able to tell the difference between a horse started using long reins and one not when I come to ride them, I've come to the conclusion that the majority of the benefit is that the person doing the starting is able to watch the horse calmly dealing with life before they get on. But it's also my experience that the vast majority of horses are simple to back and ride away, and only a small/ tiny proportion ever give any trouble.

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[ycbm]

I don't tend to long rein or lead out on hacks much unless the horse is a really nervous nellie type. Like some others up thread, I tend to just tat about with them until I think they would be alright for me to get on.

I also rarely have a full compliment of both saddle and bridle when I get on them for the first time, but it's fairly horse dependent. And I don't hack out in company first. I introduce hacking friends once they are confident alone.

I hack alone because I have little choice to do it easily any other way. I'm very interested that you choose to.

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[DabDab]

I hack alone because I have little choice to do it easily any other way. I'm very interested that you choose to.

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Well these days I suppose I don't have much option either I suppose...

But yeah, personally I like to concentrate on the horse I'm riding without having to have half a thought on what the other horse and rider is doing, if there is a scary thing then I would prefer to start the conversation about going past without a lead sooner rather than later, and because I have almost always only had road hacking I find drivers are a lot more tolerant and helpful to a lone rider on a young horse than if there is another with them trying to buffer the youngster or whatever.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

If you are using long reins and passing them through a ring (or stirrups) then you are in effect creating a pulley, and that increases the weight on the horse's mouth by an exponential amount. So not "light in the hands", but sucked back from the contact. You cannot correctly give an aid for a ridden horse without the use of the seat and legs.

The only time you wont (shouldn't) create a pulley is when long reining tiddlers ? but that's bye the bye, as there will never be a skilful set of hands on tiny ponies, ever. I haven't yet met an under 7 with good hands, seat and legs combined ?
The only decent hands they will get would be when driven by a capable adult.

 

[Gloi]

If you are using long reins and passing them through a ring (or stirrups) then you are in effect creating a pulley, and that increases the weight on the horse's mouth by an exponential amount. So not "light in the hands", but sucked back from the contact. You cannot correctly give an aid for a ridden horse without the use of the seat and legs.

I never put the reins through anything until they are ready to go in the trap. I find it's too easy with a youngster for something to make it spin and end up facing you . If the rein isn't through anything it's no big deal they can just go on a circle but if they are through a ring or stirrup you can get in the awkward position of it facing you and running back pulling on the bit which I've seen folk get in a mess with.

 

[dorsetladette]

Since I haven't been able to tell the difference between a horse started using long reins and one not when I come to ride them, I've come to the conclusion that the majority of the benefit is that the person doing the starting is able to watch the horse calmly dealing with life before they get on. But it's also my experience that the vast majority of horses are simple to back and ride away, and only a small/ tiny proportion ever give any trouble.

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And those few are the ones that show the ones that show the good horseman from the bad. The bad tend to do irreversible damage. (can you tell its a sore point)