Does anybody long rein on the roads alone?

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skydancer

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I am long reining my filly at the mo and need to long rein her regularly BUT have problems getting people to accompany me - r there many of u that long rein alone? Thanks:)
 
skydancer said:
I am long reining my filly at the mo and need to long rein her regularly BUT have problems getting people to accompany me - r there many of u that long rein alone? Thanks:)
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Interesting that you should post this. I have a rising 3yo who I will be starting soon.

I think that long lining a youngster is a superb part of their education, but I wouldn't go on the roads nowadays without an accompanying person. They need to be there 'just in case' to be able to step in and assist in case of trouble IMHO.
 
Yes, I do. Initially on a quiet lane with room to pull off to one side if something's coming. Once they're going forward, I find no problem with handling them alone. If you need to, just ask for halt, and go to their head, with the off side rein around their haunches.

I managed to long rein two of mine as a pair out on the road alone a few months ago. They already drive single, and I know them both well. I had to push on the slow one a bit, but it went well.

Sometimes I think having an additional person can distract the pony and, although it's undoubtedly a help, it can set up some funny behaviours. One I broke was a bit of a wuss, and relied on his 'helper' psychologically. We had more trouble getting him not to 'cling' to people on foot than we did asking him to pull the carriage.
 
once they've done it a couple of times with company then yes-its great for getting them out in front and solving any backwards thinking before being ridden out alone (which I also do asap). Initially OH comes with me but more for moral support of me than anything else and he starts off by their heads before walking beside me until needed-if he is. :) We are very rural-lots of farm traffic-I don't have any facilities either so have to get on with it.
 
No never it's just not safe there are two many variables you can't control .
I do long rein on private roads alone but always take someone on public ones .
 
I do on lanes but I only usually have native types, I'd be a bit wary of something more reactive, though my friend long reins all sorts out. I rarely have problems with hacking out alone once I start riding. I hate having to rely on people, they never seem to be available when needed.
 
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I don't and wouldn't with my current horse just wouldn't be safe as he can be very naughty on long rein. Somebody at my yard does with her oldie as he can't be ridden anymore and it works great for her and her horse, he loves to still be able to go out.
 
I have done in the past with an OTTB who needed to get used to hacking alone, both of us wore hi-viz but people did worry when they saw what they thought was a loose horse! However I do think it depends on your roads, I was long-lining down quiet lanes in a very horsey area so people were used to dealing with horses (which was lucky when I got decked and the person was competently able to catch my pony and come back to look for me :) ).
 
I do :) Tbh when I used to take my big known napper out on my own I set the reins up as running reins so it would have been much harder for him to get away (He used to get away from be both under saddle and in hand!) but we still went :)
 
I have only ever been alone or known other breakers that do it alone, never with a helper as that instils cowardice in the horse and you end up with more problems that need to be sorted out unnecessarily. That is the point of long reining during breaking, for the horse to go forward and in preparation of riding alone. However, it's always been only when they are completely obedient to the aids are they taken out onto the lanes to learn about traffic, it would be very foolhardy to do otherwise. I would hate a 'helper' as they would be a big distraction when all your attention should be on reading your horse and their reactions to be able to do it properly. If roads near you are too busy then perhaps boxing up to somewhere quieter would be appropriate - and good practice for their later life.
 
I used to with my old pony, he was an angel :) took him on all sorts of lanes/roads/through country parks etc never put a hoof out of place! Always kept him fairly short (wasn't a kicker) and could pull him into the passing spaces same as any other horse on the road. Could trot him, even send him out on a circle at a canter in the middle of a field and he was the same as always :) he's a star that one! Loved his little hacks.

But i wouldn't even attempt it with current pony! As much as she's more willing to put her all into working, the longreins blow her mind and make her pretty unpredictable! I take her out inhand instead
 
I used to with unbacked youngsters 20ish yrs ago, did with kids fantastic pony up till she went on loan 4 yrs ago but the last time I long lined on the road (I was with company) a car tried to cut in between me and the pony (I kid you not). I was only about 5 paces behind the pony but he tried to pull in in front of me and behind her- I always carried a parelli stick when long lining it made a lovely thud as I cracked the car with it-idiot man he was, then an exchange of words followed and as we walked away my friends 14yr old daughter who was hacking with me told me I was quite scary :D:D:D

I stick to long lining on tracks around the farm now
 
Thank you for starting this thread as I have a slight variation in question if you wouldn't mind me adding? I can't ride at the moment and will soon lose my rider, in the interim could I long rein my bombproof 14 year old cob alone? Some are saying not to long rein alone, but this isn't a youngster. She doesn't lunge well but long reins nicely, I've just never done it 'out' but I think I'd quite like to. I presume you would think this as risky as doing a youngster?

I'm going to be walking the horse and then walking the dog!!
 
Goldenstar said:
No never it's just not safe there are two many variables you can't control .
I do long rein on private roads alone but always take someone on public ones .
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Totally agree, you simply do not have the control if there is the issue.
 
Maesfen said:
I have only ever been alone or known other breakers that do it alone, never with a helper as that instils cowardice in the horse and you end up with more problems that need to be sorted out unnecessarily. That is the point of long reining during breaking, for the horse to go forward and in preparation of riding alone. However, it's always been only when they are completely obedient to the aids are they taken out onto the lanes to learn about traffic, it would be very foolhardy to do otherwise. I would hate a 'helper' as they would be a big distraction when all your attention should be on reading your horse and their reactions to be able to do it properly. If roads near you are too busy then perhaps boxing up to somewhere quieter would be appropriate - and good practice for their later life.
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How does have someone walking beside you make the horse a coward ?
 
yes, did yesterday as he had physio the day before and it was invaluable while rehabbing barefoot and after every other injury because he is an idle walker in hand but really likes long reining - although yesterday he did seem to want to have a chat with everyone we met..... (he is 21 and fab with traffic though and I the size of any likely issue would be just as manageable on long reins as on top- though often he is just walking out on a long rein).

So yes I would mongoose.

I do ensure that I don't stand directly behind so drivers can see there is a horse there too and am usually pretty close so we have a short train length ;)
 
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Yes, I do too but only once the horse understands what is expected and is confident with traffic. Cars tend to be more respectful than when I'm riding. Like with anything you do with training, you factor in all the elements that could go wrong and make a risk assessment. There's no point in hoping you'll be ok, you have to be pretty confident that its going to be successful.
Some roads are not safe, it depends what is available locally. Residential areas are safer than bendy country lanes and rat run link roads. I do take someone else on foot once or twice but its a bit self defeating having someone at the head as the horse takes the lead from them instead. Having a second person who walks beside you at the back is ok, as they can go to the head if there's a hazard coming up. Particularly useful for seeing traffic at junctions.
 
MerrySherryRider said:
Having a second person who walks beside you at the back is ok, as they can go to the head if there's a hazard coming up. Particularly useful for seeing traffic at junctions.
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This. I agree that having someone walking alongside the horse is a distraction, but an extra bod, who keeps out back and out of the way unless needed, is strongly advisable IMHO.
 
Goldenstar said:
How does have someone walking beside you make the horse a coward ?
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If you have them beside you they are a distraction and risk of being in the wrong place if anything happens if they don't see it coming or weren't paying attention to you and the horse and if they're beside the horse, the horse will have a lead which you don't want plus his mind will be on them instead of who is driving him; you might just as well lead out in hand if that's the case, it isn't teaching the horse to go forward alone and trust you which is basically what long reining breakers is all about.

Totally agree with MerrySherry too.
 
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