Down sides to long lining?

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Millertime

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I have a young (rising 3) ex race horse, she's only completed one season on the track, 7 races and didn't make it as wasn't fast enough.

I've started ground work, but her real job over the next 6 - 9 months is to grow, everything else is about us getting to know one another.

Late summer having established the ground work and at the grand old age of 3.5 I was planning to introduce long lining.

A friend has warned me however that this will (more likely may), teach my horse to run through my hand and is a sure fire way to ensure my horse has 'no mouth' by the time I get on-board and that it is also likely to turn an ex-race horse into a bolter.

For the record I usually long line in a dually. Any truth in my friends statement? I thought L/lines would be a great way to introduce my mare to the wider world (de-spook) and at the same time help her learn to balance herself and build muscle etc.

I still want to stick to plan A, but are there any merit in my friends comments? Anything I should do to ensure I don't create a bolter?
 
I long rein them in order to finish moutihing them, reins straight off the bit. Voice commands combined with use of the bit, so it;s not such a shock when I get on board.
Only a danger of them taking off if you're unlucky or thoughtless I would think.
 
I would rather do this than lunge. I believe it teaches a good mouth if you do it properly and take things slowly. I have long lined all mine and dont ride in anything stronger than a french link and dont own a martingale. I use a harbridge for riding and long lining -fantastic bit of kit- the only addition i have to my bridles no other extras
 
Well, I long lined my Welsh Cob round the field a lot, until one day she just took off. I couldn't turn her as we were walking between 2 trees at the time. She was already past them and I was going through the gap.

I didn't stand a chance of doing anything other than letting go.

Heard her clatter off and do a skidding slide into the galvanised gate with lines askew.

Gave up after that. Lunge or ride only from now on!!
 
We long line all of ours,everything from the youngsters to the ones coming back into work after injury. Never had a problem with the mouths at all whilst being long-reined, and we run the lines straight from the bit. Long-reing works brilliantly as a way to get them going forward.
 
I love long lining in fact I hardly ever lunge unless I am assessing specific movement. I believe that the long lines provide a channel which mimics what the legs and rider provide during riding compared to lunging where there is just a rein on one side. I find it great for babies although would rethink if the horse was becomming strong in the lines. But really I haven't come across any that don't take to it. I second what was said earlier about it being a step on from mouthing and would definately establish a horse doing this before getting on and asking for a contact etc
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have a young (rising 3) ex race horse, she's only completed one season on the track, 7 races and didn't make it as wasn't fast enough.

I've started ground work, but her real job over the next 6 - 9 months is to grow, everything else is about us getting to know one another.

Late summer having established the ground work and at the grand old age of 3.5 I was planning to introduce long lining.

A friend has warned me however that this will (more likely may), teach my horse to run through my hand and is a sure fire way to ensure my horse has 'no mouth' by the time I get on-board and that it is also likely to turn an ex-race horse into a bolter.

For the record I usually long line in a dually. Any truth in my friends statement? I thought L/lines would be a great way to introduce my mare to the wider world (de-spook) and at the same time help her learn to balance herself and build muscle etc.

I still want to stick to plan A, but are there any merit in my friends comments? Anything I should do to ensure I don't create a bolter?

[/ QUOTE ]


Your friends statement .....
confused.gif


Sorry rubbish .

Col x
smile.gif
 
absolute rubbish- i actually started to long rein my older horse because he was heavy to ride.

now i long rein him twice a week and the difference in the contact is really noticeable- much lighter because he has to balance himself and cannot pull me around
 
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