Long and Low

[ashlingm]

I will be getting a horse soon who has not been working in a few years and I was told I must get her to warm up long and low. As far as I know shes just been sat up on and worked but since shes coming in from a few years off I must get her to do this to hold herself properly and open up through her back.
I would rather work her from the ground first so she can build herself up without the added strain of myself on top. What exercises or 'gadgets' would encourage her to go long on low.
Thanks

 

[competitiondiva]

lunge and long line with either a chambon or a harbridge will help to stretch the muscles over the back and topline and increase the strength there.

 

[Zabby]

Working on long reins or in hand would help. There you can do all the regular excercises like shoulder in, shoulder out, leg yields etc, all the way to piaf or whatever.

To get long and low, you could probably do that from the back too since it's not that load of work for a horse. But I'd ride or lead on circles, ''S-shapes'' or figure 8s, being careful to keep a very light or nonexistent contact on the rein and moving the horse with my body and legs. At all costs avoid ''pulling'' the horse around by the rein, but just lightly bending the nose so I saw the inside ear and eye and then turn myself in the direction I'd want to go, without dropping a shoulder (at least I tend to do that if I get sloppy). That should encorage the horse to seek down and forward and getting the hind engaged hile in balance.