Long and low

[HorsesRule2009]

Hello,

Just wondering if anyone can give me some helpful hints tips advise, on getting my mare to work long and low, and different exercises we can do.

She is coming back into full work after having time off from a back injury, which is now healed.

Have been advised to do lots of long and low work to help her.

I am having lessons with an instructor but just looking for hints tips and different experiences.

Thank you

 

[Charlie Bucket]

How does she work on the lunge? If she is relaxed this can be beneficial. Not necessarily with 'gadgets' (although some find pessoas helpful). Just get her going forward and she will most likely stretch down and round herself. Keep it short and sweet

Ridden work I have always found leg-yielding on a circle is great to encourage stretching. Start on a 20 metre circle and gradually make it smaller so that it is more of a 10m. Then gradually leg yield back out until you are riding the full 20m again. (I hope this is making sense!)

Lots of forward work with a soft, spongey contact, allowing the head to drop and the back to stretch works great too. Just make sure not to let her drop onto the forehand.

I'm sure there will be much more knowledgeable people to give you advice, but heres my two pence and what I have found works for me and mine

Good luck!

 

[Cortez]

I take it you are being advised to work long and low as an aid in strengthening the back muscles? A very good excercise for this is to work over trot poles whilst allowing the horse to "seek the hand", i.e. stretch forward and downward with a following hand.

 

[Kikke]

My mare is professional long and low goer. People always remark and ask how to do it.

My way to teach her was hill work. Trotting up hill. Nose on the ground. Place your hands wide and low almost on you knees. Keep asking with your fingers and give any time she takes!
Also long reining. If you know what and how to lunging but normally not the best for going long and low, unless you know how to do it propperly.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

Hello,

Thank you for the replies. Yes have been advised to do long and low work with her. So just wondering what everyone found to work with there own when doing this.

Thank you