long reigning 2 yr old?

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Jesstickle

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I am thinking about teaching my 2 yr old to long rein. I won't lunge her because I don't want her going round and round in circles on her baby joints but is it ever ok to long reign at this age?

She is bitted and has been for over a year and has had a roller on a couple of times (completely unfazed by this)

I'm considering the long reinging as an extension to walking her out in hand which she is completely happy to do so basically walking in straight lines probably off a caveson rather than her bit.

For what its worth shes a TB and is mature mentally for her age. Walks over poles on the ground/scary plastic etc without even looking.

Is this the worse idea in the world? There is no rush with her she can carry on exactly as she is more or less indefinitely as I have plenty of others to get on with but she seems to enjoy 'doing' and being around people.

All opinions and advice more than welcome. Please call me a moron if you think I am being one!
 
I'll be teaching my 2 year old to long rein over the next couple of weeks, then I'll be long reining her round the fields and the school.

Lunging isn't as bad for them as everyone thinks, as long as the sessions are very short and they are mainly kept in walk with short periods of trot it can actually be beneficial to a young horse. I have just taught my youngster to lunge.

This post is quite interesting
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=384218
 
Well I feel somewhat buoyed by those replies. I've had lots of youngsters but I usually get them as three year olds so theyr'e ready to go and I really thought I was being stupid thinking it would be ok. Most of what I read on here seems to say leave them til they're 20 before you do anything with them and I was thinking that I must be the cruelest person in the world.

I think she'll love going for walkies. Especially if her buddy brown horse can come too. Bless him he's a good baby sitter considering he's only five himself!
 
My friend's just sat on her 2yo this week! Controversial?! She didn't batter an eyelid! She's been long reining her for a while now though, and plans to turn her away again in a couple of weeks til next spring :)
 
Go for it - far better than making something rush around in circles - i.e. lunging. Just be careful with her mouth, make sure you have a headcoller on under the bridle, and put the reins through the headcollar and the bridle.....aim for a rubber snaffle. If not using a roller, but a sadddle, tie the stirrups to the girth and tread the reins through. No more than 10 minutes, unless you have acres of quiet roads, lanes, estate, then just have fun. 10 mins on the long rein - 10 mins grazing, led in hand, make it a discipline, but fun as well. If horse p's off with you, then try to get it coming on a circle, as if you were lunging, so you can end up controlling, and horse does not realise that he has got the better of you.
If going out on the roads - make sure you have a helper to rush up front to the horse, reassure - and also slow traffic etc. down.
Don't do too much - make it fun and both of you enjoy!
 
My cob LOVES longreining (he gets to go first) and has been doing since 18months.

Not far or long, the the little inhand walks we do, once a week or so. He much prefers it to being lead.

I started off on a headcollar the introduced the bit. He now has the reins through the bit rings and onto the headcollar, which makes it roughly half and half.

He also carries his own dinner when going to a friends yard for vaccinations etc:


bobhacking002.jpg
 
Kallibear I love your beastie. He looks so zen about it all. Love that he carries his own lunch. Heheh. My two carry hay nets to the field in winter when they have three rugs on so the string doesn't dig in but thats inspired!

And dressedkez I wasn't even going to bother with the bit at all to start. Will put her bridle on but probably not use it. She isn't terribly wild so unlikely to piss off but daddy (poor OH) will walk up front with her till she gets the hang of it. He actually likes this one. Won't have anything to do with the others I'm backing/riding at the moment but she is special.

To be fair considering the merry blooming dance my big lad led me yesterday I'm not suprised. Any suggestions for horses which consistently pull away when anything they don't want happens? It goes everywhere in a bridle already but I can't even hold it in that anymore! It's a big bugger and didn't get the right education as a yoof! Won't have a bath won't have it's mane touched, yesterday wouldn't go on the lorry but usually he hops straight on. He's not scared he's just a stubborn mule about things.
 
Fab idea....keep her amused, the brain busy and it sounds like it's a casual fun thing. Use to love playing with the youngsters, they adore new stuff and it's great to see the characters come out. Enjoy.
 
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