long-reining advice please!

[karenjj]

Hi everyone,
I was just wondering how everyone on here long reins as I was taught one way by an instructor then someone else said I was doing it completely wrongly now I am not sure and want to make sure I am getting the best out of my long-reining sessions by doing it right!

Firstly, Jasper finds it hard to lunge on one rein due to an old injury, he was given the all clear but it is purely a psychological thing as he long-reins that way perfectly.

My instructor taught me to long-rein him in his bridle with a roller and do it as if I was lunging him so standing in the middle and just to have the rein on the outside to hold him out so he can't turn in and use body language and voice to direct his paces. The other lady told me I should be right behind him running all the way round the school with a lunge whip? How does everyone else on here do it and is it a good alternative to lunging? I am hoping doing this twice a week as well as schooling once and hacking out once will be a good routine to get into and hopefully help him eventually have an outline and do some dressage (we have done the walk and trot but came last both times!!)..what do you all think? Sorry this turned out to be so long!!!

 

[BSJAlove]

if you register on Horsehero, theres an awesome video on there on the 'how to' long line and it has got some AWESOME helpful things.

 

[spotty_pony]

The method you have described is known as lungeing with two lunge lines, whereas in proper long reining, you do stand directly behind the horse.

Hope this helps.

 

[ester]

I lunge with 2 reins otherwise Frank is lazy behind just in side reins I use a bridle and roller. From the bridle I thread each lunge rein through the top ring, then through the one half way down and then down the back of the horse.

I walk round behind him to warm him up and then put him on a circle and the outside rein sits on the hocks. Due to the length of the reins I do end up walking a circle in the middle otherwise the circle is a bit small.

hope that helps.

edited to add, the reason I put it through both rings on the roller is that he works less on the forehand if the ring straight from the bit is higher but I then put it through the lower one as other wise it pulls over the other side or gets stuck under his tail!

 

[quirky]

I lunge with 2 reins like you do, stood in the middle, off a bridle and with a roller. This allows me to help her with her balance and to stop her falling in.
I do walk behind her to go past new things and to take her to the road to see traffic as she is young .... I certainly don't run after her!!!

 

[Rollin]

I do it both ways. I use a saddle and bridle with stirrups tied down or driving saddle.

I never use a single lunge line. Some horses are worked in a circle (it certainly helps stop them falling in) and I have on who I rein from behind.

The latter is a young stallion with a clicky stifle. My osteopath has advised to work him is straight lines with no restriction on his head carriage. We do hill work to help build up his hindquarters.