Long reining help please

[Gusbear]

My boy has had a sore back (sadly partly my fault as my saddle does not fit him properly). The physio has said no lunging but rather straight work for the next two weeks. I've just ordered a new saddle which is still a couple of weeks away. He is getting a bit fidgety as he hasn't been ridden now for a couple of weeks. One of the girls at my livery suggested long reining as this should help him build confidence and also help bond with him.
I've absolutely no idea how to do it, apart from watching a few YouTube videos. I am keen to give it a go but don't want to make a mess of it.
Any suggestions from any experts out there please?

 

[Jazzy B]

Practice in an enclosed area to start with, let the long lines drag behind you to start with before you even attempt to have them all collected nicely as to do this as well is far to much to deal with (I found so anyway ) and if you pony has never done it before, get somebody to stand at his head whilst you get going. I used to hate long reining and my back lady recommended it I actually quite enjoy it now and its really helping my boy!

 

[ChesnutsRoasting]

As per Miss Bean You will need somebody to walk by his side, until he gets the gist of voice commands coming from behind. Wear gloves, just in case.

 

[jennyf]

As above but with regard to yourself, try to remember to relax, breathe, try not to tense up your body, remember, all this tension will be felt by your horse, exactly the same as when riding. Keep shoulders down, elbows and wrists 'soft'.

 

[stencilface]

I wouldn't let the lines drag behind you!

Have a friend at the front to start with, and at first just attach one rein to the bit and practise just walking behind the horse and letting them see the rope swing along beside and behind them, then attach the second rein with friend still at front and practise with voice commands and aids. Going out on the roads (and esp hill work would be good for his back) is great, but unless you really trust your horse, I wouldn't go without a person at the head.

Also long rein over ground poles in the school to help with the back

 

[Jazzy B]

I wouldn't let the lines drag behind you!

curious?? why not? surely when your concentrating on what the horse is doing this is the easiest way to do it until you become more handy and are able to collect the lines and hold them properly. I would say it would stop bunching, stop you in getting your hands twisted around the ropes and enable you to concentrate on getting the horse to A and B! Have done this with all of mine and never had a problem/

 

[Ibblebibble]

I wouldn't let the lines drag behind you!

curious?? why not? surely when your concentrating on what the horse is doing this is the easiest way to do it until you become more handy and are able to collect the lines and hold them properly. I would say it would stop bunching, stop you in getting your hands twisted around the ropes and enable you to concentrate on getting the horse to A and B! Have done this with all of mine and never had a problem/

i would rather have the lines in my hand so that i know exactly where they are rather than dragging on the floor and risk getting wrapped round my legs, which knowing how good i am at getting tangled in the wire when i'm hoovering, would surely happen. If you can lunge safely with the line in your hand then long reining shouldn't be any harder

 

[Holly Hocks]

I wouldn't let the lines drag behind you!

Have a friend at the front to start with, and at first just attach one rein to the bit and practise just walking behind the horse and letting them see the rope swing along beside and behind them, then attach the second rein with friend still at front and practise with voice commands and aids. Going out on the roads (and esp hill work would be good for his back) is great, but unless you really trust your horse, I wouldn't go without a person at the head.

Also long rein over ground poles in the school to help with the back

This exactly! ^^^
I am long reining my mare daily at the moment as she is rehabbing from injury. Every morning we're out on the roads at 7am. I love it, and as soon as I arrive my mare gets really excited, especially when I get her hoof boots out, so I guess she's enjoying it too! Once you get going and start to feel confident it's really enjoyable. I go out on my own with no problems at all, but I'm very confident in my horse and I'm also pretty confident that I know what I'm doing (unlike when I'm actually riding!). Good luck!

 

[Jazzy B]

okay so its just me that let my lines drag behind whilst I was learning well nevermind, cos now I'm an expert and brilliant at at!!

 

[Holly Hocks]

okay so its just me that let my lines drag behind whilst I was learning well nevermind, cos now I'm an expert and brilliant at at!!

LOL!! I wasn't quoting Stencilface about the lines - just about the way she would go about teaching the horse. I can understand why you would want the lines behind you and it depends on how long the lines are I suppose. It's just something I've never actually thought of before...I can guarantee that if I tried that, I would end up with them tied round my legs!

 

[Jazzy B]

I just found it impossible not to do it that way too much to think about, didn't really think about them getting wrapped around my legs aspect and the whole hoover thing

 

[Borderreiver]

Lots of people long rein with dragging lines and it's great to desensitise the horse having flapping things behind him and around his legs. There are many ways to do it so be comfortable with your chosen method and enjoy it.