Long reining vs in hand walking

[Penguin_Toes]

Hi there

I have a rehab plan to follow from my vet (his SI and hocks have been medicated) and it says a week of long reining, 10 minutes a day, on natural terrain.

Now I have never long reined before, I am a fairly experienced amateur.

Should I bother learning for just a week? He's a sprightly horse, especially without proper work, I'd rather just lead him in a bridle at his head, it'll be the same amount of walking for me and I quite enjoy walking him about like a dog.

Or does long reining do something that walking in hand wouldn't? I know a professional can get a horse going nicely on long reins, but I can't imagine I will be able to, and I know I could actually hurt his mouth.

Tea and cake is reading for those reading this before 12pm, a glass of Rose for those this afternoon (it is Friday!)

 

[milliepops]

I'd just walk in hand in your situation.

 

[dorsetladette]

I've been in hand walking mine after hock injections. He enjoys it and so do I. He really marches on the way home so we still get a decent work out.

 

[Auslander]

I'd hand walk, personally. I've had too many near misses long reining fresh horses on a rehab plan to think it's a safe way to get them moving again! I want to be next to them, not behind them, when shit gets real!

 

[milliepops]

My welshie is a dreadful hack but she enjoyed going out in hand or on long reins, but she is well practiced and I had great control.
As well as needing to teach the horse/learn how to manage the reins, as you've mentioned that your horse is quite jolly OP, I'd suggest that you would need an additional person on the ground to start long reining. For that short period... just not worth it

 

[SOS]

I do think long reining a horse correctly is a very different way of working them to just leading in hand. However it’s also easy to long rein them incorrectly. Perhaps the vet wanted you to long rein due to the SI injections and wanted the horse working correctly from the ground? In which case this may be achieved safely by someone long reining and someone on a loose lead rope at the shoulder.

I’d maybe check with the vet on this one as post joint injection care is quite different depending on the reason it was done (was the horse lame before, musculature etc.). My horse has had hock injections a few times and it’s 24 hours box rest, a few days light work and back to normal work load within 7 days.

I would learn to long rein for the future though, it’s a very useful skill!

 

[Penguin_Toes]

Interesting! He's just had hock injections for low level arthritic changes starting, he wasn't 'lame lame', just not stepping under properly and dragging himself along on his forehand.

The SI area has been injected just because of secondary soreness and/or my vet realising I was insured up to £3,000

So really, long reining isn't magically different to walking in hand unless you are very good at it? My rational brain thought as much, but I wasn't sure

 

[sbloom]

Lead from both the right and the left, think about HOW you want him to move, and if you possibly can, follow a postural groundwork course, after injury it's critical that they learn to lift their thoracic sling, the lack of this is often what leads to these conditions/injuries in the first place, but vet rehab often limits itself to fitness, often recommending riding before those postural muscles have built up.

Long reining - definitely best learned at least with an expert, if not on an actual expert horse too!

 

[Polos Mum]

Maybe worth a quick call to your vet to check.
If it's movement - marching up hills that can easily be achieved 'dog walking'
There is walking and walking though. I take my youngsters out around the housing estate local to me. when we start we mooch along at a very leisurely pace sniffing all dustbins, shiny parked cars, drain covers etc. The 5 y/o that is in the process of being broken I try to march around up steep hills to really get him (and me) working.

Long reining you can get them to work more from behind on the bridle - you're unlikely to learn that in a week
For youngsters there's also a big difference not having someone to hold their hand up front - which is why I do it a lot - it teaches them independence unlike the dog walking when I'm 'with' them

 

[dorsetladette]

Just a thought - if you need straightness while rehabbing and your horse is a little 'jolly' it might be worth in hand walking with side reins on to help stop your horse turning in on you. Even one rein on the outside would help.

 

[Horseysheepy]

I wouldn't want to be situated in that position on an inexperienced long reiner who can be a bit fresh, especially as the focus is to rehab. I'd walk in hand, keep it calm and safe to benefit from the exercise. And you safe too.

 

[ester]

I long rein over hand walk because mine is a lazy arse to lead. In your situation I'd definitely be leading!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I would second using side reins to keep him straight, definitely would not want him bending round you.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Post gel hock injections and steroid SI medications, which were done on the same day, I walked my mare out in hand on a lunge line, with enough freedom for her to both be straight and to have full freedom of her head and neck. You want them swinging along freely.

She long reins well until we come to anything which could be construed as edible , so long lining is only done in the arena, not out near tasty verges and hedges.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would just walk in hand in this situation.

 

[Kaylum]

In Hand on a long lead rope so you can get out of the way if you need to.

 

[Leandy]

He should be working straight and pushing off evenly with both hind legs when long reining. This is harder to achieve when just leading. Perhaps this is what the vet is getting at. If I were you I would just be careful to try to lead on a longer rein so he stays straight to minimise the difference.

 

[Birker2020]

He should be working straight and pushing off evenly with both hind legs when long reining. This is harder to achieve when just leading. Perhaps this is what the vet is getting at. If I were you I would just be careful to try to lead on a longer rein so he stays straight to minimise the difference.

This is exactly why my physio and vet wanted me to long rein as my horse wasn't pushing off with one of his hinds, the idea to long rein him was to do transitions, i.e. walk to halt, to walk again to try and get that one hind leg to push off. But very hard to time the halt just right so the horse is pushing off immediately with that particular leg!

And every time another horse went past, a dog barked or a worm moved he'd start piaffing and acting a pillock. It was a nightmare tbh and my back was aching afterwards trying to control him!

 

[milliepops]

a week of 10 min walks isn't exactly a lengthy rehab plan though. if the vet had prescribed 6 weeks of long reining i'd be more inclined to put that into motion.

 

[Starzaan]

Long term rehab yard manager here. I would always long rein if possible - it is easier to keep a horse straight and get them to work correctly when long reining.

That being said, if you are inexperienced you can certainly do more harm than good when long reining, so definitely would suggest you either get a professional in to do it for you or teach you, or you make a real effort to walk in hand correctly - lead from both sides and ensure he’s straight and working as well as possible.