Teaching a young horse how to long rein

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I have a youngster that is going out in hand and walks and trots comfortably. I would like to move onto long lining/ long reining soon so she gains independence working forwards. How would I go about starting this process? What would be my first steps teaching her this?
 

EQUIDAE

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I have someone at the head leading her and over time have them step to the side and eventually further back. It's a good idea to have someone at least standing by her head until steering has been established - I've seen someone have a horse spin, get tangled up in the lines, and then went on to be scared of long lining and lunging too.
 

Sukistokes2

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I did what Equidae said. I stood by the head and the trainer walked behind. He picked up the idea in less then half an hour and there was no problem. I gradually moved further away and he got on with it. For the first few sessions I was on hand but after that the trainer worked on her own. I had my boy backed at home so I could be around.
 

stencilface

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I started with someone at the head too, then to work on my own I start by working them in hand with the reins at the wither, then gradually lengthen the reins so that I'm behind. This seems to be the best way to keep them calm.

I think if you get into bother you're supposed to let go of one of the lines and just keep hold of one and reel them in? I'm more of a 'cling on for grim death' type!
 

dollyanna

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It is worth if you haven't already done so making sure that vocal cues are solid (ie they will respond to the cue without you moving at all) before switching from leading to longreins - it makes the process much simpler for them and you as the only difference is where you are standing, they aren't also waiting for any rope cues/body language to tell them what to do.

Other than that just as the others have said, some prefer you to be the one going behind them with a new handler at the head, others prefer you to be at the head and the new handler going behind initially. I also break up the first few times frequently with lots of rewards, don't ask them to just keep going and going without reassuring them they are getting it right when they are calm. A few happy, relaxed stops and starts at the beginning pays dividends later on!
 

samlf

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Ideally as others have said - start with someone at the head. Unfortunately I dont have the luxury of a helper so have to do it all on my own.
It is do-able without a helper with a sane young horse if you take your time - best way is to lunge with two reins in walk and ensure your vocal cues are solid. Do some work inhand with turning/stopping and it wont be so much of a surprise when you ask for it on the long reins.
 

Cortez

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What would every on recommend to start with, long reining or lunging??

Lunging first, to get them moving forwards. Longreining is quite an art and I would recommend getting someone to teach you on an older, established horse before you try to start your youngster. At least one of you should know what you're doing (applies to most things to do with horses, actually...).
 

millitiger

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I teach to lunge first- to get them forwards, used to voice aids etc.
That usually only takes 2 sessions.

Then add outside line and bring over withers so they can start to get used to being asked to move away from me.
Then lines through surcingle / high stirrups and start them long reining in the circle with me diagonally behind them. Keep them on the circle for a minute and then you're off!
That all goes on in one session.

All lines to start with attached to headcollar first, then progress to lines run through bit rings but still clipped to headcollar- you must protect the mouth at all costs!
I only clip directly to the bit on experienced horses doing closer work on the lines, once they have an established mouth and understand contact.

Mine are all used to having lines flapped all over them and tightened around quarters/ girth area etc while in the stable anyway so they never care.
 

dollyanna

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I don't lunge youngsters so would always teach longreining first. You can do it bit by bit, starting very near the head and gradually dropping further back as they get more confident if you don't have a helper - but you don't need a helper for long so it is worth finding someone, even if you have to pay for them once or twice.
 

be positive

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I don't lunge youngsters so would always teach longreining first. You can do it bit by bit, starting very near the head and gradually dropping further back as they get more confident if you don't have a helper - but you don't need a helper for long so it is worth finding someone, even if you have to pay for them once or twice.

For someone inexperienced in long reining it is definitely easier to start by getting the horse lunging, it helps to start them listening to the voice from a distance, lets the handler become more confident in what they are doing and the steps towards long reining by lunging on two reins enable the horse to become more confident and used to carrying the tack.
I would strongly recommend the OP gets some help and training before starting their youngster, if all goes well it can be straightforward and set the horse up for life but if anything goes wrong it can be the quickest way to ruin a young horse, not to mention the handler potentially being injured if something goes amiss when they are trying to get going, this is not the time to cut corners.
 

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Taking away the aspect of maturity, when would you think about starting things like this? My filly Will be two at the start of next summer and I figured I would wait to try things like lunging until late next year but getting a lot of different opinions.
I'm very fortunate to have several highly experienced people to help me including her previous owner.
 

be positive

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Taking away the aspect of maturity, when would you think about starting things like this? My filly Will be two at the start of next summer and I figured I would wait to try things like lunging until late next year but getting a lot of different opinions.
I'm very fortunate to have several highly experienced people to help me including her previous owner.

I would not think about doing any more than basic handling, in hand walking/ trotting and possibly a few shows if you want to until she is at least 3, there is no benefit from starting too early and it may do some harm while they are still growing, you gain nothing by rushing and many young horses are just not mentally ready to take in what you are asking of them, some don't really mature mentally until they are 4 or 5 and physically they are certainly not ready.
Spend the next year or two letting her grow up, learning to be a horse and you can go and have some lessons on lunging and long reining so you are competent when she is ready to be started.
 

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I would still prefer to long rein first purely so I can take out in hand walks off the yard with the horse going first. I want her to be confident and quiet out and about on roads especially and I feel this is the best step. Again its not something Im planning to do for a long while yet, Im just enjoying taking my time with her, but future planning so I can confer with the people that are dealing with her know what were doing next, bit by bit.
 

D66

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Imo you lunge first (to build up a little muscle) then introduce bit and saddle, then start long reining (to give the basics of steering and moving forwards alone), before adding a rider.
You won't want to do this until the horse is at least three.
I used to take young horses for a walk through the village to get them used to the sights and sounds like taking a dog for a walk. Training them to go up to and touch stuff is good because it builds up their trust in you. :)
 

EQUIDAE

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I don't teach them to lunge first as I feel it is too much strain for young joints. I loose school them to get them responding to the voice, there's also less chance of them becoming unbalanced.
 
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