29/09/2020
What is long lining?
Long lining is the lost art of working your horse from the ground with two reins. It very closely simulates riding. It’s a great tool to get your horse comfortable with having something behind them, Turning and Stopping if just learning and building confidence in the horse to be able to move forward with out being lead.
Why is it Far More Advantageous than Traditional Lunging or Using a Pessoa?
When long lining, you can:
*Halt
*Half-halt
*Do lateral work (move your horse sideways)
Steer and balance your horse to improve their biomechanics
See the direct effect your communication cues, posture and energy are having on your horse and make corrections more easily than riding
See where the root cause of a challenging or “stickie area” is coming from, such as not stepping under in the hind end or the inability to bend in the rib cage or the neck
Easily move your horse all around the arena, and use poles, caveletti, and even small jumps.
When lunging in a traditional manner or using a pessoa, you do not have the benefit of two reins. The communication and effectiveness of your cues is greatly diminished. In many cases, you simply cannot give effective cues at all as you only have a connection to one side of your horse’s body. You also cannot easily do all of the movements mentioned above. It is also much more difficult to get a fully accurate and clear picture of where you and your horse might be having communication issues, or places where you or your horse might “cheat” when doing transitions or movements. For example, a horse who may have a “stickie area” when it comes to bending in their ribs is easier to communicate with and help via long lining because your connection with both inside and outside reins enables you to influence the shape of the horse’s body.
Long Lining Basics:
As you long line, your body and posture effects what is happening with your horse, just like when you ride. Stand up straight, engage your core, and bring your shoulders back. This will bring your horse in better balance and will allow your cues to be clear. If your body position is lacking, your horse can:
*Tend to fall in on their circle or straight line with their body
*Lose energy
*Lose the contact on your reins (the long lines.)( Which I show in the non-correct way of Long Lining)
Three Common Issues Long Lining Can Help Solve….
1. Working on a Weakness in Your Horse
Have you ever seen or ridden a horse that was so weak it was challenging for them to canter on the correct lead or change directions correctly in any gait in a balanced, fluid manner? Have you ever ridden or seen a horse that is weaker on one side when being ridden? Long lining can help solve these common problems!
Long lining enables you to teach your horse how to engage and strengthen their back and abdominal muscles so they can balance more easily and properly without having to worry about learning this while balancing you, the rider, at the same time. Once your horse has improved on the long lines, it will be much easier for them (and you!) to apply these learnings under saddle. Many training issues can be solved faster and more holistically by fixing them on the long lines first.
There are a couple different ways too Long Line. Everyone has one way that works for them. I like to start of having the Bridle on and hooking the lines on the bit. I like to keep everything basic in the beginning. I will get the horse to move off from my pressure and staying back to help direct the horse just like I would from the ground. Once I notice the horse moving correctly and listening to my cues, then I move forward adding the Surcingle. Adding this help place are hands in a better position for the horse to feel , as if we were in the saddle actually turning them.. Eventually Saddle will be the next move. I feel this technique helps the horse to understand better on what they are suppose to do before we, as in Owners/ Riders/ trainers would cause if we were riding them.
Here are some different ways to Long Line a Horse:
Start your horse at a walk so they can get use to someone walking behind them.You may carry a long dressage whip in one hand to help encourage them. You want the horse to eventually come into the bit. As you are asking the horse to move into a figure 8 to change, lift your hands like you would lunging overs croup to the other side- this moves in itself will become the indication four hours to expect a change in direction.
2) Try a different walking position and practice so that you change smoothly from one position to another. You can start far behind the horse using the entire length of the lines. As you come closer to the horse, place the mind- point of the lunge hangs in an orderly loop in your hand. Your reins must be organized, because serious injuries can occur.
3) This way of long lining you can be placed off to the side of the horse. You will not stand in the triangle when performing the long Lining, you need to be back towards
the croup in safe distance. The reins will be loose and one over the horses back. This will help the horse to walk in a tighter circle. This is you a way to use the reins to make them move forward.
There are so many benefits when working your horse this way. Nothing is forced in the train. The horse can learn more on their own, without us interfering. Understanding voice commands from the Ground /Up, bounding with your horse
