Long lining tack questions

[ndfayanne]

Hello COTHers! You’ll typically find me in the dressage forums, but I have a questions related to long-lining tack and equipment and I know there is a wealth of knowledge in this group.

I have a 14 y.o. Welsh Cob who I like to long-line a few times a month to help develop his topline. I just invested in some nice flat-webbed driving/long lines and a lightweight driving whip that I really like. I have a clunky old leather surcingle that I don’t like as much! I’ve long lined him with the surcingle and it’s…okay. It slips no matter what ring I put my lines through with or without a cotton pad underneath. I’ve attached a breastplate to stop the slipping but I’m lazy and I want to have minimal equipment to mess with. To that end, I’ve also long-lined him without the surcingle, just running the lines over his back or under his tail, but I have a hard time getting the right control of the reins that way. What other simple and economical solutions do you propose? I am not opposed to gerrymandering some old tack laying around, or a trip to the hardware store for rings/clips.

Suggestions appreciated!

[luvmyhackney]

Just add a crupper. It will stay centered and in place.

[ndfayanne]

Oh gotcha. To keep the surcingle from slipping. Thanks @luvmyhackney

Any other suggestions on an even simpler set-up? Can I get away without the surcingle at all?

[endlessclimb]

Use a saddle, put the long lines through the stirrups?

[NancyM]

As @endlessclimb says… use a saddle, put the long line through the stirrups, AND tie the stirrups to the girth to hold everything steady. Yet another use for bailing twine.

[DMK]

The simplest way would be to buy a proper driving saddle that has a proper tree and gullet, along with tugs (since driving saddles don’t have side rings) and the girth, but it would be a VERY expensive simple solution!

I’d stick with the saddle if you don’t want to find out if he’s a crupper kind of guy.

[luvmyhackney]

A crupper is cheaper that a proper driving saddle and every horse should be able to deal wearing one. It’s no worse than if they get a line up the butt.

OP when you decide to upgrade equipment get rolled lines vs the flat webbed. So much easier for them to slide through the rings.

[DMK]

Somehow I feel like my post must have caught an updraft and soared too high.

[DiamondJubilee]

I have long lined a large horse with just a saddle and rolled down the stirrups and ran the lines through them (just as others have suggested).

It works, but a surcingle (or driving saddle with crupper) works better but the horse I was starting is much larger than my ponies so it made do!

[greenviewfarms_md]

I longline round ponies and find the only thing that does not slip is an actual treed driving saddle with crupper. Check out driving groups on FB or FB marketplace you can sometimes get a deal on something secondhand!

[M1ssmouse]

Long rein with saddle on, reins through stirrups which are let down and tied to the girth.

[Equibrit]

One of these with a short elastic girth ? ( Most good long lines will be rolled at the horse end and flat at the driver end.)

https://www.barefootsaddlesusa.com/Barefoot_Surcingles_p/surcingle.htm

https://flexigirth.com/

[ndfayanne]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. He should tolerate a crupper fine. He was originally trained to drive.

Sounds like that doesn’t always prevent slippage tho?

[luvmyhackney]

If you are having slippage with a crupper, either tighten your surcingle a hole, it should be snug, but not tight, or try a non slip pad under the surcingle. You can use non-slip cabinet liner and cut to fit.