Longeing for fitness and balance

[RedHorses]

@Demerara_Stables

Teach him to walk on the longe. If he can only walk in a 5m circle in the beginning, then so be it. He can get more line when he can behave. He also needs to march in the walk. Building fitness doesn’t happen with a meandering, putsing along walk. Keeping him marching may also require a smaller circle at the walk until he gets it.

Shorter line, not necessarily smaller circle. I also work on the principle that the horse has to earn the longer line, but I also teach “out” very early so that I can walk with them at a distance and do straight lines, larger circles, and cloverleaf on the short line.

As the longer line is earned, I will take it away again as necessary. Reeling them in as soon as they’re ignoring my down transition cues, and then sending them back out to the longer line again as soon as they’re paying attention again. I’ve had sessions that looked a bit like I was playing yoyo with the horse!

[endlessclimb]

Eh, a horse is going to get tangled in lines in their life. Better to train them how to deal with it rather than praying it never happens. Just don’t double lunge on a bridle until they’ve gotten themselves into a pickle or two (engineered or not) so they don’t tear their mouth up.

[CanteringCarrot]

Yeah, there are some building blocks I have to install and boxes I have to check before long lining a horse. I like to make sure they don’t face me, are ok with the lines flailing around, are ok with feeling the lines on their body, and don’t have a panic response of they get tangled in something or step on a line/rope. You don’t have to do any of this initial stuff in a bridle.

For me, side reins have their place, but their not “horse yoga” as much as posture work and slow moving strength exercises are, to me, anyway. Side reins can address part of the problem, maybe, but aren’t the solution on their own, IMO.

I think it’s hugely beneficial to do “leg yields” or side passes from the ground. Also add in shoulder in, turn on the hanches, turn on the forehand, and slow controlled backing up with the head/neck in a neutral/soft position (reverse in straight lines and L shapes). This all helps with strength and shows the horse how to move parts of their body independently when directed. They also find new balance points and if done correctly, naturally encourages a stronger and more proper posture.

[shall]

@Pehsness

I think those Manolo videos will be my winter project.

Me, too. Thanks for the thread.

[Pehsness]

Follow up - are surcingles a worthwhile piece of equipment? Right now if I use side reins (blue moon event) I just use an old one contact saddle I have. If I were to learn long lining etc would the surcingle be useful?

[Demerara_Stables]

Yes, I use a surcingle for long lines. Make sure you get one that has large enough rings at the horse’s mid-barrel to pass the snaps on your lines through (some rings are only big enough to snap lines to, not pass lines through).

You can also use a saddle and pass the lines through the stirrups, you just tie the stirrups together with twine under the belly or tie each stirrup to the girth.

[luvmyhackney]

For long lining the correct equipment makes it much easier.

Lines that are rolled to pass through the rings and a surcingle are fabulous investments and not overly expensive compared to a new saddle.

[GraceLikeRain]

@Pehsness

I just use an old one contact saddle I have.

Any chance the saddle doesn’t fit as well as his standard saddle? Could explain the reactive behavior on the line that you aren’t seeing under saddle?

[Pehsness]

Good question - I have considered that, but he’s worse without the saddle. It actually fits him decently, and there’s no weight in it.

I think he’s worse without it because he associates a saddle with work, and doesn’t really know what to make of being asked to work when he’s “naked”.

He would ride throught a forest fire because that is what he knows. I’m just trying to stuff a square peg in to a classical round hole and making mistakes along the way. He tolerates me and gets a cushy retirement in exchange

[Pehsness]

I love this photo.

[Demerara_Stables]

Thank you My 3yo’s first time in long lines

[skydy]

I agree with @Ambitious_Kate.

A proper longe cavesson like this: https://www.bigdweb.com/waldhausen-anatomic-leather-lunging-caveson?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoPyOvbfVigMVcyytBh2JGR_oEAQYASABEgL_F_D_BwEis a very worthwhile investment and is designed specifically for the purpose. Buy one if you possibly can. The home styled configurations that people use to longe can do more harm than good, to the point of being dangerous. Here is a short blurb about longeing cavessons https://www.jecballou.com/trainingtips/why-a-longe-cavesson
A surcingle is a very good idea as well, but learn how to use them correctly. There are plenty of books about longeing (and probably videos) read or watch about how to longe using a cavesson.

At some point in the future, side reins can be helpful for developing balance, but don’t use them before you learn how to safely introduce them. If you can find someone close (a good Dressage trainer should be helpful) who knows how to use them, have them teach you. If they immediately check the horse back tightly in them, stop them immediately and find a trainer who knows how to do it properly. Side reins have been the cause of some terrible wrecks when used by people who don’t know what they’re doing.

Enjoy the winter.