Starting to long rein?

[B_31]

Youngster is almost 2 but a mature, quiet girl imo...in 4 weeks shes gone from unhandled to bitted/rollered and girthed (happily), ive easily chucked lunge lines over her bum and she dosent flinch.

My other horse was long reined from quite early and was easy to break (i was told) so want the same for this one.

I do not plan to lunge until shes 3 as i do think this is bad for the joints younger than 3...i also dont plan to break her until shes 3 but will be sitting on her around 2.5 (sitting and nothing else)! -

So - where to start with long reining? im on my own so would have to be done with just me any advice???

I dont plan to start for a while yet - shes still on the key bit and im not sure when to also switch that over into a straight bar (another month or so??) then i will start long reining and walking her out

thanks.

[GinaGeo]

At almost two, I wouldn't be thinking of Long Lining yet. It really does help to have two people on hand when you start, even if it is just for the first few sessions, you don't want a confused horse on your hands. Mine start off being led with someone else long lining behind them, they understand being led, and then make the link between aids from leading and the new ones with long lining.

Mine wasn't started in anyway until the Autumn of his three year old year and was then turned away for about four months. He was easy as they come to back and ride away.

[elmere]

So she's a yearling? I have nothing against long reining but starting them early or late has no real difference tbh as its their basic temperament that will determine how they take to being backed and a more mature horse will likely be a lot more settled than a youngster. Long reining should only need one person if done correctly, the backing at 2.5 though? Whats the rush?

[B_31]

Thanks - i did say in a few months!! meaning she will be two when i do long rein her!


elmere - no rush as such...i just plan on long reining her a couple of times a week max (more like once) until shes ready to be backed

a lot of good eventers sit on (not break...) their horses at 2-2.5 to knock the attitude out of them...personal choice

I wont be lunging or properly riding/breaking her until shes 3+...

[mountainsandhorses]

I have no issue with long reining in straight lines down lanes etc WITHOUT A BIT from the headcollar or, better still, a dually. So long as you are just encouraging the young horse to learn "walk on" and "wait"/""halt" then I don't see the stress on joints etc if it is little ten min max sessions. I think a horse's soft mouth is to be prized and the more it bruises/gets sore the harder it is. So I would leave the bit for much later....I currently start youngsters without a bit and find, for me, it encourages them to go forward and means I can use the voice and seat in the same way with a bit later on in a much lighter fashion. That's just my humble opinion though There are some really good books on long reining- I think my favourite was a really old one by Jennie Loriston-Clarke.

[B_31]

thanks ^

i will happily long rein off a headcollar - i apprecaite the advice as its my first youngster!

my other horse is in a snaffle and is very mouth sensitive...anything other than a snaffle she will deck me...i dont want this youngster as sensitive as her on purpose..

yes - absolutely NO circles, tight turns etc - literally up the field - massive turn and then back - and finish!... i dont believe in hammering joints as babies...

[jacksprat]

we started our youngster in a happy mouth bit, he mouthed up beautifully on that. after a couple of months we switched him to the ns starter bit, he is now 4 and has one of the softest mouths i have ever known.