Training

- USING LONG LINES 2

By Pam Hunter

Bonnie Long Lines

Here she is just walking in a relaxed manner with the lines on her hocks. Bonnie was not troubled by them at all. In this very first lesson she did buck when released after the saddle was cinched, but she only bucked a few times and it was over. She made no attempt to buck when I got on her. Everette has a line in each hand. It does take some practice to not get your feet tangled, so take care, we don't want any injuries. You can take up the end of the lines in a coil in your hand. Everette just doesn't happen to do it that way. He has started every one of our horses in this way.














Bonnie Long Lines

Here Everette is getting Bonnie to take a turn to the left. You can see how the right rein is relaxed and the left one is showing tension. He is gently tapping on the left line, which in turn gently taps on the bars of her mouth. Bonnie left this lesson with NO abrasions in her mouth, on her gums or wearing on the corners of her mouth.
















Bonnie Long Lines

Here is Bonnie at the trot. I was happy to see the extension in her front leg as her future is in Dressage. Notice how the lines are loose, not pulling on her mouth. To stop, just give gentle tugs, tapping the lines in a see-saw motion and say whoa. It may take time to get the horse to stop, don't worry, in these first lessons your horse is trying to figure out what you want. As soon as the horse stops, release the pressure. This is the reward.













Bonnie Long Lines

Here Bonnie is asked for a turn to the right. The right line is tapped, you can see the tension in is in the photo, while the left line is slack. Bonnie has yet to respond to the cue, but she does without a fight and has now turned both right and left. She has also stopped and backed. We ask for only one step back in the beginning.

The long line training session lasts about 1/2 hour, her entire session is about 1 hour and 10 minutes. She is doing great, showing a real willingness to learn. In our next session we will do the same thing, with less time in prep before hooking up the long lines. I will also stay mounted longer, and take a short ride around the round pen in both directions at the walk, possibly the trot. As each session gets better we will add more time in the saddle in the round pen and the indoor arena. By a month from starting we will be taking rides in the pasture without escort. Then the real training can begin. Bonnie is a 3 year old Trakehner x Irish Thoroughbred mare. For more information about her, please visit her page. She has great blood lines on her sire's side, mother's side is still under investigation. (Bonnie has been sold 2008.)

Long line training helps your horse learn to give to the bit before you mount. This way you have much more control than if you just got on with no ground work. You should be able to ask for a stop, turns, and a step back on your first ride. Use the same tapping or light pull and release you use while working on the ground. For books on training, visit our book store Training page.

This training can also be used when teaching various Dressage movements, when training for reining (Hearty can turn fast on a dime both ways while using the long lines, a skill he will need for cutting and reining.)

You can also us long lines to re-train a spoiled horse. Using the same principles outlined here, begin at the beginning, establishing new lessons, trust and time spent together without riding. Some horses appreciate the ground work and learn to respond better to the bit than ever before.

The same type of lessons are used when preparing your horse or pony to drive. There are additional steps involved to teach them to pull, wear a harness, and not fear the shafts. Never just hook your horse or pony to a cart without thoroughly preparing by ground work. You could at the least ruin the horse, and at the worst serious injury or even death could occur - to you or your horse. Driving is an involved sport, it takes training and skill. Please be safe. For books on training your horse to drive, visit our newest page in our book store, Driving.