Long-reining again

[solomon]

Tips please, I struggle!

[spotti]

We did a bit of longreining yesterday (OH wanted a go) and faith was fab. Sadly I can't offer any helpful advice as its faith who teaches me what to do! I'm sure brig will have some helpful hints and tips (maybe DB too as I think she does a lot of longreining with the boys) but my only tip would be: don't be scared of trying using just one rein...I get my fingers in a pickle with 2 reins and spend most of my time reorganising them but with one rein we just get on with it...only thing to watch out for with one rein is flying hooves! With the one rein being shorter overall, just be careful of hind hooves if Pete gets a bit giddy/grumpy because a kick in the face flippin' hurts!!! Other than that, have a go and just have fun . Maybe having someone walking at the front until Pete gets used to working on his own might be beneficial (faith likes following my OH an also he doubles up as a good carrot-giver for when she's good ).

Good luck and have fun!

[pboy]

My RI here in Hong Kong got a special long-rein made by a saddler - it's about 1.5 times the length of a lunge line and has clips at both ends, so it's literally a single long-rein! Much easier to use than two lunge lines. I usually start with some double-lunging and then we wiggle around the arena in an attempt to long-rein correctly I'm sure practice will make perfect... My RI tells me that you should use the reins as if you were riding - so maintain the outside contact, keep your elbows bent and contact soft and keep the horse moving forwards.

I've also started doing more in-hand work, which is good fun. I've decided to see if I can teach my ex-racer to do Spanish Walk over the summer, when it's too hot to do too much serious work!

[racaille]

That sounds like fun Pboy!

I'm a bit of a novice too at LR but have done some with Paco who struggles a bit with it. I guess you just have to keep at it?

[brigadier]

Problem with one long continous rein is that if the horse tries to spin or goes thrip ding over something and you get your foot caught in it.................
Dont wear lace up shoes- the laces always come undone!

The best tip is when turning dont try to open and lead- it doesnt work, you have to bring the inside rein across your body towards your opposite elbow. Keep contact soft unless you need to steady the pace and never pull back- its block and release, block and release!