What’s lengthy reining and when it’s useful?
“Lengthy reining has lengthy been an integral a part of the breaking-in course of when it comes to getting a horse used to the rein and voice aids and establishing the steering and brakes,” explains freelance rider and coach Brendan Gallagher. “It additionally provides you the chance to reveal a younger horse to eventualities exterior the sector, getting them extra assured occurring their very own.”
Lengthy reining is equally useful for older horses and people recovering from harm.
“You possibly can lengthy rein in straight traces, which is low stress and low depth, and it’s successfully like driving your horse however from the bottom,” says Brendan. “You should use half-halts – a squeeze and launch down the skin rein – and you may change the bend, ask for transitions and carry out many shapes and actions.”
For a horse that has been on field relaxation and desires rehabilitating, lengthy reining is ideal.
“It’s nice for bringing a horse again into mild work with out the rider having to get straight on, which is safer,” says Brendan.
“A horse that has been on field relaxation is more likely to be very recent, so having two reins provides you extra management [than when you are leading them in-hand or when lungeing]. It’s additionally a great way to heat your horse up earlier than you journey.”
Lengthy reining doesn’t should be restricted to the sector – so long as your horse is established within the lengthy reins, you may take them anyplace.
“It means you may negotiate undulating floor and hills, which may also help with bettering the horse’s stability,” advises Brendan. “It isn’t solely nice for younger horses since you get them striding out confidently whereas experiencing new issues, but it surely provides selection to an older horse’s routine, too.”
What tack do I want for lengthy reining my horse?
The most typical gear features a bridle or lunge cavesson with both a saddle (if you’re planning to journey afterwards) or curler, and two lengthy reins or lunge traces. It’s as much as you whether or not you then add in any extra coaching aids, equivalent to side-reins.
“Once I begin a younger horse off, initially I take advantage of a lunge cavesson that has the bit hooked up [to get him used to the feeling in his mouth], however the reins are hooked up to the cavesson,” explains Brendan. “You don’t wish to put pointless stress by way of the bit if he spooks or will get full of life. For an older horse, I might use their normal bridle and saddle and for a horse that’s being rehabilitated, I’d use a curler. For each younger and extra skilled horses, I like to make use of a pair of side-reins to supply extra stability.”
Some individuals feed the lengthy reins by way of a hoop on the curler or stirrups (secured to the girth), however Brendan prefers to maintain them free.
“Having the reins free provides you a direct contact to the bit,” says Brendan. “When the reins undergo a hoop they’ll act as a lever, and if the horse turns into robust they pull extra tightly on the horse’s mouth. Having them free additionally makes it simpler to manoeuvre a horse on to a circle with out placing an excessive amount of stress on the mouth. Simply make sure the reins don’t drop too low beneath the horse’s hocks.”
Brendan additionally chooses to not put on gloves as he prefers the shut really feel he has on the reins. H&H recommends lungers put on a driving hat conforming the most recent security pointers, as pictured.
“I additionally discover that gloves can decelerate your skill to regulate your reins,” he says. “Often I’ll carry a whip, too. Most go nicely from the traces, but when the horse is being lazy, I’ll gently flick the road on the horse’s facet the place my leg would go. In the event that they don’t reply, I again it up with the whip.”
The place ought to I lengthy rein my horse?
In the case of services, the world is your oyster, though it generally helps to have a boundary to work inside, particularly with recent or inexperienced horses.
“You should use bounce wings and poles to separate an space or subject as much as ‘comprise’ you,” says Brendan. “Choose a nook of the sphere so you’ve two sides to work inside – that halves the prospect of the horse operating off throughout the sphere.”
How do I lengthy rein my horse?
When beginning a horse off on the lengthy reins, connect each reins to the bit or lunge cavesson, then (standing on the within of the horse) go the skin rein over the withers and again earlier than gently sliding it down over the skin of his hindquarters (see image, high left).
If you find yourself able to get began, ask them to stroll on when you’re standing on the horse’s shoulder, then regularly enable them out on to a much bigger circle in stroll. You possibly can then start lungeing with two traces, the skin one behind the hindquarters. Voice aids are essential – use the identical voice aids you utilize when driving and lungeing.
As soon as they’re confidently strolling, you are able to do the identical in trot after which change the rein.
“Generally, altering the rein could cause them to react since you disappear into their blind spot briefly,” Brendan says. “Once I change the rein from left to proper, I take up the skin line and place myself in order that I’m strolling behind the horse on the circle. I keep barely to the within so the horse can nonetheless see me. Retaining at a secure distance, I ask the horse to return throughout the center of the circle and transfer throughout my path. I might then transfer from the left to the right-hand facet of the horse and permit a little bit of line on what was the within rein as I encourage the horse to show proper.”
If you find yourself prepared to begin lengthy reining, place your self behind the horse, guaranteeing that you simply nonetheless keep barely to 1 facet to allow them to nonetheless see you.
“You must keep a couple of horse’s size away,” Brendan advises. “You wish to really feel as if the horse is taking you forwards right into a constant contact in a great, lively stroll.”
As soon as your horse is relaxed strolling massive across the enviornment, you can begin asking for halt transitions and modifications of route.
You may also trot horses on the lengthy reins, operating alongside quietly behind them.
“I ask for trot popping out of a nook on to a protracted facet and use my voice and a mild flick of the rein on their facet,” says Brendan. “Keep barely to the within of the monitor to allow them to see you, and solely ask for a couple of strides at first earlier than coming again to stroll to examine you’ve management. In the event that they get a bit shiny, ask them on to a circle to calm them down.
“I wish to finally have the horse strolling and trotting massive, altering the rein on the determine of eight and on the circle, and doing serpentines and transitions to halt.”
As soon as the horse is working persistently within the enviornment, Brendan then takes them out on the lanes.
“I solely stick with quiet occasions of day and secure roads,” he says. “If the horse spooks and isn’t assured to go previous one thing, I take up my inside line and return to the left-hand facet of the horse at his head. I then quietly lead the horse previous the impediment and as soon as they’re striding forwards once more, regularly transfer again behind them.”
In the case of length, it relies on the extent of health of the horse and what they’re allowed to do if they’re being rehabbed.
“If you’re utilizing lengthy reining as an addition to your ridden work, you are able to do it for a similar time you spend driving,” says Brendan. “If you’re doing it accurately, lengthy reining could be as useful as ridden work. Having a rein behind your horse can gather the hindleg and get them stepping by way of extra, providing you with a greater high quality of labor.”
The handler additionally must take their degree of health into consideration.
“You do must be at the very least strolling match,” says Brendan. “One other profit to lengthy reining, particularly in the event you solely have one horse and it’s been off because of harm, is that it will get you match in addition to your horse.”
Lengthy reining workout routines
Straight traces – arrange two poles operating down the centre line both facet of X and practise driving your horse down the sector between the poles and staying as straight as you may.
Fundamental shapes – apply a few of the floorplans that you’d use when driving, together with circles, beginning at 20 metres and scaling right down to 10metres, serpentines, modifications of rein and shallow loops.
Lateral work – encourage a little bit of leg-yield again to the monitor, opening the skin rein and flicking the within rein on the within girth to ask them to maneuver over, the identical idea as in the event you had been driving the horse.
Transitions – practise walk-to-halt and halt-to-walk transitions. At all times bear in mind to ask for a downward transition or a discount in tempo with a mild squeeze and launch of the rein and never one fixed pull. You need the horse to reply to a lighter help.
Raised poles – work over an odd quantity, so three or 5 in a row (two may seem like a fence, 4 like a bounce) and construct it up by rising the quantity after which peak, maintaining the space related to your horse’s stride.
About Brendan Gallagher
After a stint as a jockey, Brendan Gallagher centered on coaching and backing younger horses, managing a big breaking and pre-training yard in Newmarket for 10 years. Now a part of HB Equestrian in Warwickshire, he gives a complete service breaking a wide range of horses from children for Olympic riders to driving membership horses. Brendan works with vets and equine professionals within the rehabilitation of “downside horses”, alongside operating clinics and serving to individuals work horses from the bottom.
Credit score: Celia Cadwallader
Credit score: Future
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