Horse Training: Using 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.

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.

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.

This training can also be used when teaching various Dressage Movements. 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.