September 5, 2011
A new exercise today! It’s been a while since I’ve played with long lining. The other day, I realized that Maia was confused about responding to the reins on her neck when I wasn’t right by her shoulder, so I thought some long lining might help that.
It’s actually quite straightforward through feel and release. I tied the end of the 24’ rope to her halter, one end to each halter knot. Using the bit would’ve been easier but I didn’t have the bridle on at the time.
Going forward—easy. Just do a touch release on her rump with both hands. Turning—easy. Instead of sliding the outside rein, I released it away from her neck. It seemed to work great, with the line simulating a releasing outside leg and outside rein. Then offer more float on the inside, and there’s a turn. Because she steps over with her shoulders versus getting pulled around with the inside rein, her haunches don't pop to the outside like I'd had trouble with previous times I'd tried long lining.
Stopping was a little harder, as she had a tough time feeling the release of both reins. I ended up going back to using a feel or even pressure on the reins, so I want to play with that. Clearly if she’s not clear on stopping while long lining, she won’t be clear when I’m riding.
She did great and was very calm at the walk (I didn’t try trot). She could turn both ways (even away from me, which is big for her) with a nice bend, do some very beginning walk pirouette (sounds fancier than it was—we were just doing a cross between walking and turning on the haunches), stop, and back.
It also definitely seemed to help her when I rode later on in the session. It is definitely something I want to keep playing with!
A new exercise today! It’s been a while since I’ve played with long lining. The other day, I realized that Maia was confused about responding to the reins on her neck when I wasn’t right by her shoulder, so I thought some long lining might help that.
It’s actually quite straightforward through feel and release. I tied the end of the 24’ rope to her halter, one end to each halter knot. Using the bit would’ve been easier but I didn’t have the bridle on at the time.
Going forward—easy. Just do a touch release on her rump with both hands. Turning—easy. Instead of sliding the outside rein, I released it away from her neck. It seemed to work great, with the line simulating a releasing outside leg and outside rein. Then offer more float on the inside, and there’s a turn. Because she steps over with her shoulders versus getting pulled around with the inside rein, her haunches don't pop to the outside like I'd had trouble with previous times I'd tried long lining.
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| I used to long line Maia in a cordeo and would like to do it again someday -- hopefully without the pressure and this expression, though! I think it would be a whole lot easier utilizing release. |
Stopping was a little harder, as she had a tough time feeling the release of both reins. I ended up going back to using a feel or even pressure on the reins, so I want to play with that. Clearly if she’s not clear on stopping while long lining, she won’t be clear when I’m riding.
She did great and was very calm at the walk (I didn’t try trot). She could turn both ways (even away from me, which is big for her) with a nice bend, do some very beginning walk pirouette (sounds fancier than it was—we were just doing a cross between walking and turning on the haunches), stop, and back.
It also definitely seemed to help her when I rode later on in the session. It is definitely something I want to keep playing with!
