[KristinJ]

So since I can't ride my baby I figured I'd teach him some long lining. I did it briefly with my older horse years ago for some fun. I bought the lines and surcingle, and my baby (well he's a long yearling - will be 2 in march, I just call him my baby lol) anyway he did very well with it. I just snapped the lines onto his halter. I would like to pretty much break him a halter first and then introduce a bit as I feel he would catch on SO much faster, and keep a nice light mouth. Anyway is this appropriate?

We were doing very well but if I give him any more than 5-6 days off he gets a little 'stupid' and forgets. But he is young so I give him the benefit of the doubt. I long rein him in my 60ft roundpen, and as I want to be easy on his growing joints don't want to do it too often (even though we are just walking - maybe a few trot steps at the moment).

So while on the lines he can get excited and throw tantrums at times. Like he will start 'bouncing', almost piaffing sp? lol All rounded up pretty .. but not so pretty because he wants to buck! lol He has never actually kicked back or bucked towards me but I can tell he's thinking of it. When he does this I talk to him and urge him foward. I can tell he gets frustrated at times and shakes his head and pulls and plays around. I kind of just ignore some of the 'hyperness' behavior and don't do anything. If he really acts out deliberatly I will keep him in line. If I keep the lines loose, like when he is being very good, he snatches them in his mouth and such silly boy! So far we have done walking, halting, backing, turning, and we kinda do a few steps of the trot when he's good. Another thing he will do it turn around abruptly on me, too quickly for me to get around and stay behind him, so he will literally be facing me with the lines in my hands and then he will be shaking his head, trying to get them tangled!! And then just look at me pathetically like ... I didn't do it! haha. I guess he just needs time to learn?

He makes really good progress but then has his moments. Anyone have any suggestions for exercises I could do with him, to keep it fun and interesting. I saw a book it was just like Long Reining Exercises, or something of the sort. But I feel like those would be too advanced for us (i havent look through the book though). Anyway, any advice, opinions, suggestions are welcome =)

[JBandRio]

How much in-hand work have you done with him, so that he know the deal about walking and halting at somewhat of a distance from you? Go back to there and work on his manners so you can more quickly correct him.

He needs to learn *now* that swinging around to face you whenever he wants is a Big Fat No-no. If he does that, use your whip (dressage whip if close work, lunge whip if he's farther away) to send his shoulders out and send him forward again.

Just keep correcting unwanted behavior. A sharp "aaanh!!" when he starts jigging, or just ask him to halt.

If he's grabbing the lines in his mouth, they are too loose - don't let them

I would not work on backing right now, not when he has the propensity to start his dancing. Working on that could too easily lead to him rearing.

Get a GOOD whoa on him, then as soon as you do, get him out of the round pen and off seeing sights

Lunging and Long Lining the English and Western Horse is a great book. Yes, of course, many of them will be too advanced, but there is a whole section on HOW to lunge/long line, corrections to make, etc, which would greatly benefit you now

[KristinJ]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

How much in-hand work have you done with him, so that he know the deal about walking and halting at somewhat of a distance from you? Go back to there and work on his manners so you can more quickly correct him.

He needs to learn *now* that swinging around to face you whenever he wants is a Big Fat No-no. If he does that, use your whip (dressage whip if close work, lunge whip if he's farther away) to send his shoulders out and send him forward again.

Just keep correcting unwanted behavior. A sharp "aaanh!!" when he starts jigging, or just ask him to halt.

If he's grabbing the lines in his mouth, they are too loose - don't let them

I would not work on backing right now, not when he has the propensity to start his dancing. Working on that could too easily lead to him rearing.

Get a GOOD whoa on him, then as soon as you do, get him out of the round pen and off seeing sights

Lunging and Long Lining the English and Western Horse is a great book. Yes, of course, many of them will be too advanced, but there is a whole section on HOW to lunge/long line, corrections to make, etc, which would greatly benefit you now

Thanks so much. I usually will long line him about 2 maybe 3 days a week and then the other days do in hand work. Desensitizing to whips, and giving and bending. He is very good when I reprimand him but 'forgets' easily. He knows when I say "no no!" or make a noise in that tone that he is doing something wrong adn will stop but he just keeps doing SOME of these things. I think most of he will train out of, like you said nip it in the butt now!

My lines aren't usually loose but I believe when he grabbed them the one time I was turning and really had to pull on the one line to get him as he was evading it and that caused the slack No more of that!! lol! Once he does something wrong like, grab the line with tail/mouth or turn around and I say NO or give a sharp yell, it's funny because he stands PERFECTLY still at the halt and waits for me to either take the line out of his mouth/butt (lol) and fix him.

Thanks a lot!! I will pick up that book =)

[JBandRio]

Be careful of the use of "no no" - sounds too much like "whoa" and you want that to mean "stop, now, plant your feet" every single time Just something to think about

It sounds like you basically understand what you're doing, just need some refining. The book will help immensely

[Serenity06]

I started teaching my long yearling (he will also be 2 in march lol) to ground drive when he was about 8 months old (lightly and just walking). I would consider lowering your lines to the rings more on his sides so it encourages him to not raise his head so much when turning or stopping and your signals with be more clear. that could be why he throws his fits, he might not "get" what your asking all the time with the lines so high since it is all new to him.

[KristinJ]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Be careful of the use of "no no" - sounds too much like "whoa" and you want that to mean "stop, now, plant your feet" every single time Just something to think about

It sounds like you basically understand what you're doing, just need some refining. The book will help immensely

Good point about the tone of my words. I tend to draw out the noooo, which sounds EXACTLY like Whoa! So I will need to change that!!

I usually understand pretty well, just need to remember to do it all when I'm out there!! =) He's my first youngin and I want to try to make everything as smooth as possible.

[KristinJ]

Originally Posted by Serenity06

I started teaching my long yearling (he will also be 2 in march lol) to ground drive when he was about 8 months old (lightly and just walking). I would consider lowering your lines to the rings more on his sides so it encourages him to not raise his head so much when turning or stopping and your signals with be more clear. that could be why he throws his fits, he might not "get" what your asking all the time with the lines so high since it is all new to him.

Ok thanks, I'll do that next time I ground drive him =) I know he doesn't 'get' it sometimes .. and gets frustrated at times, so I let him think and then ask again but hopefully changing the lines to the side will help him understand more clearly, thank you!

[JBandRio]

Good catch about the position of the lines For the young horse, whether driven or ridden, the first goal should be to establish "long muscles" - muscles that are loose and supple and stretchable. The lower rings encourage this

[Serenity06]

Originally Posted by KristinJ

Ok thanks, I'll do that next time I ground drive him =) I know he doesn't 'get' it sometimes .. and gets frustrated at times, so I let him think and then ask again but hopefully changing the lines to the side will help him understand more clearly, thank you!

Your very welcome .

I'm sure he'll catch on with the lines lower alot faster. With the lines up top your turning ques just aren't quite clear enough since he is just learning how. It also encourages him to bring his head up instead of relaxing and bringing his head down.

[KristinJ]

Just a little update- I moved the lines to the lower rings and he did seem much better! No more turning around to face me, although he did attempt, I blocked him haha. We even went outside the roundpen in my large horse pastures (still fenced but much improvement to the roundpen). He was very good and walked and halted when I wanted. Sometimes he thinks 'let's go this way mom' and is a little strongwilled about direction but comes around.

One thing he does though is either he gets confused or excited, but ramdomly he will just shake his head in excitement and then ZOOM foward at either a bouncing canter or fast trot. I say WHOA, and slow him to a halt, and make him stand quietly on a 'looser' line. Is this an appropriate punishment for that behavior? I'm not really sure what else I could do to discourage him from suddenly having a stupid moment and decided to bolt (although I wouldn't really call if a bolt as he slows and listens after 2-3 strides of the canter)

I wish I could get a video but my family won't help me out =/ lol