Longreining

[franklin]

Hi Claire, Ok my brain is awake now!! Many horses find great difficulty in lunging to the right so don't worry. It takes a great deal of time and patience to over come this problem. Are you quite sure there is no physical problems that can cause this?.
Even long reining a stiff/difficult horse to the right, more often than not  it can be sorted out by changing your position,  more driving ie. stand opposite the hips as aposed to the normal position. There is though a greater danger of being kicked whilst getting your self into this position!. As I wrote to Lisa watch your own position, are you inadvertently blocking the horse from going forward?.Can you mail me on HorseHTS@aol.com where I can explain in more depth Sylvia Staniers method which I feel will sort out your problem.
I live in Derbyshire but travel to Yorkshire, Staffordshire,Cheshire and Sussex. Where are you because my Husband travels all over the place so sometimes I can scrounge a lift from him.
Regards
Jenny
 

[lisaNW]

Hi Jenny,
  I'm probably about 2 hours away I think...near Aberdeen! In the grand scheme of things up here it seems quite near, LOL! Bit different to Bedfordshire!
 I'm trying to get to the bottom of what's going on with her hocks/back/back end at the moment...she's just not right so I'm doing the vets/insurance route but if you ever fancy stopping off (Train goes to & from inverness!! ) when she's sorted I'll definitely take you up on it! Never going to be offended by an offer of help!

At the moment I'm just pottering a little bit with her to keep her brain engaged...until the vet comes again.

[franklin]

Sorry to hear about your mare, I would be most interested in the results of the Vet etc. I will really try to get to you and as you say 2hours away is not too bad. John usualy has a car when he is in Inverness so I could either "borrow it" or use the train. If John gets the contract in Inverness he is going to be there quite a lot through the Summer here's hoping!. Jenny

[lisaNW]

Wow, well that would be fantastic! I'll keep you posted about what we find physically...

Cheers Jenny!

Lisa  

[Claire]

Hi Claire, Ok my brain is awake now!! Many horses find great difficulty in lunging to the right so don't worry. It takes a great deal of time and patience to over come this problem. Are you quite sure there is no physical problems that can cause this?.
Even long reining a stiff/difficult horse to the right, more often than not  it can be sorted out by changing your position,  more driving ie. stand opposite the hips as aposed to the normal position. There is though a greater danger of being kicked whilst getting your self into this position!. As I wrote to Lisa watch your own position, are you inadvertently blocking the horse from going forward?.Can you mail me on HorseHTS@aol.com where I can explain in more depth Sylvia Staniers method which I feel will sort out your problem.
I live in Derbyshire but travel to Yorkshire, Staffordshire,Cheshire and Sussex. Where are you because my Husband travels all over the place so sometimes I can scrounge a lift from him.
Regards
Jenny

thanks for the thoughts.

if you can ever get her going it's ok.

the difficulty is getting round to that side .. really.

all relevant bits checked out.  i can get round to her right side on any other occasion at alll.... just not in the arena ... and she can reach round to the girth area with her head both sides, no bother...

assymetry at the shoulder, congenital (i know that, i own her mother, same thing ..) and behind due to an accident that will come right with work...

so i'll go with two  rein lunging/long lining, and set it up in the stable before we set off for the arena.. saves the aggravation...

and i'm in durham (just outside durham city)

[franklin]

Hi Claire, My Sam came from Trimdon small world!!. Might I suggest that you don't put the inside rein through the top ring(which ever rein you are on). Leave the outside one in the roller, let the inside rein which can be attached to either the caverson, or bit go directly to your hand forming a triangle so to speak, this allows the horse to stretch/work etc and you still have control with the outside rein. When she is relaxed and working on either rein then put both reins thro' the rings. WALK behind her around the edge of the arena (out of kicking reach please!), about 2 strides before the corner put the out side rein forward, this will allow her to stretch around the outside of her body around the corner. don't pull her around the corner!. When you can do this smoothly on both reins try the following. I am asuming you are on the left rein. WALK(PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS AT TROT)  up the long side of the school, turn down the center line do this 2 or 3 times so the turn is smooth. When you are happy all is well the next time you turn down the center line after about 2 horses lengths (he must be straight) feel/flutter the left rein ) YOU MUST AT ALL TIMES WALK DOWN THE CENTER LINE DON'T WANDER ABOUT!! when the horse starts to make a loop to the left(start with a very long shallow one) Give the left rein, keep walking don't go so slowly as you interfere with the natural rythm of the walk and she will move to the right. when the horse is on the center line give the right rein and lift the reins over the horses bottom as she changes direction,  and when she reaches the center line give the left rein and lift the reins over the horses bottom and so on till you get to the other end of the school. Usually it takes about 2 or 3 loops when you first start. What ever you do don't make the loop too deep this is too much for an untrained horse, if you feel that 2/3 loops are too much for you or horse make an S figure. You can see the diagram of this in Sylvia's long reining book. You will be able to eventually finish on a right rein bend quietly lift the reins over her bottom and slip to her side and she won't realise what has happened!!. When I say give the rein I mean put your arm forward to full extent, this allows the horse to stretch and not be restricted in any way, and as the horse bends it takes up the contact on the outside rein by its self, and the out side rein is the rein of balance. I had a similar problem with Sam when I started teaching him halfpass from leg yield. He was a little montser. I hope I have understood the problem!!. Regards Jenny :blink:  

[Cobstar]

Jenny

Thank you for all your helpful advice.  I've been putting off experimenting longreining with my 3 year old (she says she's nearly 4 - typical youngster  :lol: ) but now I'm all gee'd up to try it.

Maria

[Claire]

franklin i've pm'd you

and replying to another post reminded me i know a man up near scotland who teaches longreining (my riding instructor won't, says she's seen too many accidents with it...)

[franklin]

As with anything to do with horses there is a risk of things going wrong,  I have  found it to be lively sometimes!, but never that risky. Jenny

[franklin]

Maria, Will be at Nutley 20th/21st Feb. Please contact me on HorseHTS@aol.com. if you want to meet up. Jenny