Ground driving/long lining quesstion

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Ground driving/long lining quesstion
Topic Started: Sep 30 2009, 07:09 PM (160 Views)
jillintexas	Sep 30 2009, 07:09 PM Post #1
You're BANNED! Posts: 7,607 Group: Members Member #96 Joined: January 6, 2007	I have been running the lines from the bit to the topmost ring (what I call rein position) on the surcingle and I'm wondering if I should move them down to the side ring? We do fine until we need to turn in earnest, and she gets really backed off the bit with even the slightest pressure. Thoughts?



jillintexas	Sep 30 2009, 10:41 PM Post #2
You're BANNED! Posts: 7,607 Group: Members Member #96 Joined: January 6, 2007	crickets Good GAWD does anyone read this forum more than once a week???



CDE Driver	Oct 1 2009, 07:06 AM Post #3
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back. Posts: 1,172 Group: Members Member #1,486 Joined: August 19, 2007	Yes Jaci! I PM'd you



jillintexas	Oct 1 2009, 07:57 AM Post #4
You're BANNED! Posts: 7,607 Group: Members Member #96 Joined: January 6, 2007	Thanks Kanoe. I will give you a call in a bit.



MissBri	Oct 2 2009, 04:20 AM Post #5
Cead Mile Failte ! ! SLAINTE! Posts: 4,011 Group: Members Member #973 Joined: April 20, 2007	I would move them down - like astride, you want a fairly unbroken line from your hands to the bit. But it's been awhile since I ground drove or longlined, and even longer with a greenie. so take my advice with a grain of salt - preferably on the rim of a margarita glass Edited by MissBri, Oct 2 2009, 04:20 AM.



jillintexas	Oct 2 2009, 02:19 PM Post #6
You're BANNED! Posts: 7,607 Group: Members Member #96 Joined: January 6, 2007	Thanks MissBri!! I called and talked to CDE yesterday morning and got some really good tips. She agrees I should move them lower too. Thanks again, CDE. Great talking to you!!!



goodhors	Oct 5 2009, 09:04 AM Post #7
Schooling Posts: 52 Group: Members Member #1,540 Joined: August 23, 2007	I would strongly recommend having the lines run along horse side, like where the foot of rider would hang. This lets the lines CONTAIN the horse between them, aiding in you have control of the entire horse body. Not sure of your lines length, but ours are 30ft, with handler walking a LARGE circle in the center, so horse makes 40 to 60ft circles around handler. Gives you lots more room for gait changes, not bending the horse strongly all the time. You use up some line length going around the rump, so you truly need longer than average lines. Our other set of lines is 35ft. Again, you get the horse "way out there" to work on big circles. I strongly recommend getting a nice driving whip, with a six ft stick. Longer stick makes it easier to get the lash where you want it going. Driving whips are much easier to manage than the cheap lunging whips, not so unbalanced with useless length of lash. An awkward, heavy whip is just exhausting to use and carry for the length of training session. We just add parachute cord for extra length on the driving whip to reach horse. You NEED to be able to "reach out and touch" the horse on those very long lines, encourage the FORWARD needed for training. A flick on the horse is needed to show that you mean what you say, yelling at them is a waste of time. The flick is a touch they DO NOT ignore! Not whacking on horse, just a touch, when needed. Make sure the rings that long lines go thru are large, so lines slide to give or take up, easily. You want instant release if given to horse, despite any twists in the line. Surcingles often have rather small rings and a twist in the lines will snag up. We can add a big ring to stuff with a double ended snap or a couple of zip-ties on a girth or surcingle that doesn't have rings in the right place to use. Long lines are a very good training tool for your horse. We do not use sidereins during training. We have found they actually delay horse learning where head belongs in self-carriage. Sidereins cannot GIVE to reward the learning horse, like the long-lines can in your hands. Sometimes horse only gives to you for a fraction of time, and only a fraction of give to the bit, MUST be rewarded NOW. Our horses just hung on the bit, forced into a headset, didn't learn what we wanted, on the sidereins.



jillintexas	Oct 5 2009, 01:17 PM Post #8
You're BANNED! Posts: 7,607 Group: Members Member #96 Joined: January 6, 2007	Thanks goodhors. You pretty much echoed what CDE recommended. My rings on the side of my surcingle are large, where the ones at the top are smaller. I think that was part of the problem, as the lines were not slipping as easily through. My lines are rolled for the first 1/4 or so, and they do easily move through the rings. They are long enough to put her on a pretty decent circle. I only use the sidereins when she is truly being lunged, then only at the lower setting. Go figure. I knew THAT was correct. They really help her to balance better and focus. I am driving her (or attempting) to help her to move confidently forward without a rider or horse near her. She likes following. She has been MUCH improved!! I will see if I can shoot a few pics this week and post them. She wants to be an Irish Cart Pony, minus that whole "thing attached to my behind" part. Edited by jillintexas, Oct 5 2009, 01:17 PM.



CDE Driver	Oct 10 2009, 08:08 AM Post #9
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back. Posts: 1,172 Group: Members Member #1,486 Joined: August 19, 2007	Hey Jaci, how is the long lining going?



jillintexas	Oct 12 2009, 11:07 AM Post #10
You're BANNED! Posts: 7,607 Group: Members Member #96 Joined: January 6, 2007	sigh I tried it once, and we've had rain since, as well as four to five LARGE Gradall front end loaders working on the ditch that runs through the property. THey have removed about 100 trees in the last week It's made for some pretty exciting moments for all the horses. I may try her in the indoor this week, if things don't improve with the rain.



RHowell	Nov 4 2009, 02:24 PM Post #11
You're BANNED! Posts: 4,400 Group: Members Member #138 Joined: January 7, 2007	i ground drive the youngesters or horses in need of some top line development and I do it from the side reins.



goodhors	Nov 5 2009, 06:32 AM Post #12
Schooling Posts: 52 Group: Members Member #1,540 Joined: August 23, 2007	RHowell Nov 4 2009, 02:24 PM i ground drive the youngesters or horses in need of some top line development and I do it from the side reins. Not to be picky, but the wording does not make a picture for me. Side reins are a fixed length at bit and surcingle, while long lines used for ground driving are....long! We use our long lines DOWN along their sides, so horse is between the lines, giving us control of both front and hind of the horse. We do this for both circling and going out for walks. We don't do much ground driving out, since it is SO HARD to see the front end of horse and what you are doing with his mouth. Large horses here, walk very BIG. It is hard to try keeping up, not tripping, stay light-handed and off their faces from behind. Can't reward with lines if you can't see them give their faces. They still have lots of forward, and we do a variety of circle work, like loop-the-loop on the side of arena. All the long lining works well for that topline, building the neck correctly, developing self-carriage in the correct frame. We never use side reins, have found them to cause problems.



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