Training Exercise - Long Reining with Alanna Richards

This article is from the July 2020 Horse Deals magazine.

Alanna has been showing horses for close to 20 years, winning Championships and placings at Royal and National level. She has owned and run a boutique riding school for children on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, before moving to Adelaide where she trains alongside Chris and Vicki Lawrie, continuing her passion for training and producing show horses. Alanna also now enjoys dressage training as well at Danson Dressage.

Long Reining

The Aim

The aim of long reining is a number of things:
• Discipline of approaching a certain object (i.e walking over poles) or certain area (i.e through trees).
• Helps to create connection with the outside rein.
• Straightness and flexion without falling off the desired line.
• Create collection and variation of pace without implosion.
• Frame.
• To not be on the forehand, poll up with a soft open gullet and straightness of the head, making sure the nose is pointing straight down not tilting either way.
• Educate without having the pressure of having a rider on the horse all the time.

Set Up

•Bridle
• Roller pad
• Roller and girth
• Two lunge reins weighted the same
• Two D clips (for more advanced long reining)
• Over-head check
• 8mm rope

Long Reining Basics

First make sure you are dressed as you are going to ride (helmet and gloves) as yours and the horse’s safety is most important. Once the bridle, roller pad and roller are all done up on the horse, lead them to the round yard or arena before fully tacking up. Once in the round yard (or arena) place the over-head check at the headpiece of the bridle with the rope connected to the bit, through the over-head check, to the top middle ring of the roller, through the other side of the over-head check and connected down to the bit. Tighten to the desired position. For the first few times you are using the over-head check, make sure you do not have it on too tight as you do not want to create an issue. You will need to have it loose and gradually tighten as the horse accepts the pressure. Connect the long reins through the bit and back to the roller, one on each side. For more advanced long reining you can go back through the ring to the D clip.

Once all tacked up, place yourself 1.5m inner circle from the horse and approx 3m behind the inside hind leg. Going forward into walk make sure to take a connection with the outside rein before taking an inside rein (you do not want to have flapping loose reins). This is to help keep the horse from falling off the track and is also used to create the straightness and also the flexion for when you are on a circle or turning a corner without the shoulder falling in off the desired line.

Start at the walk and do not go up a pace before you have an understanding yourself and acceptance from your horse. From here, you can vary your pace forward and back by taking more connection - slightly alternating between the outside and inside rein. Also, the use of voice can be of help. I like to use the word “back” when I am slowing the horse into a jog or a very collected canter, lowering them onto their hind legs, before going forward from that slower variation in the same pace. I make sure to still have contact when asking them to go forward, keeping the correct frame and impulsion. When you do increase the pace, you will also need to alter your own pace, making larger and faster steps so that you do not fall behind the horse. Allow them to move forward correctly, rather than behind because they are being held back from you.

Mastered that?

Once you have achieved the acceptance and the understanding of the horse in all the paces, then you are ready to add objects to move around or over. I like to use a mounting block asking the horse to step up onto the block each step which is great for discipline, concentration and trust, and also to take them out in a paddock or a track. Here you can make them move off the left or right rein freely and it also is a great way to have a free and relaxed way of go which I love using, especially for my hacks.

Make sure to be changing your position from inside of the horse to being behind the horse in the middle with a safe distance of approx 3m. Be sure to have equal length of reins. Do not go for long periods of time without the fitness to support it. Build both yourself and your horse up to longer sessions for the safety of each other.

When you are finishing off your session it is nice to cool the horse down and allow them to open to a soft frame. To do this, unhitch one of the sides of the rope and connect it to the roller to take the tension away.

Tips

• Make sure you have the time and patience for this exercise.
• Always be aware of your position for maximum effect and safety.
• Use a sympathetic bit.
• Forward is your friend. If your horse resists, always soften the rein allow the horse to travel forward.
• Do not attempt on a breaker or horse straight off the track. For first time long reiners it is best to have a horse with more education.
• With the extra rein, do not allow it to drag along the ground behind you, make sure it is rolled up in your hand for safety.

Watch Alanna long reining here:

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