Use long-lining as a confidence giving technique

Michael Peace works with a young Arabian called Otto who had been backed as 3 year old but has since developed a whole range of problems which led to a loss of confidence under the saddle.

Michael demonstrates how using long-lines can increase the confidence of nervy horses without a risk to yourself and increasing his confidence throughout the session.

“It’s funny because people with nervous or highly-strung horses do everything in their power to keep the horse calm, but actually all this does is keep the horse hidden away from new experiences. The only way a horse becomes less scared of something is to do it and learn to accept it, not hide away from it” explains Michael.

In a nutshell

• Long-Lining is a great way to start any horse’s training – but make sure you know what you are doing or get an expert to help. Remember, even on long-lines, the wrong hands can do a lot of damage to a horse’s mouth.
• Keep the horse focused on the job by adding some variety to his schooling sessions – turns, circles and transitions for example.
• If your horse is unsure about something, give him a big pat to reassure him that everything is okay.