Management 101: Non-ridden horses part three

Ever thought of doing some non-ridden exercise with your horse? Even if he has retired from work under saddle, you can still keep his brain active and body mobilised, and long-reining is a perfect way of doing this.

Challenging perceptions

For many, making the decision to retire a horse from being ridden means an end to any form of work or exercise. But it doesn’t have to be like that – non-ridden exercise is a great option to keep him moving. Work without a rider can come in different forms and includes exercise in hand, such as leading over poles, in-hand stretches, lungeing and long-reining.

Each has its merits for older horses, while in-hand stretches are good for any horse. Work over poles can be incorporated into both lungeing and long-reining, as well as in-hand, and even though – due to the nature of working in circles on a soft surface – lungeing is not appropriate for all older horses, long-reining has a wider catchment in terms of its suitability.

First steps

If your horse hasn’t long-reined before, start in a safe, confined space such as an arena. Enlist a helper to walk with your horse to begin with so you’re certain he’s happy with you being behind him, and to give him time to understand the commands you’re giving with your voice and the lines. Remember to practise your steering and brakes before you head out and about, too.

Just as with riding, it’s important your horse’s body stays straight unless you’re asking for flexion. This will help to build – and preserve – his symmetry and straightness.

It’s also really important to make sure that your horse is walking actively forwards, as no horse can be truly straight if he’s not pushing with both hindlegs to drive himself forwards to create impulsion.

Exercise on the long reins is a fantastic way of providing non-strenuous movement while still keeping him mentally alert. Walking in straight lines on a mixture of surfaces adds variety to his days and can form a really valuable part of your horse’s weekly routine. It also helps to maintain his balance and co-ordination, as well as muscle tone and low-level aerobic fitness.

Get it together

To long-rein your horse, you will need…

• a roller with rings on either side large enough to feed lunge lines or bespoke long reins through
• two lunge lines or long reins
• a saddlepad to go under the roller
• bridle with reins removed or twisted and held in place by the throatlash
• hat, gloves and sturdy boots

Top tip

If you have fields, tracks or quiet country lanes at your disposal, use them for long-reining. It’s relaxing for you and allows your horse to see something different, instead of simply going from his stable to the field and back again.

Find out how long-reining can benefit your horse – and how to do it – in January Horse&Rider – out now!