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Horse Behavior and Training

double longing

By:
Malina
Date:
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

When I double longe my almost 5 year old mare on the dually, and another horse in view starts cantering she immediately falls into the canter herself without me wanting her and picks up speed to the point, that I can not hold her anymore. How can I apply "picnic"before she canters off on her long lines?

Miriam (Holland&Germany)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

Hi Malina,
I suggest you watch Monty's position when longlining in the videos on this Uni, there is a point where you can speed up your horse, and there is one where you can slow down your horse. Being a little bit ahead of this drivingposition will slow down your horse, without turning it.
Since you write that with both your 5 year old and another horse you experience the same problem, I guess you give the same signal to both of them. Why don't you first try your position without longlines, so the horse moving free in the roundpen. In this case you use only your bodylanguage and -position to drive or slow down the horse.
Did you Join-up with them?
Let us know how you're doing!
Miriam

Malina
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Hi Miriam, thank you for your comments on my question. Yes, I have done Join-up twice with success and I will watch the videos on the Uni, how to speed and slow down my horse. However, the crisis very quickly started (when the temperatures were still very low) when another horse using the same riding hall (not my own horse) started cantering. This seemed to have triggered something in my horse, and she sped up and sped up until I was not able to stop her. Normally when there is no other horse around,it is no problem at all.

Rudi - Pratteln, Switzerland
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Oviously you are not working in a roundpen, would be much easier there. You should go on working with your horse, she will get accustomed to the other horses. Maybe you could start moving her simply on the Dually until she is more comfortable. She will trust you more when you are closer to her.
Rudi

Miriam (Holland&Germany)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

Hi Malina,
Now I get the picture, your horse sinchronizes with another horse in the same arena!
As Rudi says, it's easier when you start longlining a horse, to have a roundpen and as little distractions as possible. Not all these things can be acchieved all the time, sometimes you have to compromise. Should you need to work with another horse around, do a lot of groundwork, so your horse is really with you, before starting the longlining.
Sometimes it's better to ask the person with the other horse when they think they'll be ready with their work, and wait until the arena is yours. In the meantime you can build your relationship with your horse, doing groundwork like backing up, finding the "sweet spot", even some sidepassing etc.
Keep us posted!
Miriam

Malina
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Hi Rudi and Miriam,thanks and yes, obviously I am not working in a round pen but I am longing her in a big inside riding hall with always lots of other people around. My main question really is, when she starts speeding up without being asked, is there any way I can apply Monty`s picnic? I have no access to a round pen. Also I would like to repeat Join-up with her, but in the same riding hall, which seems to present its problems!!

Miriam (Holland&Germany)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

Hi Malina,
The entity that moves the other's feet is the one in charge (obviously also the speed of the feet), but I think if you want to use pic-nic, you need to have full control of the horse, which is not given on longlines at full canter.
My suggestion is to build your relationship from the ground and try to find time alone in the arena, so there are less distractions.
What you could try is ask your horse to turn, every time it speeds up, even more turns one after the other, if needs to be. This would be a pic-nic!
Miriam

Rudi - Pratteln, Switzerland
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

I agree with Miriam with the groundwork. As a general rule you have to go back one step (or two) if something does not work. Personally I start every session in the hall by walking with the horse (orientation) one round in each direction, or even more. You will find every time spots where the horse is afraid. If she starts augmenting the speed you use the PICNIC. I don't think that you are strong enough to hold the horse on the long line. (If they do something wrong I speed them up, but they stay on the circle.) Actually I am working with my horses from 6 to 7 in the morning. Could be an idea for you, I am sure the arena will be free.
Rudi

Malina
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

thank you both, that is so helpful. I am not sure, if I am able to turn her around when she canters. I am not that experienced yet.But I will start applying this when she does not do what I ask of her, like trot and walk and stop.

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