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Horse Behavior and Training

Not walking on longlines

By:
Nadine
Date:
Hello!

So, my OTTB has been doing very well with long-lining. She caught on to the idea quickly, and has been doing well with it for a year now.

Just recently, she has decided to not move. Like, at all. She will be all hooked up and ready to go, I will get behind her, and nothing will happen. I cluck, wiggle the lines, snap a rope behind her, nothing. I can hardly get her to walk! This all started a couple weeks ago. When she does move, it is only a few steps, and she tries to back up a lot.

I typically long line once or twice a week, and I use a surcingle with a pad, side reins on longest setting, long lines attached to the Dually put over the bridle.

Does anyone have some insight on this issue?

karyn & tokia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

I just tried the double long lines for the first time, my horse wont walk either. I don't have all the extra equipment yet, so i put the long lines threw the sturips and into the dually halter. My horse will turn both ways and back up. I tossed my lunge whip away. I would be interested in peoples suggestions to your question too.

Lorraine
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

You would have a couple options. First, have a look at the lesson with Monty and Martin Clunes. Aside from being so funny to watch, at one point, Monty holds the stick with bags on it. 'Training through distractability' is a great one here. Perhaps just hold one bag in your hand, when you get the forward movement, you could tuck it into your pocket and continue. Another option is to hold a giddy up rope, same procedure, shake it to one side and/or the other to get the horse's attention. So, another experience I had, is when the horse becomes 'conditioned' or 'desensitized' to an aid to move forward. Be mindful that your energy may be too low; raise your energy (and mean it), then relax when your horse moves off. Make it pleasant when they do what you ask, and unpleasant when not.
Good luck.

Kleinne - Utah, U.S.A.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

If you have been long-lining your horse for a year a couple times a week I'm going to say she's sick of it and bored to death and no longer wants to be long-lined. Horses get bored with the same old routine and need something new. If she's been long-lined that much I think she's probably learned everything that long-lining can teach her and is ready to move on to something else. Are you riding her or just doing ground work? Find something new and interesting for her to do and she'll perk right up again.

Nadine
Hello!

Yes, we do ride. I long line when I don't have time for a good ride/don't want to. Sometimes if she is super energetic I will long line before riding to help take the edge off.

Kleinne - Utah, U.S.A.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

You might try just running her around for a few minutes to get the extra vinegar out before riding, that's what I do and it seems to work well for my horses. By the way, I hope I didn't come across as being harsh...I was in a hurry and didn't word my post very well. Good luck!

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

All good stuff. I would offer one piece of lateral thinking that was taught to me by Ian Vandebergh - one of Montys UK Instructors. I worked with a little pony that would just suddenly decide to stop, wouldn't go forward, backwards, nothing, not being difficult, not 'arguing' with me about anything, he's just stop. Ian said "worm him" "What?" I said???, "Seriously?" I respect Ian's immense knowledge and went home, tld the owner, who I am very lucky listens to all sorts of points of view and we wormed him again with a different wormer. Ian was right. This little pony had a high does of red worm that the previous wormer had not sorted out, poor little fella. After that, no more problems. I'm not saying this is whats going on, but it's a thought for us all maybe?

karyn & tokia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Hey there's an idea.....wormer. Thanks, I'll give that a try. And I think I'll watch Marty Clunes again.

karyn & tokia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Ooops, I should add this was the first time i double long lined her, she was always single line lunged with wiggling a lunge whip by my feet.

Nadine
Hello!

I might try the de-worming. The barn managers always do all the horses with the same medicine, it is likely the one she is getting is not doing the trick. Thanks for all your suggestions! She threw a shoe today, so we didn't do any work, but next time we long line I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Kicki -- Sweden
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 have a similar problem with my boy. He doesn't stop but it's near impossible to get his energy and impulsion up when moving.
It is leisurely at best and since he's a laid-back guy "scaring" him into moving doesn't quite work either. He pointedly ignores things like swishing a rope (giddy-up style) and plastic bags on sticks. If anything, he gets curious and tries to sniff them instead. *LOL*
.
I think the basic problem is that while he knows the different commands for walk, trot and stop very well, he doesn't *respect* them, and will often try to avoid responding for as long as he can.
.
Disregarding reasons like growth-spurts, discomfort, worms etc - I'd be very happy for advice on how to make a horse "pick up his feet" and move with more energy and simply respect the aids better before I manage to desensitize him to all of them out of sheer desperation.

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 have put a video in the "Equus Online Uni Group" of facebook (you must be a member to see it).
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=345940572182542&set=o.115522818628261&type=2&theater

My basic idea is to avoid desensitization. Instead of augmenting the pressure in small steps: go to 100 % immediatly, and then immediatly back. The horse should learn: "If I don't react to 20%, 100% will follow. If I am doing well I get a big reward".
Later the "NIC"'s get rarer and less strong and the "PIC"'s become more important. Finally and ideally the horse should be motivated by the "positive consequences".

Rudi

Lenore
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed

Hi Rudi, I'm interested in watching your video... perhaps for those not on facebook you'd be willing to post your video(s) on youtube, set to private, then share the link with the forum?

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

Dear Lenore
The video has been uploaded "private" on YouTube, and will soon be ready to see. For those who want to see it I need their YouTube nickname or the e-mail address to allow the access.
Rudi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ4e5DBccok

TLP
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

Rudi, I would love to see your video on YouTube. I'm woolerized. Thanks!

Lenore
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed

thanks! I suppose the private setting defeats the purpose a bit doesn't it? the setting unlisted and public lets people with the link view it. lenore225

Nadine
Hello!

Rudi, I can't find the video on the Facebook Uni. Can you re-post it?

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Given this thread concerns long lining I was wondering if anyone else checked out this week's question to Monty and his answer. I fond it very worthwhile reading.

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

Lenore:
You should be able to see the video now. I don't want to put the video on "public".

Nadine:
You can see the (private) video only joining the "Equus Online Uni Group" or by giving me your e-mail address or your nickname on YouTube.

Rudi

Kicki -- Sweden
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

Rudi,
Since I'm not on Facebook, I would love to see this vid on YouTube. My nickname there is Sagoskogen

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

Sagoskogen and woolerized have been added to see the video.
Rudi

Kicki -- Sweden
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

Thank you, Rudi!!! :*

Lenore
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed

video worked great!

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Now Tricka is accustomed to long lining she too has decided not respond when long lining and I am finding it all very awkward to get her moving on. She was fine in the beginning so perhaps she is just bored with it all too - she still lunges well on a single line and I don't need to use a lunge whip.

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

Hi Maggie

It could be a few things, are you longlining her in a circle or walking behind her (as if you were driving a carriage)?

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Thanks Vicci - I have tried both. She was initially very good and responsive but now its just "all old hat" and she couldn't be bothered with it.

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

Maybe its just as simple as that Maggie, time to do something else :-) Are you riding her?

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