09/07/2025
Long reining day for Andy today. I was told he wasn’t keen on long reins, but especially with a baby, I like to be able to long rein them, it builds confidence, trust and muscle without the weight of a rider. We started off in the arena and, as I was told, he wasn’t keen with the lunge line round his backend. I don’t like to use a roller when long reining babies, they can learn bad habits, such as wrapping themselves up, pulling too much and I have more control like this. Using lots of voice and pressure and release, Andy soon settled and we then did lots of changes of rein in walk and trot, lots of steady transitions and got him walking round the arena with out me next to him, like you do when just lunging. I then wanted to take him out round the farm. He’s getting a little bored of the arena and making his own entertainment up. So a 15 minute walk round the farm did him the world of good! The advice I gave his owner is to take him out the arena completely until I’m back next Wednesday, give him the weekend off, but walk him inhand Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday. He needs to realise that he isn’t going to work hard everytime the bridle comes out, his brain needs to chill out and see the world and going round and round in circles on a surface isn’t good for him. He worked harder walking round the farm in 15 minutes than he did in the school. Different terrains, lots to look at, had to listen to me more and has to use different muscles. Good boy 💪🏻