Long Lining/Ground driving
Different than lunging in that you can directly influence inside and outside rein
Great for letting horse learn new things without having to balance a rider.
Long lining is done on a circle while ground driving is when you stand behind the horse.
Horse should know how to lunge very well first and has an extremely solid whoa vocal cue response.
Horse should know how to lunge well first.
Work up to double lunging/long lining. The outside rein will run behind the horses rump via a surcingle or run up stirrup. Be sure they stay above the hocks or you risk a tangle! Accustom your horse to this rump pressure first.
Can also leave stirrups down and use a stirrup leather to hold them down. See video.
Start the outside rein on your horse’s hip and let it slip to their rump when you begin. This prevents tangling.
Make sure to pass your reins through a surcingle (or stirrups if tied down, stirrups are a bit low though.
The cue to move forward is the same as it would be for lunging. Gently swing outside rein against rump if the horse does not move forward. Increase pressure as needed.
The purpose of long lining is to teach the horse to yield to pressure.
To turn: When your horse is tracking left and you are on his left side, increase pressure with the inside long line and move closer to his hip. Direct him across the round pen, switch to his right side, and begin tracking right.
Halting: Put even pressure on both reins and use your voice cue, up the pressure as needed. Increase the amount of time between halting and walking again.
Knowing how to long line already will make ground driving easier.
Knowing vocal cues will make ground diving extremely easy.
Stand 6-8 feet back and slightly to the inside. This keeps you out of kicking range and gives you more control if needed.
Use your voice and driving whip to cue the horse forward. Start with just walk/halt transitions and add in turns later.
Excellent for teaching a young horse Whoa and Back as well as responding to subtle rein aids.
Ground driving also exposure the horse to flapping leather, movement from behind, and the feel of moving with tack on.
Horse must know how to yield to a bit. Do this by pulling one rein back and waiting for the horse to yield themselves. They will learn that if they turn their head, the pressure releases.
Exaggerate your turns. As one arm opens and moves back, the other must move forward to allow for enough slack.
If the horse gets tangled, let them figure it out/realize they’re tangled first before approaching to untangle.
Even if you have no intention of hooking your horse up to a cart, it is still good training to learn to drag a load behind them. A tire tied to some reins and attached to breast collar d rings is all you need. The horse will be less likely to spook at noises behind them and you never know when your horse might need to pull something.
Teaching your horse the driving cues for left and right could still be useful under saddle too! Gee for right. Haw for left.
Keep consistent pressure on the reins. Release the pressure to turn. So release the tension in the right rein in order to turn right.
If you are consistently having trouble ground driving, go back to long lining for now.
Use your driving whip to cue if needed, gently poking the hip as needed.
https://equineink.com/2009/02/03/how-to-long-line-your-horse-and-why-you-should-try-it/
https://animals.mom.me/train-horse-long-line-4023.html
https://horseandrider.com/trail-riding/ground-driving-training-technique
https://www.wikihow.com/Train-a-Horse-to-Drive
