Practice makes perfect

K had a practice long-lining session with Sammie today before trying it with her own horse. What a little star he was. He just did all the stuff while I directed K. She kept calling him a 'poppet' and dear old Sammie just kept going, left, right and changing the rein in walk and trot for her. It was good to give her a feel of how it should be first.

Obviously her young man felt very different and if you accidentally started to walk a bit faster he would break into trot. That took me a bit by surprise the first time he did it! I told K just to do loads of walking with him first, getting him to stretch out his neck as it's naturally very high set and he can get a bit tense. When I held the reins really lightly with virtually no contact he did start to stretch out just a bit, so the more she does it, the more he'll learn that's what he needs to do. What a willing little soul though and perfectly charming with all the curiosity and surprise of a youngster.

K was delighted as it gives her something else to do with him as she eventually wants to do some dressage with him but she doesn't want to bore and dull him with schoolwork all the time. So if she can mix up the school work with long lining and hacking then that will be a lot better for him.

I have to say that I felt so proud of Sammie in the practice session. When I was watching him going calmly about his business with a stranger, it was clear to see how far he has come.