Long Reining a Horse with HorseWorld

Long reining is an incredibly valuable skill for horses of all ages and disciplines. At HorseWorld, it plays an essential role in the training and fitness programmes for many of our rescued horses and ponies. Whether you're preparing a youngster for backing, supporting a horse through rehabilitation, or simply adding variety to your routine, long reining can transform your groundwork.

In this practical guide, we explore the key benefits of long reining, how to get started safely, and which Shires Equestrian products can help you train with confidence.

What is Long Reining?

Long reining, also known as long lining, involves working your horse from behind or slightly to the side using two long lines attached to a bridle, bit, or training headcollar. It encourages independent movement, clearer communication, and more advanced groundwork than lunging. Long reining is an excellent tool for building balance, confidence, and understanding between horse and handler.

What are the Benefits of Long Reining?

1. Ideal Preparation for Backing Young Horses

Long reining reinforces steering, contact, and clear communication - essential before introducing a rider. Practising transitions and basic exercises from the ground creates a strong foundation for future ridden work.

2. Builds confidence

Long reining helps horses gain confidence by allowing them to work independently while responding to clear cues. Practising transitions, changes of direction, and basic exercises in a safe, controlled environment helps nervous or inexperienced horses become more self-assured, relaxed, and willing, laying a strong foundation for future training.

3. Key Training Step for Future Driving Horses

Horses learn to work ahead of the handler with independence, helping them progress towards harness work.

4. Provides Mental Stimulation for Horses That Can’t Be Ridden

Some horses are unable to be ridden due to age, medical conditions, poor conformation, or injury. For these horses, long reining offers a highly beneficial alternative form of exercise that keeps them mentally engaged and emotionally fulfilled without the added weight of a rider, helping to reduce boredom or frustration while maintaining communication, focus, and overall wellbeing.

5. Supports Training Without Rider Weight

Long Reining is an alternative exercise to riding, which allows you to focus on specific aspects of training without a rider on board - such as suppleness or engaging the back end.

6. Perfect for Parents of Small Riding Ponies

Adults can safely help with schooling even if they’re too large to ride the pony themselves.

7. Adds Variety to Your Horse's Routine

Long reining introduces a different type of work into your horse’s schedule, breaking up the monotony of regular riding or lunging. By varying exercises, movements, and patterns from the ground, it keeps your horse mentally engaged, prevents boredom, and encourages them to stay attentive and motivated throughout their training.

8. Let’s You Observe Your Horse’s Movement

Seeing your horse from behind and the side can reveal gait irregularities, stiffness, or weaknesses that are not obvious when riding. You can see exactly how your horse is moving and what adjustments you can make to improve their way of going.

9. Excellent for Rehabilitation

Long reining provides controlled, unweighted exercise that builds strength, muscle, and balance under professional guidance.

10. Improves Handler Skills

Long reining encourages awareness of body language and co-ordination, as well as your energy and how you combine these to positively communicate with your horse.

Getting Started: Practical Steps for Introducing Long Reining

Introducing a horse to long reining can feel daunting, but if you break it down into steps it is very achievable and can be fun for both you and your horse.

Before You Begin

Health check: Ensure your horse is physically ready. A veterinary, physiotherapy, or chiropractic assessment is ideal before starting groundwork or backing.

In-hand basics: Your horse should walk forward confidently, respond to verbal cues, and stay attentive to the handler.

Tip: If you and your horse are both new to long reining, gain some experience from an established horse first. Try long reining another human too – you’ll be surprised what you can learn!

Recommended Equipment

Quality, well-fitting equipment makes training safer and more effective. Shires Equestrian offers a range of reliable products perfect for long reining work:

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1. Bridle or Training Headcollar

Use a well-fitting bridle or a controlled training headcollar.

2. Long Reins

Choose smooth, durable reins without loops to prevent snagging.

3. Roller or Saddle

A roller allows balanced attachment of reins.

4. Saddle Pad

If using a saddle, pair it with a correct-fitting pad.

5. PPE for Safety

• Riding hat

• Sturdy boots

• Gloves

• High-visibility clothing for roadwork

Choosing the Right Environment

Start in an enclosed, safe area with secure fencing and good footing. Once both you and your horse are confident, you can progress to open spaces or quiet lanes.

Introducing Your Horse to the Lines

Desensitisation: Allow the long lines to touch your horse’s shoulders, sides, and hindquarters to reduce the fear of the lines moving around their body.

Familiarisation to the lines: Have a friend to help you and ask them to hold one end of the line, whilst you walk behind holding the other end. When your horse is settled, gradually allow the line to rest against the horse’s body. Repeat this on both sides. Practice bringing the line around the back of the horse to ensure they are comfortable with the line touching their back end.

Attach the lines: Once the horse is calm and comfortable in the tack, attach the lines to the bit or headcollar rings on each side.

Helper support: Ask a helper to lead the horse while you walk behind holding both long lines. Gradually rest the lines against the horse’s body until they relax.

Safe positioning: Stay slightly to one side and out of the kick zone. Avoid standing directly in the blind spot.

Moving forward: Ask your horse to move forward with clear, consistent commands, that have already been reinforced when doing leading and in-hand walking training. This may include a combination of body language, vocal cues such as "walk on" or a click sound, and line pressure. If the horse doesn't respond, add a gentle flick of the reins against their side to encourage forward motion. Always follow the horse's forward movement by taking a few steps yourself to avoid a heavy "pull" on its mouth. Practice walk-halt transitions while a helper stands near the horse's head. Over time, your helper can step away so the horse begins to work forward while listening to your aids.

Make sure to release the pressure immediately as the horse steps forward. Always follow the horse's forward movement by taking a few steps yourself to avoid a heavy "pull" on its mouth. Practice walk-halt transitions while a helper leads.

Independent Movement: Over time, your helper can step away so the horse begins to work forward while listening to your aids.

Use Body Language & Voice: Use your whole body, not just the lines, to guide the horse. Your posture, energy, and clear voice cues play a major role in helping them understand what you’re asking.

Different exercises: Start with basic transitions and changes of direction. When you are happy with this, there are many exercises that can be done when long-reining such as; loops, serpentines, lateral work and poles.

Remember: Progress isn’t always linear. Be patient - some horses may need several attempts before fully understanding what is being asked.

Final Thoughts

Long reining can be introduced at any age, and it’s best done while your horse is fit and healthy. If your horse is recovering from injury or undergoing rehabilitation, having prior experience with long reining will give you the confidence to incorporate it safely into their recovery programme.

Spending time on groundwork not only improves physical fitness but also strengthens your horse’s confidence and trust in you, helping to create a happy, relaxed, and responsive partner. With consistency and patience, both you and your horse will become more skilled and confident in long reining, making it a valuable and enjoyable part of your regular exercise routine.

This blog post was written by the team of experts at HorseWorld in Bristol. HorseWorld is a horse rescue charity based in the South-West. For more information, please visit their website: