Longeing Regimen

In addition to Tristan's long slow distance hill rides, I've been longeing 1-2 days a week.

Whole lotta gear. Half pad, surcingle, elastic thingy, longe line, chambon, side reins.

Typically we start out with a walk both directions with the chambon and the elastic thingy. 

When I first started back up with the longeing, I tried out the side reins, to see if they worked for him now that he had a better idea of self-carriage.

NOPE. I don't have pictures, but he basically inverted his neck and braced against them and never once softened and in fact was clearly building strength in all the wrong ways. Back to the tack box, side reins.

I do really like the chambon, though. It's firm but gentle, and it reinforces the things I want, namely, don't keep your head at a 90 degree angle to your body. It does not do anything about his nose, simply encourages a lowered poll.

Clearly we have some work to do, both on my photography skills and on his tendency to fall on the forehand in the trot when I'm not nagging every step.

See what I mean about the chambon, though? He is, yes, a bit on the forehand but he's actually doing a little bit of coming up through his back thanks to not having his ears in the rafters.

All's well that ends well!