u SdeHee 11Hd 'Ced1Holo111 M GUIDE C P11/J/islted /J11 tlte IIHiversit11 of ,Misso11ri - eo/11111/Jia fKleHsioH :lJivisioH Techniques Of Line Driving Melvin Bradley, Department of Animal Husbandry, College of Agriculture and Sam Sabin, New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Line driving is one of the most valuable techniques for training horses. It can be used to train horses too young to be ridden, to retrain spoiled horses, or to teach others new movements. Young horses can be taught to move forward, stop, back, stand, turn, and other preliminary obedience steps by line driving. If these maneuvers have been taught on the longe line, so much the better. They can be advanced to sharp turns. Horses can also be introduced to strange objects they might shy from under saddle. Equipment Needed for Line Driving Prepare for line driving a young horse by first driving one that is experienced. For line driving, you will need a halter and shank to lead the horse to the location (and to be used by the assistant if one is used); a snaffie bit bridle; and two light lines approximately 30 feet long. A training harness or saddle horse by driving one that is is necessary for line driving. A surcingle-crupper combination Prepare for line driving a young experienced. The horse above works well when driven and can give an (see photo) is handy because it is padded on the back and inexperienced handler necessary practice. adjustable for good fit. Many horses are line driven with a saddle. The stirrups are tied togetherunderthe belly of the horse and then the lines are run through them. Lightweight nylon lines are good to use because they put little weight on the mouth of the horse. If the horse has been longed, line driving is usually just another series of lessons in his training without incident. If not, an assistant and a training pen are needed. Preparing the Horse Groom the horse at the site of training. This relaxes him. If the location is near the stables, so much the better. Let the horse smell the equipment he is about to wear so he will learn it is not going to hurt him . If it has been used on another horse, A halter, a snaffle bit bridle, two light lines approximately 30 feet long, horse to the training location are this will also reassure him . and a halter shank used to lead the needed for line driving. (Pictured above from left). After preliminary adjustment of the equipment, slip it on the horse easily and quietly so as not to increase anxiety or create fear. Start with the surcingle, holding the crupper in the right hand. Next, tighten the surcingle gently around the horse so it will not pinch him. Keep the left hand under the buckle and pull the billet up gently. If he shows anxiety, tighten only enough to hold it in place. Let him stand for a few minutes and then finish tightening the surcingle. Before putting the crupper under a horse's tail, get an idea of its adjustment. Adjust the back straps so it hangs about two inches below the root of the tail. Raise the tail with one hand and put the crupper under it. This may excite a young horse. He may respond by clamping down on the crupper or by kicking and trying to escape. The assistant should be prepared A surcingle-crupper combination is handy to use for line driving - to calm the horse and prevent violent reactions. Buckle the because it is padded on the back and adjustable for good fit. 2863 Tighten the surcingle gently around the horse so it will not pinch him. Keep the left hand under the buckle and pull the billet up gently. Make sure the bridle fits before line driving. The bridle in the top photograph does not fit properly. The throat latch is too tight and the bit is hanging too high in the horse's mouth . In the photograph above, these problems have been corrected and the adjustment is good. Bridling the Horse Get an idea of a horse's head size and adjust the bridle Before putting the crupper under a horse's tail, get an idea of its accordingly before putting it on. It may be wise to bridle the adjustment. Adjust the back straps so it hangs about two inches below horse in a stall a few times before going out to drive. Watch the the root of the tail. Raise the tail with one hand and put the crupper horse if he is left in the stall. He might rub the bridle off or get under it. it caught on something. Before putting on the bridle, release the halter so the horse can still be controlled with the shank around his neck. Work crupper securely but not too tightly. Stand with the horse if he the bit into his mouth gently and his ears into the crown of the shows anxiety. Pat him, speak to him , and walk him around bridle without pinching them. Make sure the bridle fits. The until he is no longer apprehensive of the crupper. throat latch should not be too tight and the bit should not hang Make final adjustments after the horse calms down. If too high in the horse's mouth. A full-cheek snaffle bit should this has been a traumatic experience for the horse, you may be used. It will not permit the ring to be pulled through the wish to stop the lesson for that day. It might be best to let him horse's mouth if one rein is pulled hard. stand in the stall with the rig on, until he is thoroughly used to The objective of line driving is to get the response you it , before proceeding with the driving lesson. want from the horse without his associating the activity with a If the horse accepts the equipment, walk him around in a bad experience. circle in the training pen until he is relaxed before putting on the bridle and lines for driving. It is good to trot the horse for Beginning the Lesson awhile. This gets his mind off the new rig and takes some of the edge off his energy. If he is trained to a longe line, his An assistant should be available when starting a young energy can be reduced by longeing first. horse for the first time. The handler can reassure the horse, - 2863 An assistant should be available when starting a young horse for the first time. Snap a halter shank onto the bit or halter and let the assistant walk with the horse for the first few circles. Let the horse do most of the walking by going in circles around the driver. Keep the circle large by putting tension on the outside line. When teaching to back, stand straight behind the horse, say "back" and apply even tension on each line by light pulls. When he responds, release pressure, say "back", and pull again. - This horse has a good-fitting harness. The lines are kept low to keep the horse between them. The horse is overflexing slightly at the neck. A looser line would correct this. It is good to drive the horse with a saddle on part of the time . This gets him used to carrying more weight and he becomes familiar with wearing a saddle before carrying a rider. standing at his head, while the assistant gets the equipment Teaching a Horse to Back straightened out. Snap a halter shank onto the bit or the halter and let the assistant walk with the horse for the first few When the horse is going well , teach him to back. If he has circles. Lower the lines to the bottom rings in the surcingle. been taught to back on a longe line, this will be no problem. If This will help keep the horse between the lines rather than not, you may need an assistant. Stand straight behind the getting one over his back and allowing him to face the driver. horse , say " back" and apply even tension on each line by As the horse accepts response from the lines, the handler light pulls. If you get any response toward backing, release should release the halter shank and begin to drop away. This pressure. Then say "back" and pull again. allows the driver to take full control of the horse. Backing is a series of pulls and releases. Don't expect too After the horse responds well, let him do most of the much the first time you try backing. If the horse moves walking by going in circles around the driver. Keep the circle backward one or two steps, be satisfied for that day' s lesson. large by putting tension on the outside line . This teaches the After a number of lessons, he will back promptly. horse to respond to the lines around his hind legs. Keep the If the horse will not back at all , have an assistant stand in lesson short in the beginning-JO to 15 minutes. front of him and tap him lightly around the legs with a whip as you give the signal orally and with light pulls on the lines. This Changing Directions often will start a horse. Be patient when a horse is backing. This is an unnatural gait for him-he has to learn it and it takes When moving in the opposite direction, have the assistant a long time . start the horse again, release him, and drop back.