How to Line Drive Your Horse

While ground driving somewhat resembles driving a horse without a cart, it's a good way to teach a horse the basic commands used in riding before actually getting on it. This means horses too young to ride can reap some of the benefits of early training. In addition, ground driving can build a horse's strength and coordination while providing some variety during basic training. Line driving can also be used to retrain an older horse that has developed some bad habits.

Things You'll Need

  • Saddle or surcingle
  • Bridle with snaffle bit
  • 2 cotton longe lines with snaps at ends
  • 2 or 3 short pieces of rope
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure your horse knows how to longe at a walk, trot and canter.

    • 2

      Fasten a surcingle on your horse, if you have one. If you do not have a surcingle, saddle your horse. Now bridle your horse using a snaffle bit. If you are using an English saddle, you will need to raise the stirrups and tie the reins to the breast collar rings on each size using the short pieces of rope or twine. Make sure the reins are not too tight and that the horse can carry its head in a normal position. If you are using a Western saddle, run the reins through the pommel, then tie them and loop them over the horn. Once again, make sure the horse can carry its head naturally. If you have a surcingle, you will be able to run the reins (longe lines) through the middle rings on each side.

    • 3

      Attach the longe lines to the bit, then run the other ends through the stirrups or the middle rings of the surcingle.

    • 4

      Begin by standing to the side of the horse as though you were going to longe it. Bring the outside longe line behind the horse. Ask the horse to walk forward in a circle, slowly moving behind the horse in a driving position.

    • 5

      Turn the horse to the opposite side, then in a serpentine pattern, after the horse moves forward freely at a walk. Ask for a slow trot in a straight line, then in the serpentine pattern. Although you can also ask for the canter while ground driving, it will be very difficult to keep up. Don't forget to ask for the backup too.