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Horse Training can have two different approaches. One is to accomplish a minimum level fast and say “good enough is enough.” The other one is to strive for a level of “finesse” – where good enough is not enough. I strongly believe in the second approach.

In a different article I described the value of finesse for “leading the horse”. The next logical step in this approach would be to work the horse with the same goal in long lines.

You will need a confined area like a round pen or a square pen. And you will also need a surcingle and a set of two long lines to do this. You will run the long lines through the rings in the surcingle and attach them to the halter. You start by just following the horse and eventually will remain in the center while the horse is going around you in circles.

You can with your lines walk the horse, stop the horse and back the horse. Once you have the basic line signals established, you can work the horse through all gaits. You also can make the horse turn at any spot in the pen. You can go half the rails, turn to the center and change directions on the other side. Eventually you can have the horse do figure eights.

What is so special about that?

One advantage is, that can you can do this with young horses – before they are able to carry a rider. The other advantage is, that you can totally concentrate on the horse and it’s movements – without worrying about you giving the right cues at the right time.

The real advantage is, that you can train the horse with minimal pressure. When you train a stop, you just quit walking and let the horse walk into the pressure. You will within a very short time have a very nice stop. A turn of your hand holding the lines will very soon be enough to produce the movement or reaction you want.

Where does the finesse come in?

The start of the finesse is the turn of your hand. This requires your full concentration on the horse and in turn the full concentration of the horse on your signals.

But this is just the start. Once the horse has learned to respond to the slight line signals you can take it one step further – and do that with one hand. It is kind of hard to describe, but you basically let the horse take the line it needs in the turns. This is a very high level of connection between you and the horse – and a heck a lot of fun.

But you want to be aware that this will take you a lot of time to learn to handle the lines that way. But it will also take the horse a long time to reach that level. Training the horse should not aim at the famous “30 day wonder”. Training the horse should aim at excellence and finesse. Both, you and your horse will benefit greatly from it.