12ft Line into two reins?

[Brodies_Girl]

Hiya, this might sound really stupid but can you turn your parelli 12ft line into two reins and if so how?
Brodie is coming along very nicely and we are riding for 10-20 mins a week, little by little. he seems so much calmer but still leans on a bit i would like to try riding him bitless but would rather 'give-it-a-go' than spend a fortune on another bridle he doesnt like!

Thanks guys,

Kadie

[JOJOBA]

Im probably going to be a very bad influence here but I just used long leadropes. See no reason why you shouldnt work out some way of using your rope.
I was in an enclosed area, I kept the bridle on over the top til I was happy to take it off - Id do that if you can so you have it on standby.

Horse in question was my very quiet TB who goes / stops quite nicely off seat aids and neck reining anyway;

1)
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z216/Jacksalephotos/bitless4.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z216/Jacksalephotos/bitless8.jpg

2)
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z216/Jacksalephotos/bitless11.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z216/Jacksalephotos/bitless23.jpg



Please ignore some of the leg positions - I was working on making him halt by putting my leg forwards.

xxx

[mayoguinness]

Yeah, you could just clip them on. I tie mine, but have a clipless rope and wouldn't have a clue how to explain it, though maybe someone else will:)

[LodgeRopes]

BG,
There are many ways to tie off a 12ft lead for reins, below is one of the methods we use, it allows you to put an extra wrap above the halters fiador knot to reduce the nose opening size if the halter a little sloppy. Taking an inch or two out of the nose opening often help to get cleaner responses to rein cues. But that does not mean tight!!! always have at least 2 fingers of free space between rope and horse gullet/chin.

cheers all
Rob

[Crystal Fire]

You look nice and relaxed Jojoba. I think your horse is lovely. :)
Can you see how, because the loop under your horse's chin is quite long, it might interfere with your aids as you progress? When you ask for backup the clip is going to come up to rest against his neck. I was thinking that you've probably got room to tie something like in the Lodge Ropes diagram to take up a bit of that slack. :)

[JOJOBA]

The bit under my horse's chin?
Yes it was deliberate, Im trying to get my mum to ride less with her hands - she likes to have a contact all the time. I got on and rode him bitless first for a while, to check he would be okay, then stuck my mum on. Everytime she panicked and tried to grab a contact the shortest she could get her reins to go just put the clips on his neck and no pressure on his head.
Im an evil daughter :p.
I just taught him to back up from shaking the reins, so he does that if we need to move him backwards. To be honest, for a totally traditionally trained, never done an ounce of natural horsemanship or western in his life, grumpy old TB, he did remarkably well. He neck reins for preference - if I wrap a rope round him and push him away to follow it round (I hope you know what I mean there) instead he will just keep sidestepping away from the pressure of the rope, rather than following the pull! So I had a rethink and decided to have a play with the western aids for him. He loves it. He has a really nice jog because he's too lazy to trot anyway :p, he likes sticking his nose on the floor because he's built that way, and after a few sessions I had him doing some hesitant, slow (he was a bit baffled) spins, and stopping from me sitting back and putting legs forward (if you use the reins to stop he opens his mouth and leans and slowly grinds to a halt).
He doesnt look bad at all for an almost 19yr old either, does he? :D He wasnt very muscled because he'd been out of work for over 6 months with mystery lameness :(, he was still quite footsore in those pics but we were trying to get through it. Never managed in the end and had to put his shoes back on.

xxx

[Crystal Fire]

I think he looks great and not grumpy at all! :)
I wonder how many people would be pleasantly surprised if they tried their horse out like this? I've found horses can be completely different and better when you take the bit out of the equation.

[Brodies_Girl]

Thank you everyone for your ideas. Jojoba your horse is gorgeous, he looks like mine but more TB and alot calmer! LOL!
I am still working on his ground work and he really likes to test me, I'm sure it will be a while before he forgets he ever used to buck anyone off. It's just great to be with him though.
im so grateful to this website, we've taken a long time to work through our level 1, im sure i would still be stuck on the first 3 games if it hadnt been for everyones help and advice.
i think with that babble im just wanting to say thanks, so there you go.

Take care
Kadie

[JOJOBA]

I wonder how many people would be pleasantly surprised if they tried their horse out like this?
Im lucky in that I know you could set a bomb off under him and the most he would do is sigh and move quietly out of the way, then go back to sleep. :p

xxx

[rebelcowgirl]

This is what I ride my one mare with all the time. I find she goes better with this than with anything else. This is the only piece of authentic Parelli equipment I have ever bought. I figured out that a decent bridle, bit and reins are about the same price, plus I have the lead attached for those times when we take a break when trail riding. :D

[Meovcorz]

Oh Jojoba, if you can let a bomb off underneath your horse and all he would do is sigh and move quietly out of the way, that is what I would call a reall Bombproof horse :D HE HE HE :D!!!!

[JOJOBA]

He is bombproof. We paid £2000 for him 12 years ago (which made him average price for that time). He was born in Ireland (same stud as Red Rum), began race training, proved far too lazy and slow (though my mum has overtaken ex-racers on him galloping out hacking - he's extremely fast, just on his own terms :p). Shipped to England, sold at auction. Woman broke him in and sold him on to the woman we bought him off - he spent his nights in a field down the road, and his days in the woman's garden being a climbing frame for her children. He was a fabulous hack.
Got him home and gave him a couple of days, then tried to ride. Mayhem. Ditched my mum, took off, then reared up and ditched our RI. He was meant to be working livery but the RS wouldnt allow it for a year because he was naughty.
Had a serious buck on him - well known at Pony Club for 2 things; 1) the buck-kick (kicks at the highest point of the buck to smack the saddle into your bottom), and 2) the patented King refusal - 'Im going to jump it! I am I am I am!!!!! Here we go!!! Wait no I cant!'. He ducks out at the last split second, usually leaving the rider sat on the jump :p.

As he's aged he's mellowed out and for the last 5 years or so he's been great. Been ridden by disabled riders (who he looks after) and is my mum's happy hack. Im now nearly 21 and Ive been riding him since I was 10!
He's totally reliable and if every other horse spooks and bolts, King will jump, jog a stride, then carry on walking home as the others become specks on the horizon :p.


xxx

[Meovcorz]

I like his jump refusals! That is SO funny.