Bo Jena clinic: Learning long lining I

Bo Jena long lines stallion Davidoff Hit

On Valentine's Day I attended a long lining clinic with Bo Jena at Scott Hassler's home base/training facility Riveredge. My dressage GMO took a van-load of us to learn from the master. Bo Jena is a leading authority on long lining, and besides, I was eager to see the Riveredge (Hassler Dressage) facility.

The Riveredge facility is a whole 'nuther post. The Hasslers have designed a state of the art, spare no expense, palatial but ultra-functional home for their program.

But this is about long lining, and Bo Jena shows us what an art this is. I could never capture everything in the clinic, but will talk about the main some key points in his system.


Get your horse on the outside rein
Bo started each horse on the circle. Whether a pony, or a stallion, experienced or new to long lining, the first thing the horse had to learn is to be on the outside rein. It would be hard to overstate this as it's the basis for handler control--during this clinic, the handler was always positioned near the inside rein, and you don't want the horse to drop the inside shoulder and barrel into you. For some horses, in the beginning,  this meant that the horse was strongly bent to the outside when long lining on a circle. I was surprised at the decisive, sometimes strong use of outside rein aids to achieve this, but it's self-defense. As Bo said, control is critical, and without the outside rein contact "the horse can veer into you very quickly."

 It's okay if the horse isn't round at first, and believe me there were a lot of unpretty moments while the horse was still learning the idea of long lining. Support with the whip to keep them out on the circle and forward (forward is also a big deal). Bo never used force but he was very compelling, and I think he showed his expertise in his ability to gauge the horse and how much "pressure" (physical and psychological) they could tolerate. Long lining is a very psychological exercise. I had no idea.

The importance of safe handling practices was drilled home by a chestnut mare (shocker) that was balking, backing, and double-barreling during the session. LONG LINING CAN BE DANGEROUS...

• You never stand directly behind the horse.
• You never stand closer than the length of the whip.
• Although only one long liner learner did this, you should wear a helmet when long lining.

More later!