How to Longe a Horse

Longeing a horse is a controlled way to exercise the animal and to keep it fit.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Longe Line
• Longe Whip
• Halter

1. Walk your horse to a round pen. A 60-foot pen or smaller is ideal.

2. Use a longe line (a 30-foot line with a loop for your wrist at one end and a latch at the other) to work your horse.

3. Use a longe whip to get the horse to walk or move out.

4. Attach the latch to the left side of the halter and hold the longe line in your left hand.

5. Hold the longe whip in your right hand.

6. Stand facing the left side of your horse.

7. Slowly step sideways towards your horse's hip. This should move your horse forward.

8. Continue following at a safe distance behind and off to the side of your horse as you slowly let out the length of the line.

9. Cluck or kiss to your horse to make him move faster. If he won't move out, lightly wiggle the whip behind the horse. Never hit your horse with the whip.

10. Stay in the center of the round pen and keep your eyes focused on your horse's hip.

11. Say "Whoa" when you want your horse to stop. If he continues, stay in the center of the pen while you step towards your horse's head to stop him. Give the "Whoa" command again.

12. Lightly yank on the line if the horse fails to stop. Reinforce the "Whoa."

13. Slowly walk towards the horse and rub him on the face and neck as a reward. Make work a pleasant experience.

14. Change the latch to the other side of the halter and repeat exercises to the right.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't attach the latch to the bottom of the halter, only to the side.
• Alternate the side you start with. Don't get the horse in the habit of going in one direction first.
• Use a stud chain over the nose of the horse, attached to the end of the longe line, for horses that have a tendancy to run off or misbehave. Be careful with a stud chain as you can severely hurt a horse with one.
• If your horse doesn't work as well to one side, start on that side first until both ways are even.
• If your horse has a habit of dropping its inside shoulder when you longe it, don't use a longe line, just use a whip (only in a round pen.)
• The longe whip is only used to wave behind a horse or crack and make a noise to get the horse to move, not to hit the horse.
• If you don't have access to a round pen, you'll have to use an arena. Be careful. Your horse may try to run off.
• Never let too much slack get in your line. If your horse moves in as he goes around the circle, pull the line in. Slack in the line can be dangerous if a horse tries to run off.
• If your horse has been in a stall for several days, he may have built up lots of energy. Be careful.
• Never loop end of line around your wrist. Hold loop with your fingers so that if your horse runs off you can let go of the line.
• Be careful when you longe your horse in an arena with another horse.

[glorynbrumbee]

on 7/4/2009 This is not a very good article on longing...... :(

[chrisj]

on 1/13/2008 I made the mistake of saddling up and mounting - ignorign signs of pent up energy after a cold spell and several days of rain and no activity. I was reminded, the hard way, to always longe and pay attention to the signs our beautiful horses put right before our eyes. I was thrown right on my tailbone and back on to my head. Good thing I was wearing my helmet otherwise there is no doubt I would not only be as sore as I am, but would also be displaying stitches in my head. I am now reminded of the importance of longing each and every time to assure a safe, fun ride as it should be. Fellow riders, be reminded of safety tips and learn from my achy bones. Wear a helmet and always warm up with a nice longe exercise before mounting.

cj

[Dunaleigh]

on 3/5/2007 If longeing with a bridle, only do it if you know your stuff. If you are inexperienced you could hurt the horse and make him mouth sore.

on 1/31/2006 Yielding the hind quarters is the #1 groundwork exercise you need to practice before you longe. If your horse doesn't yield, then later you are going to have an extremely hard time longeing both to the right and left. Also, if you are a beginner in horse training, I recommend longeing at a walk for a few days before you pick it up to a canter. Walking is just as much exercise as running and it's better on the joints.

on 11/22/2005 You should always longe before you ride, because it warms your horse up, and it also calms him down, so he isn't really spunky when you ride! In the winter, you should spend more time longeing your horse before you ride, because in the winter, horses naturally have more energy, and are more excitable! In the summer you should work him lightly, mostly at the jog (trot) because that gate warms them up, and gets rid of extra energy, without making them tired!