How to Teach a Horse to Longe

Teaching your horse to longe properly is important. Before the popularity of todays round pen clinics, longe-lines were used for centuries. A longe-line is a long lead rope that allows you to run the horse around you at all gaits in a controlled circle. With the proper equipment, longeing can be the best training tool you will ever use.

Things You'll Need

  • Longe-line
  • Halter
  • Longe whip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Attach the longe line to the middle ring under the horse's jaw. Make sure the horse is standing still. Step back from him several steps--making sure you form a straight line from your body to his shoulder. He should be facing sideways from you in the direction you intend him to go.

    • 2

      Form a triangle with the longe line in your left hand, your body at the horse's shoulder, and your longe whip in your right hand and behind the horse's rear. This is the key to proper longeing. You must maintain this triangle in all gaits and no matter what the horse does. It can be quite a challenge as you are teaching the horse to longe.

    • 3

      Snap the whip lightly to ask the horse to move forward. He is likely to be confused and try to face you by turning his hind end away from you. Be prepared for this. You will have to make him move forward and away from the whip, which means you will have to pop the whip again, while swinging your left hand to get his head pulled left. The pull to the left and the pressure from behind should get him moving.

    • 4

      Make that movement happen. When it does, use your voice to praise the horse for figuring out you wanted him to move away from the pressure behind, yet stay in hand. He will figure out quickly that you wish him to move forward and this will make him go around you in circles. Praise him. Never speed him up until he understand the concept of moving around you in a circle. If you have to make him trot or run to get away from the whip that is fine--whatever gait he uses when he finally understands the concept of the circle is good. But if you can make him understand the concept at a walk, even better.

    • 5

      Use your voice to speed him up. You will teach him this by using the command and then following with the whip. As soon as he responds, praise him. Make sure he understands "whoa". Once he has succeeded on one side, "whoa" him and walk to him. Pat him, turn him around, and switch hands. Apply this lesson to the opposite side, and expect him to have to learn the entire lesson all over again.