Training to longe?

Question

I have several horses who I need to be able to work on a longe line but they have no experience with them. Does anyone have any tips on where to begin or know of some books or websites?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You can use a round pen to help establish working in a circle.  Put a longe line on the halter, and you'll also need a longe whip.  It can be really difficult to get the idea across for the horse to leave you and move in a circle around you.  But if you establish a habit of "when the longe line is on, it means you move in a circle as I tell you to", the horse will understand it after some practice.

It might help to have another person stand at the horse's head, with you in the middle of the circle.  Then give the command for walk (either "walk" or a "ck-ck" sound) and the other person will help lead the horse into a walk around in a circle.  Be very clear and consistent with your directions.  Body language speaks even louder.  When you ask for a walk, extend your arm that's holding the lead rope and point the direction you want the horse to go.  Your other arm, holding the whip, should also raise higher and encourage movement (a calm horse will maybe need to hear the whip swish or snap, or even a flick towards his rear half; a spooky horse may over react, so try just raising the whip at first, if you get a response, then great.  the key with the whip is to actually get a response, though, so if your horse is "deadened" or too desensitized to the whip, you will need to be aggressive enough with it to get him to move out.  A smart whack with it does not constitute abuse, if you have asked him with the verbal command first, have raised the whip and encouraged him to go forward, and he is still looking at you like a class bully saying "make me!"...)

I suggest practicing a lot at the walk, asking for a halt (again vocally and with body language: say "whoa", lower the whip to the ground, tug on the longe line just to get a whoa...you do not want the horse to come towards you.  You want him to stop and stand and look to you for direction.  You can go to him and pat him, etc.  But don't let him enter the circle unless you have another distinct command for that. )

If you don't have another person helping, you may have trouble getting him to stay outside the circle.  Use the whip and body language to shoo him back out if he starts to cut in.  Without a person to help lead him, he may also only work in a canter or fast trot at first...don't be discouraged.  It takes a lot of practice.  

If this is a young colt, don't longe him excessively or in small circles...can be hard on the knees and hock joints that haven't closed yet.

Your first few sessions might be mainly involved with teaching the horse to move in a circle....don't worry about speed at first, but just establish the circle and moving around you in a forward manner.  Use the correct commands and signals, but if the horse blows through them don't get upset or feel like a failure.  It will take many sessions before the horse is good at it.  Set small goals and work up to them.  Always try to end on a good note so it doesn't seem like a negative thing next time you go to longe him.

I'm working on writing an article on this for my website http://www.liverystable.net  but haven't got one on longeing yet.  You can check it out if you want to read the current articles I've written.

Good luck with your longeing.  It can be really beneficial to have horses that know how to longe well.

Answer 2

well be expected to be pulled....alot.

be sure ur in a round pen tho.

thts all i got fer now :]]

Answer 3

Rather than just teaching them to lunge, why not get them to be supple, calm, and flowing on the ground? You should check out Parelli Natural Horsemanship, it'll teach your horse and you to be not only physically fit, but mentally and emotionally fit as well. My horse and I have never had a better, forgiving, willing relationship!

http://www.parelli.com

Answer 4

I remember having a little trouble getting tings started with a couple of horses I was breaking out. I found that when I used an 8 foot buggy whip that i didn't have to use quite so much emphasis on the command I was asking. When I ask for forward movement to the left I would raise my left hand with the longe line and take a half step to my right at the same time as I would raise the tip of the whip.Being a longer whip, that placed the end closer to the animal at which took the worry from me directly and placed it on the close end of the whip. If I still got no reaction all I would have to do is kind of shake it and surprisingly enough  they would move right out. Surely I would go back to a shorter whip after a while.As I've said before, The first thing I try to accomplish is to create a sound means of communication through a gentle way. it worked for me ....

Answer 5

It takes years of practice and instuctions to become a trainer. Sometimes it's best to find a local trainer and watch him or her in the mornings just to make sure you are safe and not teaching the wrong thing. Hands on is much better way of learning. Good luck.