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  Discussion on Lungeing
Author Message
New Member:
Lpine

Posted on Monday, Jul 21, 2003 - 12:57 pm:

I know this is simple to some, what is the best way to teach a horse to lounge?
Member:
Gemtwist

Posted on Monday, Jul 21, 2003 - 1:29 pm:

Hi Kevin,

There's a great book called 101 Longeing & Long Lining Exercises English & Western by Cherry Hill that would help a great deal.

In the meantime, if you have access to a round pen that really helps, but isn't absolutely necessary. I always start a horse longing by teaching them to stand still as I walk around them. Once they have that down, then I start getting them used to walking ahead of me. When you stand, you want to create a V shape with your two arms. If your horse is going to the left, you want the longe line in your left hand and a longe whip in your right. Stand with your right shoulder even with or behind the horse's hip. The longe whip is used to help guide the horse. I don't think I've ever used it as a punishment. Once you're in place, use your voice and a push with the whip to ask the horse to walk on. (The first time I'm right next to the horse's hip and as the horse gets better I gradually move to the middle of the circle). Be sure to keep your shoulder pointed toward the horse's hip (that's the most common mistake I see in novice longers). If the horse tries to turn in to you keep encouraging him forward from behind. I also think that horse's understand tones in your voice, so when I ask a horse to move to a higher gait, I use a low tone (and I'm not talking about loudness, I mean like a lower note in music) to a high tone and when I ask them for a downward transition I use a high tone to a low tone.

Once the horse is comfortable walking in a circle and you've been able to move to the middle of the circle, then try trotting. When the horse trots, watch his hip, not his head. It's a much better indicator if he's going to try to turn in or away from you.

Also before you start figure out which direction is better for your horse. Just like people, all horses are either right or left-handed. You'll save yourself a lot of frustration if you start on his easier side.

The last piece of advice is to make sure your longe line is long enough. Don't try to make an inexperienced or young horse go around in a circle that's too small. In the end, I prefer a circle to start a horse longing no smaller than 60 feet.

Hope this helps!
Nancy
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