How Do You Longe A Horse Without A Round Pen?

Round pens are a relatively recent invention and not at all necessary in longeing (also "lungeing") a horse. Before round pens, horses were longed in their own pastures or in the riding arena. It is essential that a horse knows the basics of longeing in order to help with balance, coordination and letting of excess energy. Please be sure your horse leads well and is halter broken before attempting longeing. Get ready for longeing. Wear comfortable, weather-resistant shoes because you will doing a lot of running about. Although longeing ropes are soft, they can sometimes leave blisters, so wearing riding gloves may help. Fit your horse with a halter or, preferably, a cavesson, where you can attach the longe line on top of the horse's nose. Get a helper if possible, because the fastest way to teach a horse how to longe is with a helper. Lead the horse to an area where you can make a 30-foot to 60-foot circle. Clip the longe line to the side nearest to you. If you have a helper, she can ...  more