Longeing (US English, classical spelling) or lungeing (UK English, informal US) is a technique for training and exercising horses where the horse travels in a circle around the handler. It is also a critical component of the sport of equestrian vaulting. The horse is asked to work at the end of a long line of approximately 25 feet (7.6 m). Longeing is performed on a large circle with the horse traveling around the outside edge of a real or imaginary ring with the handler on the ground in the center, holding the line. The horse is asked to respond to commands from the handler or trainer, usually given by voice, aided by pressure and release of the line and movement of a whip with a long shaft and equally long lash, called a longeing whip or longe whip. Longeing is used as a training tool for young horses to introduce them to commands, equipment, and to build trust and respect in the trainer. It can also be used to good effect to build strength in ridden horses or for rehabilitation after illness or injury. It can be used to introduce new riders to the movement of a horse without having the rider also have to manage control of the animal. It also can be an advanced riding exercise to increase balance and skill of more experienced riders.
Etymology
The word derives from the French word allonge, meaning "to lengthen", and the Latin longa ("long"). The spellings longe and lunge are interchangeable in English, but longe is more common in the USA and lunge is more common in the UK. The usage of the spelling lungeing in English dates back at least to the 1800s.
Reasons for longeing
Longeing has many benefits for both horses and riders. For a young or green (inexperienced) horse, longeing is used to teach a horse to respond to voice commands and the trainer's body language, to accustom them to the feel of a saddle and bridle, and to begin their introduction to the feel of reins and bit pressure. In many training stables, a horse is first introduced on the longe to nearly everything it is going to be asked to do under saddle, including movement at all gaits, response to hand and voice commands (called riding aids), and remaining calm in unusual or stressful situations. On horses of any age or level of experience, longeing is used to exercise a horse when it cannot be ridden, or when additional work is needed to develop balance, rhythm, and to improve the horse's gaits. It is also useful to help settle a horse before riding, especially a high-strung horse, a young horse, or a horse that has been confined more than usual. However, longeing for long periods or with the intent to tire a horse out can cause joint strain. It can be used to "blow off steam" or "get the bucks out" before a rider gets on, though proper turnout or liberty work is a better alternative, because a longeing session is training time, not play time. Longeing riders is valuable for teaching, as they may develop their seat and position without having to worry about controlling the horse. Classical schools of riding and training, such as the Spanish Riding School, require new riders to work extensively on the longe before they are allowed reins or stirrups, and riders are required to periodically return to longe work to refine their seat and balance.
Equipment for longeing
Longe line The longe line (or longe) is typically about 25 to 30 feet (7.6 to 9.1 m) long, so the longeing circle can have a diameter of up to 60 feet (18 m). The line is usually a flat woven webbing made of nylon, cotton, or similar material. In the natural horsemanship tradition, the longe line is usually made of round cotton rope, and is often much shorter, as short as 12–15 feet (3.7–4.6 m). In general, cotton longe lines are less likely to burn the handler’s hands than nylon, but nylon is more durable and less likely to break. It may have a snap, buckle, or chain on one end to attach to a longeing cavesson or bridle. A chain, although sometimes used with difficult horses, has no subtlety of contact and is quite severe. In most cases, it is best to use a snap-end longe line. Many longe lines have a loop handle at the other end, but this is dangerous to use, as a person's hand can be trapped in the handle and be injured should the horse bolt. The longe line takes the place of the rein aids while longeing. It can be held in a rein hold (coming out the bottom of the hand) or a driving hold (coming out the top of the hand), and the extra line is folded back and forth rather than coiled, as coiled line can tighten and trap the trainer's hand or fingers if the horse bolts.
Longe whip The whip usually has a stock of 6 feet (1.8 m), with a lash of 5–6 feet (1.5–1.8 m) (although some are longer). The whip is light, easy to handle, and well balanced. Although the lash can reach the horse, the length reduces the force that can be applied, so it is used as an encouragement to the horse and not as a punishment. Techniques used include movement, brushing the horse with the lash, and in limited circumstances, sound from a whipcrack. It is not safe to use a riding or driving whip for longeing because they are too short to reach the horse without bringing the handler close enough to the horse's hindquarters to risk being kicked by the horse.
Longeing cavesson
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