Longeing is exercising the horse in a circle on a long
("longe") line held by a person on the ground. When a
horse is very quick or spooky on the way to the arena, most
riders will try riding it rather than longeing it first, simply
because it is annoying to have to go back to the barn, dismount,
search longeing it first, simply because it is for equipment,
attach it to the horse, and trudge back to the arena on foot. In
my experience, however, a horse that is very tense going to the
ring rarely calms down within a reasonable time.
I much prefer longeing to struggling while mounted in order to
control a nervous horse. When a horse pulls while longeing, it
will meet with the restriction of side reins, which are composed
of leather and elastic connected between the horse's bit and
girth. The elastic provides a little give when the horse pulls,
but there is only so far that the animal can stretch its neck
before it meets the fixed restriction of the leather part of the
reins. In contrast, when a horse fights your hands while you are
riding, it is difficult to offer as much flexibility, for most
riders feel threatened by an increase in pace when they ease off
the reins on a quick horse. Only a very talented and experienced
rider can provide both the flexibility and restriction necessary
when a horse wants to charge forward.
Longeing also offers the psychological advantage of focusing the
horse's attention on the equipment as the source of its
restriction; whereas, if you have been pulling on the horse's
mouth for an hour on the flat, the animal associates discomfort
directly with you. The situation also holds true in reverse. If
your horse has been pulling against you for a long time, your
arms will begin to hurt, and if you are like most people, you
will become angry with the animal in direct proportion to your
degree of pain. But if you longe the horse before you try to work
it, you'll have a more pleasant ride afterwards and not develop
such ill will toward it. Even a very good rider benefits from
first longeing a tense horse, for it spares him from expending
unnecessary energy on horseback.