| One of the best ways to let out some excess | | | | him forward and you will use your other hand to |
| energy from your horse before you ride is to | | | | help drive. You may twirl the end of the rope or |
| longe him. This will help you see how your horse is | | | | wave your arm up and down in the air. Stepping |
| going to react before you even step a foot in the | | | | in front of the shoulder will encourage the horse |
| stirrup. If you have a small corral or round pen, | | | | to slow down and stop. |
| you can send the horse around without a rope. | | | | You will also be able to make him change |
| Have him walk, trot, lope and then work back | | | | directions as well. Apply pressure to the halter |
| down. You may also have him do some turns to | | | | with the rope in the opposite direction and with |
| limber him up. Sometimes horses that are excited | | | | the opposite hand. Your horse will turn and go the |
| to be out or who are tight will explode into a buck | | | | other way. For many horses, turning can be |
| as soon as you get on. Longeing will give him the | | | | difficult. Many horses prefer to go in one direction |
| opportunity to get any of that out of his system. | | | | and they may fight you about going the other |
| When you longe the horse, you don't want to be | | | | direction. These horses just need practice and |
| just chasing him around the pen. You will want him | | | | patience. Keep working with him on following the |
| to follow the pressure off of the longe line and | | | | pressure of the rope and driving him from behind |
| drive him with your body behind his shoulder. You | | | | his shoulder. These horses may also need a tap |
| also want your horse to longe properly. For | | | | on the rear with the end of the rope. |
| example, if the horse is going around to the right, | | | | When your horse begins to feel comfortable and |
| you want him to have his nose tipped to the | | | | starts to anticipate when you are going to turn |
| right, not the left. You also want to be sure that | | | | him, mix it up a bit and turn him in different parts |
| his eyes are focused on where he is going and | | | | of the pen. After the horse is comfortable and |
| that he is not looking in the other direction. You | | | | turning well, give him a well-deserved break. Then |
| will be able to tell where the horse is looking | | | | direct him again and drive him some more. |
| depending on whether or not you can see any | | | | Eventually, you may not even have to feel like |
| white of his inside eye. | | | | you are driving the horse and they will work |
| When you are longeing your horse, you will want | | | | around you in the circle, but you still want to be |
| to direct the horse with the hand of the direction | | | | an active participant and get a feel for your |
| that your horse is going. If your horse is going to | | | | horse. After ten to fifteen minutes of longeing, |
| the left, then you will want to direct him with the | | | | your horse should be limber enough and mentally |
| left hand. Standing behind his shoulder will drive | | | | prepared for a ride. |