Pivot … pivot … pivot! 15 tips for keeping you and your horse safe at both ends of the longe line

Whether it be for training or exercise, longeing horses is common practice for many horse owners. Over time, having a horse go in a circle might have repercussions. “Horses are well-known for having joint problems … and horse people are well-known for longeing their horses. Might there be a link?” says Brian Nielsen, PhD, PAS, Dipl. ACAN, a professor of equine exercise physiology at Michigan State University (MSU), in East Lansing, who’s researched the impact of longeing horses on their soundness.

Along with Nielsen, we’ve spoken with two other experts—a veterinarian and a rehabilitation professional—to help us differentiate between scenarios where longeing is beneficial and times when it could do your horse more harm than good.

Benefits of Longeing Horses

Both equestrians and scientists agree on the benefits of the very common practice of working a horse on the longe line. With some guardrails in place, longeing can serve as an effective training and physical conditioning tool for your equine athlete. It presents several advantages over ridden exercise. Firstly, you’ve eliminated the weight of the rider—along with their potentially imperfect balance and coordination. Longeing also provides a practical avenue for building fitness, and owners can integrate it into a groundwork program to establish voice commands and other basics of a horse’s training before climbing into the saddle.

“Longeing can be used to train the horse to move correctly in a rounded outline, reaching for the bit,” says Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, Dipl. ACVSMR, FRCVS, professor and McPhail Dressage Chair Emerita at MSU. Clayton, a seasoned veterinarian, has spent the past 40 years researching equine locomotor biomechanics, lameness, rehabilitation, and conditioning programs, earning her widespread recognition in the field.

“Putting a horse on the longe before riding is also a good way to warm up and loosen up his back muscles,” Clayton adds. “Bringing blood flow to the area through movement can help turn a rigid, braced back into a soft and supple one, making it easier and more comfortable for your horse to carry you.”

Lastly, when it comes to lameness diagnosis, longeing is a vital part of your horse doctor’s toolbox. “Veterinarians turn to circular trotting examinations to accentuate a potential gait deficit,” explains Nielsen. “That’s because certain types of lameness are more apparent when the horse is moving in a circle rather than a straight line.”

“In recent years we’ve learned a great deal about how circular motion affects the horse’s movement and body,” Clayton adds, with researchers confirming in 2023 that the biomechanics of the horse’s legs on the inside of the circle differ from those on the outside¹. More on that later.

Risks and Dangers of Longeing

Despite its usefulness, longeing can present both good and bad consequences. “The fact that it’s used to reveal or accentuate lameness during veterinary examinations is pretty good evidence that uneven weight loading may create issues,” Nielsen says. So, before we share some longeing do’s and dont’s to help keep you and your horse safe at both ends of the rope, let’s look at some common equine injuries that can result from the exercise—especially when trainers use it improperly