However, longeing can be damaging to your horse if done incorrectly.  Horses need to be trained for this technique in order to perform properly and safely.  Longeing horses on a short line can cause damage to their muscles and limbs, so you should always use a line that is at least thirty feet.  Also, be cautious of longeing in the same direction, as this will put undue stress on one side of the horse’s body.  This training tool can quickly become boring for your horse if used too often, so be sure to mix it up with other exercises.

Avoid longeing horses under the age of two, at least at the canter.  Cantering for long periods of time in a small circle can create too much stress for their young joints.  Young horses should only be walked or trotted.  Additionally, it is important to ensure the footing is secure, and not slippery.  A horse traveling at speed in a small circle can quickly find their feet sliding out from underneath them.

Once your horse has learned how to longe confidently, you might wish to move things up a notch by double-longeing or long lining.

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• Look for a trainer that is experienced in dealing with what you need handled.  If you are looking to be competitive in the hunter world you’ll be looking for a very different trainer than someone with a green broke three-year-old trail horse.
• Talk to your vet, farrier, and other horse owners to find out if they can recommend anyone.  Word of mouth is always a great way to start compiling a list of potential professionals.
• Check for qualifications.  All good trainers should be able to give you information on what education they have taken to further their knowledge.
• Ask for references.  A good trainer should have clients who are willing to sing their praises.
• See if you can watch the trainer work with another horse.  If you are uncomfortable with their techniques, ask them about it afterwards.  Don’t be accusatory, simply ask your questions and evaluate their answers with regards to your comfort level.
• Trust your instinct.  Remember, this relationship is not just about your horse, but also about you.  If you don’t take a shine to the trainer, it’s probably best to find someone else.
• Have the trainer work with your horse for one session before signing a contract or sending your horse to their stable.  Watch how the trainer interacts with your horse and how your horse responds.  No trainer should ever be emotional while working with your horse, including angrily hitting or yelling at them.  Competent horse trainers are calm and quiet – just as they want the horse to be.

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• Try using a clicker when you are trick training.  A clicker will allow you to instantly reward your horse for good behavior, and although it cannot work miracles, it can make the training process much quicker and less confusing for your horse.
• Start with simple tricks.  Although they may not be as flashy as the big tricks, mastering a series of simple tricks will help you and your horse to gain confidence through the process.  Try teaching your horse to do natural behaviors on command, such as touching an object or lifting a hoof.
• Keep your patience.  Above all, trick training should be a fun way for you and your horse to bond.  If your horse doesn’t understanding what you’re teaching, try breaking down the steps further.  For instance, if you want your horse to touch an object, start rewarding him for looking at the object, or bobbing his head towards it.
• Keep your sessions short.  This will help you and your horse to stay focused.  Boredom, impatience, and frustration have no place in training.
• Never try to force your horse to perform a trick.  Not only can this be incredibly dangerous, but it will not teach your horse to remember this trick.  All he will remember is your unpredictable behavior.
• Be wary of tricks that could be dangerous for both you and your horse, such as sitting or lying down.  Some tricks can put you in an unsafe position with your horse should he kick or become startled.  When performed incorrectly, some tricks can also cause injury to your horse.  Stay within the bounds you are comfortable with, and work your way up slowly.

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Clicker training works by allowing the animal to associate the clicker with praise.  This allows you, as the trainer, to immediately praise desired behavior simply by pressing the clicker and making the clicking noise.  This is preferred to handing out treats or giving a neck rub or verbal praise because it allows for an immediate reward of the good behavior.  Too often we are delayed in praising the behavior we desired because we are fishing treats out of our pocket or are transferring off the lead rope to give a good neck massage.

The first thing to do when starting to clicker train is to get the horse to understand that the clicker means yes.  You can do this by making the clicking noise, and then following it up with a treat.  Since you will be treating the horse often in this stage of training, try using relatively small, healthy treats that won’t upset his tummy.  Follow this pattern of clicking and treating for about ten or twelve times, then end the session.  Clicker training is best accomplished in small sessions several times per day.  It likely won’t take him long to figure out that the click means that food is on its way, depending on how social and food-oriented he is.  This will make him want to work for the click in future sessions.

Once your horse understands what the click means, you can use this tool to teach pretty much any desired behavior.  Just remember to keep your sessions short, end on a good note, and don’t forget to be patient with your horse.

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