A Lesson in Longing Etiquette at the Congress…

By: Brittany Bevis

When you combine the fact that nearly 6,000 horses visit the Ohio State Fairgrounds for the Quarter Horse Congress every year with  the reality that there are less than a dozen arenas, covered paddocks, and nooks and crannies in which to longe, the numbers don’t really compute. Add in the fact that longing is prohibited in many arenas, and what’s a rider with an energetic horse to do?

Moreover, when there are ten to fifteen horses waiting in line for that last coveted spot in the arena, what’s the proper etiquette to avoid stepping on anyone’s toes, or hooves? Common sense dictates that waiting for a longing spot is much like approaching a four-way stop. The car (or equestrian) that arrives at the spot first has the right of way to proceed. All other cars (or equestrians) should continue to move forward in the order in which they arrived. However, sometimes it isn’t that simple, and, as we all know, not everyone follows the rules…

We chatted with some exhibitors to formulate a few do’s and don’ts for longing etiquette during the Congress.

Do #1: Avoid peak longing times to prevent a backup- Generally, the most popular times for longing at the Congress are from 6 to 8 am and in two separate blocks before and after lunchtime. Amateur exhibitor, Robin Robinett explains.

“I think you get a block right before lunch and a block right after lunch,” she says. “I’ve seen the line be fifteen horses long. That always seems to happen between 2 and 4.”

Do #2: Be courteous to those preparing to show– If you see someone waiting for a spot, and he or she has a horse tacked up in show equipment, and your horse doesn’t show until next week, it would be nice to let them get that quick last-minute longe in before their class.

Do #3: Be patient- Everyone is trying their best to prepare their horses in as timely of a manner as possible. One of the very first lessons most of us should have learned in kindergarten is how to take turns. Think of the longing pen as having a revolving door policy; only a few can fit inside at one time, everyone inside is constantly in motion, and care must be taken when entering or exiting because it’s easy to step on someone’s toes, or hoofs in this case.

“Sometimes, halter horses can get a little feisty [when longing], either by bucking or kicking,” Robinett says. “Sometimes, they get out of their circle. If I’m longing when that happens, I just say I’m sorry. You have to be polite and nice. We’re here for 20 days, and everyone gets a little cranky.”

Do #4: Plan ahead-

“Don’t cut your time short,” she says. “If you have somewhere you have to be in an hour, plan ahead. You plan ahead just like you have to plan to eat and plan when you’re going to ride.”

“You need etiquette from the facility as well. When they announce that they’re going to close the arena at 7 am, it’s annoying when the tractor guy shows up to drag at 6:30. We need that extra half an hour, because that’s 30 minutes of our longing time. People plan their schedules based on when the arenas are going to be open.”

Don’t #1: Saving spots– It is highly frowned upon, and a very quick way to cause an argument, to have someone “save” a longing spot to bring you another horse while there are other people waiting in line.”

“I can’t stand it when you’ve stood in line waiting and someone comes up in the middle of nowhere and there was someone saving them a spot,” she says. “Then, you’ve cut in line in front of five or ten horses. It’s just inconsiderate for everyone else.”

Don’t #2: Hogging a spot– Although the cool Congress weather might necessitate a little more longing than usual, don’t hog a spot in the arena for an unreasonable amount of time. This varies but can range anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour. Longing for more than an hour is definitely pushing it.

“I know horses need to be longed, and I understand if you have to longe for an hour or longer,” she says. “I’ve been on that end, but it is annoying. An hour is pushing it. If you have a horse that requires that much longing, maybe spread it out over the day or get up at four in the morning.”

Don’t #3: Packing them in- In most of the smaller pens on the grounds, three to four horses is about the maximum that can fit in while maintaining a safe longing distance. If the ring is being used for riding as well, that number can decrease. Note: Trying to longe ten horses in one arena will end badly for someone, either a horse or a handler.

“If there are three horses in a pen, and only three can fit, don’t try to fit four or five in there,” she says. “It may seem like common sense, but it might not be for some people.”

Don’t #4: Obsessively cracking your whip– While some like to utilize a whip as a tool to encourage a horse to expend its extra energy, avoid the temptation to show off your Indiana Jones-style whip cracking action every five seconds. Not only is this annoying and potentially disruptive to your fellow longers, your horse will begin to ignore you after a certain period of time anyways.

The Ultimate Question: Who gets the right of way? Longeliners or Riders- Ah, a time-old debate that hasn’t completely been settled to this day. While some claim that equestrians on horseback have the right of way in every situation, others maintain that riders have better maneuverability than those longing on the ground and should give way to the latter. Although people have different opinions on this topic, one thing is for certain: combining two horses, two people, and one tangled rope is a bad case scenario and will probably not end well for anyone involved.

“It’s pretty tough, but for me, a longeliner has the right of way,” she says. “You have a lot less control on a longeline than you do [on a horse’s back]. To me, the rider should stop or yield in a [potential] accident situation. But, if you have a longer and you have riders in there as well, don’t let your horse go all the way to the rail. Leave the rail for the riders.”

“I hate when there is a definite longing circle and someone has a 60 foot longeline and they come over into your space. Stay in your own space.”

We hope these do’s and don’ts help to provide a safe longing experience for everyone at the Congress this year. Happy longing!!