@mvp , I ordererd mine with thinner rope, not what is used for lead ropes.
I got the specs from the Double Dan horsemanship site because they sell lines but don’t seem to keep them in stock.
ETA: I double-checked my order, and it is actually 3/8" yacht rope. I believe the mecate she made me is 1/2" yacht rope, which would be too heavy for long lines.
I have a custom surcingle with turrets (fixed, raised rings on top); it’s designed so that it doesn’t contact the spine - not even the padding (similar to saddle panels). Doesn’t have a bunch of extra rings, just a couple of small d-rings on the leading edge, near the billets.
I use a regular string girth, with a lightweight quilted saddle pad, and the surcingle doesn’t slip (even on my round horses). I’ve had my surcingle about 30 years, after using one from the same maker at my trainer’s, and it’s worn like iron even though it’s received quite a bit of use. Back in the day, if I participated in a clinic where others saw my set-up, the maker would get a flurry of orders (she told me so).
I ordered my most-often-used lines at the same time – they’re the flat cotton web type with the rolled black nylon sections that run through the turrets and bit rings, and they’ve held up very well. After lessons with Victor Silva years ago, I also made up a shorter set, from cotton rope, as that is what he preferred with my surcingle when teaching me at the time, but they rarely leave the tack room. Alfredo Hernandez used my usual long set when working with me and my horse, as have the others from whom I’ve learned.
I’ve always tried to take advantage of clinicians’ long-lining knowledge, when possible, as I really enjoy it and love to see my horses as they work. It’s so helpful, too.
It’s extremely important to always have safety at the forefront of one’s mind when long-lining, to avoid entanglement. I had one trainer who liked to throw the bight (excess line length) over the shoulder to keep it out of the way, but I refused to do so, as I don’t want a line anywhere near my neck.
I start my younguns using that type. They go all around the place and learn walk, turn and whoa (voice too) in those, before they get to use any other gears! When they have that down they get to go on longer double lines, where they can use all the ring and all gears. It’s easier to stop a horse before he gets any speed up. I always use flat cotton lines as they don’t give you as nasty a burn as man made fibres, and they are easier to hold without slipping through your hand.
Amish driving lines are the best. The lines are easy to grip, a good weight and easy to clean. They could probably be thrown in a washer if they were really dirty. 
I’ve got a pair of pebble grip lines that are half matte biothane and half pebble grip rubber. That pair is 3/4" X 15’ that we use mostly for driving.
The other pair is 3/4" inch X 25’ matte biothane, that is bit like rubber.
I had these special ordered at an Amish harness shop (can’t remember the name of it for the life of me right now) as they are narrower than standard Am driving lines. The snaps are smaller so they fit through the terrets on a surcingle. Both pairs cost less than $100 total, IIRC.
These are my favorite long lines. https://www.fennells.com/fennells-leather-combination-lines.html
They have a nice set of cotton ones as well.
I use my training harness and crupper for long lining…like this one…https://www.wcircle.com/inc/sdetail/35504/16654
Mine was made by the Amish to my specs.
I also carry a fleck driving whip when I long line. its light weight and easier to carry, but I do have small hands.
I’ve had both for around 5ish years and in great shape and used at least 3x a week.
For the comment on shorter lines, they are much easier to get in trouble with the shorter lines especially with feet flying in your face. I prefer the long lines that you can send them farther away to be stupid and shorten when their brain has returned.
I have the current Dover one. It is green. I got it new for my new greenie, but I do not like it. It does not have a ring on the girth, and the next ring up is too small for some training aids to pass through. I end up having to wrap side reins around the girth, etc. The old Dover one was much better.
Edited to add: It does have a ring in the center of the girth, but none on the sides.
I ended up getting this surcingle:
https://www.sstack.com/premier-multi…ingle/p/01725/
It’s very sturdy, rings are a great size and it doesn’t slide at all. It just barely fits my 15.2 horse thought so probably not great for small horses unless you buy a very small western cinch to go with. The dover web one from my trainer would always slip, especially to the right.
I got these long lines:
https://www.sstack.com/dura-tech-mcr…es-30/p/01734/
Honestly I find them a little on the heavy side and maybe a tad too slippery. The dover ones were too sticky and I couldn’t wear gloves with them, but this seems to be the opposite extreme so I might still be shopping on the lines…
I wish they made a rainbow rein version of long lines. Even better would be each line a different color since which line is which can get confusing when you go to shorten the lines.
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