I do hope you are not longing in 10m circles , that is devastating on youngsters hocks, if done continuously.
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Actually I think you are. I have had more than one explode with energy, when asked to go the ‘wrong’ way. It is incredible the number of horses I have seen, worked with that are not comfortable being worked on their off side.
I would do some very simply groundwork exercises, ask him to walk around you in a small circle and give/yield his head, in a small circle can you get him to yield his ribs-step away from you even a little bit?
I would bet he is much stiffer, less willing to yield on his off side.
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No! Not longeing on 10 m circles. I meant that to illustrate he doesn’t transfer this “problem” to under saddle. He isn’t perfectly balanced ridden on a 10, 15 or even 20 m circle, but he doesn’t race or buck, he just bulges his shoulder like a mo fo and makes me work really hard. :D.
He uses it as an evasion. It is very frustrating.
My old mare was an AQHA longe line baby. I definitely don’t condone that class but man oh man she was a dream to longe. Cluck to trot, kiss to canter, whisper reverse and she changed directions (because we longed in halters… ). It’s no wonder I don’t know what I’m doing now :D.
I think those Manolo videos will be my winter project.
I used to think I knew how to longe a horse… then an imported Hanoverian mare taught me how to longe. Quite an eye opening experience!
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I am mixed on the halt and face thing. I don’t mind it if I can easily send them in any direction I want from that position. If they are using it as a “make me” position I have more of a problem. Some will willing go left or right from a facing the handler position. Some will stand and plant. The stand and plant is annoying.
I have a huge issue with a horse that will randomly decide on their own to stand and face the lunger. Like I am done working now.
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He sounds like he needs to learn to walk on the longe. Who knows how he was taught to “longe” and what it was used for. I’ve known lots of horses that get on a circle and just run because that’s what they were taught. I would do a few things:
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Like @atr says, start on different sides. Also change direction a lot. I don’t go more than 5 minutes in one direction. He needs to learn that both ways require him to behave.
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Teach him to walk on the longe. If he can only walk in a 5m circle in the beginning, then so be it. He can get more line when he can behave. He also needs to march in the walk. Building fitness doesn’t happen with a meandering, putsing along walk. Keeping him marching may also require a smaller circle at the walk until he gets it.
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When he turns to face you, walk out to him, take him back to the track of the circle, tell him to whoa, then reward him when he does. Do this every time. If you tell him to whoa as he’s walking and he stays on the track and halts, he gets ALL the pets!
When he’s calmly walking in each direction consistently, THEN you can consider whether or not it’s a pain response when you ask for the trot or canter. My guess is, this is just a learned behavior on the longe and when you teach him what you want, the shenanigans will cease.
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Thank you! I do try to do this but he always offers the trot and it’s so springy and floaty I get lost in horsegirl reverie and stop enforcing the rules. Then I turn him around and remember. 
Thank you for the changing directions tip. I longe with the line fed through the bit ring and over the poll. Would a cavesson be a worth while investment? I do have a Micklem I’ve used but he goes better with the line over the poll. Fewer antics.
I really appreciate all the replies.
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Lol I get it! I also walk a lot because I’m a bit crazy about warm up/cool down. Everyone walks for 5 min each direction before we trot (and they’re all in the field, if they were in stalls it’d be longer).
Mine all longe in halters with the exception of a few that needed a chain in the beginning because they thought the line was for running. 
I don’t like longeing in bits because 1) if there’s a legitimate spook/run or they really are just wild that day I don’t want to pull on their mouth, and 2) I like to change direction on the fly (in the walk). I think a cavesson is a great investment, especially for a horse that is getting some re training.
I agree with all of that. I’m big on walking and on using a halter or cavesson. I do other ground work and posture work so my horse carries himself just fine in a halter. That’s a huge part of it. When he’s on the line it’s productive, not just going around.
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There is longing, but you are an experienced horse person, so there is double lunging or “long lining”?
Do you ride a horse with 1 rein? No, you ride with two. Go double lunge this horse - you can do so much more! The contact is better and you can ask so many new questions.
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While long-lining or double longeing is a great thing to do, it can end very badly if you don’t know what you’re doing. If you can find a trainer to teach you this skill, I’d highly recommend it!
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Op said she was exoerienced. It’s not that hard. Just try it and do it in a smaller space the first few times and drop your lines if you tangle then reset.
You will tangle a time or too. Just keep things loose and reset until you trust your coordination.
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I didn’t say it was hard, I said bad things can happen, especially with a horse that wants to bolt and play on the line, and especially with a horse that doesn’t have a good whoa installed. Having a horse spin and come towards you when you say whoa is one of the worst things they can do while being long lined. Getting tangled can seriously injure your horse or you, not to mention scaring the bejesus out of them.
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Cavessons are worth the investment. When he trots out on his own, let him go until he walks, asking for the walk, verbally. Side reins and cavessons help because he can learn to be slightly bent on his own comfortably it’s like yoga for the horse. The walk is most important. Wait for it. Always step forward with the longe. Verbal cues. Step out to him when he faces you and put him at the halt on the circle each time. He’s only exploding because he’s off balance. Use the side reins to build the balance, inside rein one hole shorter than the outside to start. Just wait for the walk. Work toward inside sein three holes shorter. That’s all. Just for the yoga muscles and balance.
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I’d love to learn this, along with ground driving. It makes so much sense to me. Winter project!
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Thanks! The more I think about this the more I think I am on the right track. Undersaddle I have to work really hard to help him stay balanced. When he’s fitter it’s easier, when he’s not, it’s hard work. On the ground he doesn’t have me helping him, yet I’m forcing him on a circle on the line… he’s unbalanced, gets mad, lashes out.
This is great. I can barely ride at home in the winter because of weather and footing, but I can definitely work on this kind of stuff. It will be good to have a goal that doesn’t need a fluffy indoor ring.
If anyone has in hand book or video suggestions in addition to Manolo, I’m all ears! Thanks all.
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Most horses, like most people, are at least a little one sided. Especially if they have not been in full work that includes suppling and balance exercises. I agree with you that while there could be a physical issue I wouldn’t jump right to that unless there is lameness, swelling, heat, soreness to touch etc. Many of us, two and four legged, who may be a little stiff and arthritic can benefit a great deal from gentle exercise.
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It will give her the outside rein so she can stop the horse from turning in.
If he’s that sensitive to lines desensitize him to them first, wrap his legs in boots or hang some twin off the saddle and let it hit in weird places but he should be okay with touch.
