For a young or green (inexperienced) horse, longeing is used to teach a horse to respond to voice commands and the trainer's body language, to accustom them to the feel of a saddle and bridle, and to begin their introduction to the feel of reins and bit pressure.
spoils system - the system of employing and promoting civil servants who are friends and supporters of the group in power. system of rules, system - a complex of methods or rules governing behavior; they have to operate under a system they oppose; that language has a complex system for indicating gender.
Crooks is a lively, sharp-witted, black stable-hand, who takes his name from his crooked back. Like most of the characters in the story, he admits that he is extremely lonely. When Lennie visits him in his room, his reaction reveals this fact.