A Warning when lunging fresh horses.... PLEASE read!

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Good post OP.
I have a spare bridle without reins which I usually use for lunging but I have, on rare occasions, lunged before riding in my normal bridle and I won't do it in future now I've read this.

Thanks
 
OMG - I bet you were terrified!
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Glad she was sensible and let you rescue her - It's not worth thinking about what could've happened
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Kate x
 
Glad she's ok! I always take reins off when lunging as I'm cr@p at hooking them up to a standard where I'm happy they wont move...

On a similar subject, anyone that lunges with draw reins that run from bit, between legs than up over back - be careful about putting brushing boots on. I normally lunge in bandages and o/r boots, but on one occaison I was in a rush and chucked on some brushing boots.....horse stretching head down and one of the reins actually hooked up under the boot and got stuck - fortunately he didn't panic!
 
It is good of you to post about something that I'm sure we've all done at some point - so glad your new horse isn't broken!! I once bought a chambon for lungeing - but it dangled too close to forelegs for comfort when the horse did go long and low - had to abandon it!! How do they work effectively?
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I watched a video on you tube and it was how not to lunge this woman kept standing on lunge rein more than once and horse started then stopped after a few strides not aware what woman was wanting of it and to this was getting patted and the person filming nearly getting kicked and knocked out of way and why did they post on tube could of been so nasty in a lot of ways..
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Thanks guys, if it just makes people that much more aware I will be happy!

H's Mum I was absolutely
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as I couldn't even get near her
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Bless her, she just carried on like nothing had happened when I freed her and put her back out on the circle to check she was ok (minus ANYTHING!!)
 
its awful, i have experienced something similar where the horse was tangled and you just feel so helpess because you cant go near for fear of getting hurt. thanks for the warning x
 
hope she's fine, prob worth getting her poll checked if she did give herself a good tug.
i've had this almost happen (horse suddenly ducked head low, arsed about, big loop of rein appeared under chin, eek) so now i twist the reins as many times as possible (so it's actually difficult to thread the throatlash through) and this keeps them tight and high into the throat.
 
Thanks kerilli. Luckily (or not!) she had her nice big thick padded Albion bridle, and wasn't sore around there or her mouth today, I think the throat latch took the strain tbh! It is rather long now...
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But yes, she is due a back check anyway
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Thanks KatB, glad you are both ok.

I think some of the others at my yard think I'm a bit of a worrier as I'm supposed to be lungeing my boy every day at the moment (weather permiting!) but I have a horror of legs getting caught and every time I put the pessoa on him there just seem to be so many bits of rope he could get caught in, especially when warming up, that he tends to wear it walking up to the school and then I end up taking it off!
 
KatB its a good thing your horse is called lucky isn't it?! She does seem to like getting in some scrapes and making sure that your blood pressure goes through the roof doesn't she - honestly, silly pony
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thankyou for the warning, it costs nothing to remind people what can happen. I am so glad that you are both OK.

I must admit I do have a seperate bridle for lunging without reins etc, but that was mainly because I didn't like having to keep taking my riding bridle apart, and int the very rare times I lunge before riding i tend to loop the reins as BOF has suggested, however I will take the warnings and make sure that everything is strapped well back.
 
I always lunge without reins attached, that's just my personal preference to be honest and I certainly wouldn't criticise anyone for looping their reins and securing them instead.

I get much more concerned when I see people (I'm preparing for some abuse back now...) that I call 'Parelli types' wiggling a 40ft nylon rope at their horse, leaving the end trailing as they make the horse dance around them, with loops on the ground that could easily get caught round a horse's legs and, given it's nylon, wouldn't break and would cause a nasty injury.

I get even more upset when said nylon rope is left in the middle of the field we all ride in, lying in loops on the floor, in the grass so you can't see until you are stood on it! But that's another story....!!

OP - so glad you and your horse is ok - freak accidents do happen it's just awful being so helpless!!
 
Blimey! How frightening - especially if you were there on your own. I have always left the reins on my bridle when lunging and it really makes you think doesn't it
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Indeed when you think of other things like low side reins (which I use), pessoas etc it could easily happen.
Thank God she is ok.
X
 
It's amazing how many people on this thread who, despite such a warning of the dangers of lungeing horses with reins on, still seek to defend it as safe and sensible when it clearly isn't.
 
Sorry to hear of your fright last night. Pleased your girl and yourself are unscathed.

I had a shocker myself last night. My mare fell through the ice on a pond. She's also very lucky. Just a few cuts, one a little nasty, but it could've been so much worse.
 
Yes perhaps it is unsafe but this is real life not a pony club manual. I am sure loads of us do things that if we really sat and thought about it could cause an accident. Skipping out while (quiet) horses are in the stable for example.
 
Thanks for the warning KatB - TBH its something I wouldn't have thought of happening.

I lunge in just a lunge cavesson or an old spare bridle with no reins, and no side reins/pessoa etc but thats because I'm in a hurry and the less tack I have to put on the better.

So glad she is OK!!

Fiona
 
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