Advice on Lunging Aids for my Mare

[AnnieKCD]

I have a 13 year old mare that I have helped develop into a very muscled and good looking horse. Problem is I can no longer ride her daily but I have a friend that can lunge her and offer her exercise as well as paddock time. I don’t want to just lunge her for the sake of lunging her I want to work her well. I’ve seen a lot of training aids so I wanted to know what y’all thought about them for my mare.

Things I want to help her out with: She tends to go up with her head instead of down and relaxed, she can at times lean on the bit and try to balance herself that way instead of on her own, and I want to work her hind quarters way more. She is also very sensitive in her mouth.

Any lunging aids that might help me?

 

[Glitter's fun]

Hi Annie, welcome.
Can't answer your question but just bumping it up the list , as I guess you posted after a lot of us were in bed!

 

[Jambarissa]

A friend rehabs ex racers and is dead against lunging aids except the equi amie (I think) . Apparently there is no fixed point to brace against.

I've seen her using it but no experience myself. Worth a look.

 

[Maddie Moo]

I personally prefer lungeing with two lines rather than training aids. Obviously it does require a certain level of experience to prevent them or the person lungeing getting tangled up in the lines but I find it helps them get a consistent contact etc. You can also warm them up / cool down in the school, change the rein etc on the outside track before introducing circles for the main exercise.

 

[tyner]

Resistance band training

Is one of the things that has some evidence and investigation behind it.

I found one at Kramers for very cheap and there are a lot of options out there.

Always important to keep in mind that lunging is tough on them. A lot of trainers will not lunge at all for this because the tight turns can be damaging. If you can mix it up to keep it interesting it will help. Double lunging and long lining is also a good thing to try.

When I had to go in the hospital for an extended period this summer I was in a similar situation and no help but my supportive but not very horse-skilled husband. It might sound silly but I taught my horse to fetch and chase after a ball. So that's what they did for the weeks I was in recovery, throwing the ball in the school and him chasing after it. They really had a lot of fun with it and was a good bonding experience. Not the solution for everyday but nice thing to add into the mix.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I’ve found my mare goes the best just in a head collar! I had a ‘Equi-ami’ but if anything she fought against it. Maybe worth a try, add some poles too.

 

[tyner]

Resistance band training

Is one of the things that has some evidence and investigation behind it.

I found one at Kramers for very cheap and there are a lot of options out there.

Always important to keep in mind that lunging is tough on them. A lot of trainers will not lunge at all for this because the tight turns can be damaging. If you can mix it up to keep it interesting it will help. Double lunging and long lining is also a good thing to try.

When I had to go in the hospital for an extended period this summer I was in a similar situation and no help but my supportive but not very horse-skilled husband. It might sound silly but I taught my horse to fetch and chase after a ball. So that's what they did for the weeks I was in recovery, throwing the ball in the school and him chasing after it. They really had a lot of fun with it and was a good bonding experience. Not the solution for everyday but nice thing to add into the mix.

Will just emphasize to be careful with liberty, there is a lot of good things about it as they learn to use their bodies but take precaution about safety. Not every school is suitable and not all horses are safe to work this way.

 

[AmyMay]

Is your friend experienced at lunging?

 

[ycbm]

If the lunging is going to be a substitute for being ridden, how long and how often is it going to happen?

I lunge for a maximum of 20 minutes once a week with some added poles, it's as much as I think it's safe for the joints.

And nothing could make me use a Pessoa, one of the most vet-recommended instruments of torture ever invented. Nothing and nobody will ever make me tie my horses mouth to the action of the hind legs.
.

 

[tyner]

And nothing could make me use a Pessoa, one of the most vet-recommended instruments of torture ever invented.

It is so infuriating and sad everytime a vet recommends this.
Some of them only know horses from books.

 

[ycbm]

It is so infuriating and sad everytime a vet recommends this.
Some of them only know horses from books.

All they seem to be able to see is that it makes the horse bring is hocks under. Yes it does, it has to, otherwise it socks itself in the teeth with every stride. And once it has tucked its hocks under, there goes the bit wiggling from side to side with every stride. I loathe the contraption.
.

 

[Jango]

I've got the equi bands, I long rein mine with just a headcollar and the band under her belly and she is starting to let go and relax. But you could easily do the same in a bridle and also use the band behind the back legs if needed.

Agree with previous posters don't use anything that connects the horses mouth to their back end, so unfair on them getting jabbed in the mouth.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Honestly the best my pony ever looked was doing 2 x 30 mins of in hand walking in just a headcollar (or bridle if they’re not as sensible!). Good brisk walk, with hills if possible.

I hate lunging and lunging aids. If you must lunge then in just a head collar, as big a circle as you can and minimise canter work.

Id personally choose to let them have a bit of a holiday whilst you’re injured and start again if that’s possible. Everyone I know that’s done a lot of lunging has ended up with soundness issues after.

 

[sbloom]

All they seem to be able to see is that it makes the horse bring is hocks under. Yes it does, it has to, otherwise it socks itself in the teeth with every stride. And once it has tucked its hocks under, there goes the bit wiggling from side to side with every stride. I loathe the contraption.
.

And forcing the hocks under before a horse has developed the rest of its body to ENABLE it to work with its hocks more under it can only be harmful long term, to the hocks, SI and other parts too.

Why does this horse need to be worked?

Forgive me but if she tends to go around with her head up then the muscling isn't correct, it can't be. If this is a temporary blip for you then I'd leave her be, turn her away and take the time to really look into what correct posture, muscling, and way of going is. So many of us have been taught so little about this, and simply ride to keep the head and neck round and drive the hind end under, which is not good for the horse.

 

[SEL]

Lunging is fine if your friend is experienced but personally I find most people just make them go round in circles without any real assessment of how the horse is using its body or bending.

A very experienced vet physio I know won't prescribe it to her clients because she says none of them can lunge well enough. She will show them how to use poles correctly though and that would help your horse. Jec Ballou has some useful online info and courses

 

[AnnieKCD]

Hi Annie, welcome.
Can't answer your question but just bumping it up the list , as I guess you posted after a lot of us were in bed!

Thank you very much

 

[AnnieKCD]

Resistance band training

Is one of the things that has some evidence and investigation behind it.

I found one at Kramers for very cheap and there are a lot of options out there.

Always important to keep in mind that lunging is tough on them. A lot of trainers will not lunge at all for this because the tight turns can be damaging. If you can mix it up to keep it interesting it will help. Double lunging and long lining is also a good thing to try.

When I had to go in the hospital for an extended period this summer I was in a similar situation and no help but my supportive but not very horse-skilled husband. It might sound silly but I taught my horse to fetch and chase after a ball. So that's what they did for the weeks I was in recovery, throwing the ball in the school and him chasing after it. They really had a lot of fun with it and was a good bonding experience. Not the solution for everyday but nice thing to add into the mix.

I looked it up and wow I loved the study done on it! I'm definitely looking into getting some so that my mare starts to use her hind more. She does pretty well but I'm planning on starting the 1.30 next year so I need her to have that extra oomph in her and since I can't ride her daily I feel like that will help her work out the days I'm not there so she won't lose any stamina/work she has.

I completely understand the lunging point, luckily I don't lunge on a line usually so to say, where I ride we have a HUGE round pen (over 80ft diameter so the turns aren't as sharp as they can be) and I've trained her to know how to free lunge. Usually, my mare's routine goes like this: 1-day full turnout (no touching her only to brush her and get her into her stable at night, she gets turnout every day), 4 - 5 days of dressage/groundwork, 1 day of jumping exercise, and 1 day a full course (though we usually skip it if there aren't any competitions soon). The Problem is that one or two days of dressage and one day of jumping will be just lunging for 20 - 30 min.

 

[AnnieKCD]

Is your friend experienced at lunging?

Yes, she does dressage and vaulting.

 

[AnnieKCD]

If the lunging is going to be a substitute for being ridden, how long and how often is it going to happen?

I lunge for a maximum of 20 minutes once a week with some added poles, it's as much as I think it's safe for the joints.

And nothing could make me use a Pessoa, one of the most vet-recommended instruments of torture ever invented. Nothing and nobody will ever make me tie my horses mouth to the action of the hind legs.
.

I plan between 20 - 30 min, not sure I'll add any poles maybe just if I want her to help her trot (one of her weaker paces) and between 2 - 3 days a week.

I actually didn't know that about the pessoa, I'll look more into it because I have seen it in my yard so I might tell my friends about whatever I find. Thank you!

 

[AnnieKCD]

And forcing the hocks under before a horse has developed the rest of its body to ENABLE it to work with its hocks more under it can only be harmful long term, to the hocks, SI and other parts too.

Why does this horse need to be worked?

Forgive me but if she tends to go around with her head up then the muscling isn't correct, it can't be. If this is a temporary blip for you then I'd leave her be, turn her away and take the time to really look into what correct posture, muscling, and way of going is. So many of us have been taught so little about this, and simply ride to keep the head and neck round and drive the hind end under, which is not good for the horse.

I'm planning on doing the higher-up competition levels next year and for a couple of months I can't ride her as frequently as I would like to work her so I need to make sure she's working on some things I have noticed that I was planning on working them out on saddle.

Her muscling is correct I can assure you, the problem lies in the fact that she was started wrong ( she was bitted up A LOT, she was given to me with a very strong hackamore bit combo, so her mouth was a huge issue because you even just nudged the rein and she'd flip) and I got her two years ago and we are finally making progress on getting her to relax her neck and stretch down as well as open up her stride and shortening it back up with her still relaxed and on the bit. I just want her to gain more muscle on the back end if possible as well as keep learning to balance herself and not tense up which causes her to stick her neck up.

 

[tyner]

I looked it up and wow I loved the study done on it! I'm definitely looking into getting some so that my mare starts to use her hind more. She does pretty well but I'm planning on starting the 1.30 next year so I need her to have that extra oomph in her and since I can't ride her daily I feel like that will help her work out the days I'm not there so she won't lose any stamina/work she has.

I completely understand the lunging point, luckily I don't lunge on a line usually so to say, where I ride we have a HUGE round pen (over 80ft diameter so the turns aren't as sharp as they can be) and I've trained her to know how to free lunge. Usually, my mare's routine goes like this: 1-day full turnout (no touching her only to brush her and get her into her stable at night, she gets turnout every day), 4 - 5 days of dressage/groundwork, 1 day of jumping exercise, and 1 day a full course (though we usually skip it if there aren't any competitions soon). The Problem is that one or two days of dressage and one day of jumping will be just lunging for 20 - 30 min.

it seems like you are really doing a lot for her-- is there any way to increase the turnout ? How much turnout does she have on the days where its not full turnout and for how long? Does she have enough space to really move and does she have grass? Does she have company out there?

One thing I noticed with the resistance bands on my horse, is when the winter coat came in, you could see how it was rubbing his coat. Even then I only used it very lightly maybe 10-15 minutes at a time once a week or so. It did make me wonder about friction and what actually was going on there. Id imagine some horses that have a lot of tension and anxiety it might be very nervous for them to have a band like that on their hindquarters.

I don't use the resistance band anymore because, its a crutch really and the goal is to have them learning to use their bodies on their own. Just like @Hormonal Filly s nice lunging example up there. I think they are best able to do that when they are relaxed and in an environment where they feel they can do that. From what it sounds like maybe some of the tension she has is from her early experiences that she is holding on to and also holding on to that anxiety. Maybe one of the things to consider is how to create more relaxation so she feel safe enough to work over her back and learn to find her own way. In that case maybe some stupid games like fetch are good for that to break things up. Or even more turnout and time with others so she has more movement.

 

[TPO]

There has been a study done on the use of resistance bands, and they weren't as positive as some people imply.

I kept a screenshot, but I have so many that I can't find it right now. I'm sure I've posted about in here before, but I don't know how I'd find that either.

The authors and details of the study were posted on Vet Physio Phyle's instagram page.

Everything had the potential to do harm if not done correctly. The problem then is those that know the least tend to make the most noise so it's hard to sort fact from fiction.

I have a real dislike of vaulting so I can't say I'd like anyone who lunges for vaulting to be lunging one of mine. That's my personal bias.

Vet Physio Phyle is a good resource for fittening/rehab/suppling exercises. Having a firm guide might be good so that you, and whoever is lunging, are reading off the same page [literally]?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I have a 13 year old mare that I have helped develop into a very muscled and good looking horse. Problem is I can no longer ride her daily but I have a friend that can lunge her and offer her exercise as well as paddock time. I don’t want to just lunge her for the sake of lunging her I want to work her well. I’ve seen a lot of training aids so I wanted to know what y’all thought about them for my mare.

Things I want to help her out with: She tends to go up with her head instead of down and relaxed, she can at times lean on the bit and try to balance herself that way instead of on her own, and I want to work her hind quarters way more. She is also very sensitive in her mouth.

Any lunging aids that might help me?

I lunge twice a week and my trainer schools once a week. I know lots don't like it but I like the pessoa, I tried this gadget but was too big so mare just kept head in the air even on the tightest. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shires-Sof..._7?keywords=Lunging+Aid&qid=1697997652&sr=8-7