Advice pls from those that lunge

[pottamus]

I am getting to the stage where I won't be able to ride my horse during the week for various work and lack of facilities, darkness reasons.
I want to keep him exercised through the winter by lunging him twice a week but just need a bit of guidance on what level to go and and how to gradually increase it to 15 - 20 mins max.
I started him off today on a faily wide loop and got him to walk 10 circles round me and then trot (steady) for 5 loops, walk for 5 loops, trot for 5 loops, walk for 5 loops and a final trot for 5 loops. I then changed the direction and repeated.

He was hacking 5 times a week up until today and doing half an hour to an hours hack each time with plenty of trotting and hills...so not bad fitness wise.

Is this ok for him to start with and if not, should I up it or lower it? How should I increase it from there?

all advice grateful! Thanks

 

[username223]

i usually lunge my horses until they are warm and their breathing is slightly faster but not out of breath or sweating. If he seems like he's out of breath or sweating buckets then he's doing too much..if he seems no different then he's not doing enough. Obviously horses are all different and some sweat more than others, i had a horse that was soaked within 5 mins of work but that was totally stress/excitability related. Just see how he is.. they can give you a good indication of whether you're working him too hard

but from your description of workload he sounds like he should be able to cope with 15 - 20 mins. Just remember to be equal on both sides...have fun

 

[hellybelly6]

Personally, I do not like to lunge for more than 10-15 mins including warm up and cool down as lunging can put a lot of strain on the joints.

If he was not blowing hard at the level you lunged him in above, then use that as a base and increase activity as fitness improves.

He may start to get bored with lunging, my horse did, and it might be more interesting for him to try long reining and loose schooling too.

 

[kate081]

Lunging is great & doens't put anymore strain on their joints than schooling them on circles.

I use a pessoa to get the best out of my girls but not every time. Would never do more than 30 min work. I don't count the circles - I work them until they are going how I want on both reins. I swap reins quite regularly & do lots of transitions like you did. It's brilliant for building up muscle without the interference of a rider.

Long reining is good though involves more human exercise! Loose schooling can be fun but it depends on your horse.

 

[damsel]

Lunging is good and you need to remember that the amount of time you do on the lunge is double the exercise. Eg- If you do 15mins on the lunge it is the same amount of work as doing a 30mins ride. Just see how he goes i usually lunge mine until they are a little bit sweaty and i change direction quite a bit. Just see how it goes with the amount of time you are doing at the mo and if he needs more or less you know what to do.

 

[cyearsley]

I would start off at 10 mins and build up to half an hour (including warm up and cool down), Whilst your buillding the time you can always lunge for say 10 mins, then get on and ride him in the school for 20 mins or vice versa (sounds bizarre but when my boy is a bit fresh he can be a bit "excitable" on the lunge and if we haven't done it for a while it's safer to get on board for a bit first! But normally would lunge then ride if I was getting on board! Good luck, there are some good books on lungeing if you're unsure and they will give you some tips on exercises and handling.