Best lunging aid

[Stenners]

I was thinking of getting the Shires Soft Lunging Aid but a friend has one and doesn't rate it as not that adjustable.

I do have a John Whitaker training aid but can't be so faffy to put on and off and i lost my figure of 8 clip.

Just something to get her working round and engaging her back end instead of going round as fast as she can with her head in the air! I don't like side reins as worry I don't have each side even.

 

[teddy_]

I rate Lauffer / Vienna reins , you can clip these under the girth instead of the side if you don't like side reins.

Please steer clear of anything that tugs on the horses mouth with every stride such as Equi-Ami's and those things that are literally just a piece of rope with a clip at each end.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Start by long lining and then turn that into lunging with two lines. No gadgets needed , just your hands , like when you're riding.

 

[sbloom]

None, honestly. Holding the head down, or even a loose something or other to stop the head going too high, isn't helping the horse to actually know how to move correctly, let alone make them "round". The head and neck are a balancing rod for the rest of the body, if they can't lift it to where they need it momentarily, it will cause tension. The soft rope German string actually puts some downward pressure on the spine exactly where we need them to lift, and can cause even very slight changes in the movement of the front legs because of where the ropes sit, and this WILL cause compensation.

And worse, anything that remotely connects back legs to head and neck is definitely not good. I would look into the work of people like Manolo Mendez, look at the muscling of their horses, understand what it really means to lift the thoracic sling to give correct posture, and enable a horse to be straight and biomechanically correct.

We're all trying to do the best for our horses but, seeing what I see as a saddle fitter, there are no short cuts to truly correct work. Remember, as prEy (not pray lol) animals, horses are exceptionally good at masking any compromised movement - when they go lame is when they've been compromising a LONG time, so they don't get "eaten".

 

[Stenners]

None, honestly. Holding the head down, or even a loose something or other to stop the head going too high, isn't helping the horse to actually know how to move correctly, let alone make them "round". The head and neck are a balancing rod for the rest of the body, if they can't lift it to where they need it momentarily, it will cause tension. The soft rope German string actually puts some downward pressure on the spine exactly where we need them to lift, and can cause even very slight changes in the movement of the front legs because of where the ropes sit, and this WILL cause compensation.

And worse, anything that remotely connects back legs to head and neck is definitely not good. I would look into the work of people like Manolo Mendez, look at the muscling of their horses, understand what it really means to lift the thoracic sling to give correct posture, and enable a horse to be straight and biomechanically correct.

We're all trying to do the best for our horses but, seeing what I see as a saddle fitter, there are no short cuts to truly correct work. Remember, as pray animals, horses are exceptionally good at masking any compromised movement - when they go lame is when they've been compromising a LONG time, so they don't get "eaten".

This really is food for thought - thank you!

 

[stangs]

The position of the head tells you how they're feeling in their body so making them keep it in a fixed position is neither good for them nor helpful for you in the long run. Personally, the only lunging aid I would ever use is a resistance band going around the hindquarters and attached to the saddle pad. But somewhat loosely, so it's about that tactile stimulus for proprioception, not resistance/fitness - and only as a occasional thing in walk/trot.

 

[teapot]

None. I'd be long reining and getting the horse to lunge properly first.

 

[Birker2020]

I was thinking of getting the Shires Soft Lunging Aid but a friend has one and doesn't rate it as not that adjustable.

I do have a John Whitaker training aid but can't be so faffy to put on and off and i lost my figure of 8 clip.

Just something to get her working round and engaging her back end instead of going round as fast as she can with her head in the air! I don't like side reins as worry I don't have each side even.

https://www.performance-animal-phys...em,encouragement without force or restriction.

Its great for topline and building core strength.

 

[Antw23uk]

None.

 

[twobearsarthur]

I’m firmly in the none camp. When I see the word “aid” in this context I immediately think gadget.

 

[sbloom]

I got thrown off a FB kissing spines group today for (I don't think unkindly) suggesting gadgets weren't the way to do it. If someone could describe how holding the head down facilitates biomechanically better posture (ie this lifting of the thoracic sling), I'm all ears! Very well respected physio Gillian Tabor had been completely agreeing with me in another similar post, it's such a shame that everyone gets so defensive. Just because it's how lots of people do it, and it looks quicker, doesn't mean it's right.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Please steer clear of anything that tugs on the horses mouth with every stride such as Equi-Ami's and those things that are literally just a piece of rope with a clip at each end.

While I am anti most lunging gadgets, and prefer to lunge using just a head collar and rope, the Equiami is actually a decent bit of kit that does not pull on the horse's mouth with every stride . It has an ingenious sliding loop arrangement.

The Pessoa on the other hand, which may be what you are thinking of, does sock the horse in the mouth with every stride and should be avoided at all costs.

 

[twobearsarthur]

I got thrown off a FB kissing spines group today for (I don't think unkindly) suggesting gadgets weren't the way to do it. If someone could describe how holding the head down facilitates biomechanically better posture (ie this lifting of the thoracic sling), I'm all ears! Very well respected physio Gillian Tabor had been completely agreeing with me in another similar post, it's such a shame that everyone gets so defensive. Just because it's how lots of people do it, and it looks quicker, doesn't mean it's right.

I was only discussing this with my instructor on Tuesday night. She mentioned that some vets “prescribe” the bungee type lunging aids as rehab for kissing spines (which blew my mind)

 

[teddy_]

While I am anti most lunging gadgets, and prefer to lunge using just a head collar and rope, the Equiami is actually a decent bit of kit that does not pull on the horse's mouth with every stride . It has an ingenious sliding loop arrangement.

The Pessoa on the other hand, which may be what you are thinking of, does sock the horse in the mouth with every stride and should be avoided at all costs.

I am not thinking of a Pessoa.

Maybe the Equi-Ami I saw being used was fitted incorrectly, but it was snagging at the horses mouth.

 

[Regandal]

I am not thinking of a Pessoa.

Maybe the Equi-Ami I saw being used was fitted incorrectly, but it was snagging at the horses mouth.

It was probably fitted too tightly. As TP says, it is designed to encourage correct movement, not to force it.

 

[Hackback]

This is really interesting. I don't lunge much anyway but am keen to know how you get a horse (especially an Arab like mine) to lower their neck and lift their back when lunging without any training aids? This is a genuine question btw, not a dig at anyone.

 

[Jellymoon]

None, honestly. Holding the head down, or even a loose something or other to stop the head going too high, isn't helping the horse to actually know how to move correctly, let alone make them "round". The head and neck are a balancing rod for the rest of the body, if they can't lift it to where they need it momentarily, it will cause tension. The soft rope German string actually puts some downward pressure on the spine exactly where we need them to lift, and can cause even very slight changes in the movement of the front legs because of where the ropes sit, and this WILL cause compensation.

And worse, anything that remotely connects back legs to head and neck is definitely not good. I would look into the work of people like Manolo Mendez, look at the muscling of their horses, understand what it really means to lift the thoracic sling to give correct posture, and enable a horse to be straight and biomechanically correct.

We're all trying to do the best for our horses but, seeing what I see as a saddle fitter, there are no short cuts to truly correct work. Remember, as prEy (not pray lol) animals, horses are exceptionally good at masking any compromised movement - when they go lame is when they've been compromising a LONG time, so they don't get "eaten".

I could not agree more and brilliantly out Sbloom. What are your thoughts on lunging/long reining with no gadgets just two lines through stirrups?

 

[Jellymoon]

I got thrown off a FB kissing spines group today for (I don't think unkindly) suggesting gadgets weren't the way to do it. If someone could describe how holding the head down facilitates biomechanically better posture (ie this lifting of the thoracic sling), I'm all ears! Very well respected physio Gillian Tabor had been completely agreeing with me in another similar post, it's such a shame that everyone gets so defensive. Just because it's how lots of people do it, and it looks quicker, doesn't mean it's right.

How annoying, when you are just trying to put forward another point of view which might be better for the horses. It makes no sense to me to force the head down, but sadly it seems the vets/physios/rehabbers all seem to use them. Until they changes, the clients will go with that, and who can blame them? Frustrating though.

 

[Breagha]

I like using the bum building bands. I find as you are encouraging the horse to actually use its hind end, the front doesn't need any gadgets.

 

[Jellymoon]

This is really interesting. I don't lunge much anyway but am keen to know how you get a horse (especially an Arab like mine) to lower their neck and lift their back when lunging without any training aids? This is a genuine question btw, not a dig at anyone.

I don’t either and it’s always been a question I’ve had myself, when I’ve been watching a horse spin round on the lunge with its head in the air, thinking, that’s doing it no good whatsoever!
Other people will have much more knowledge, but for me, it was about going back to the beginning, long reining in walk, getting everything calm and relaxed, using some poles to get them to stretch down. Also ground work where you are walking beside them, backing up, turning circles etc seems to get them to drop their heads. Once they are calm, I might go from long reining straight to doing a few circles with the double lines, and build up from there.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I could not agree more and brilliantly out Sbloom. What are your thoughts on lunging/long reining with no gadgets just two lines through stirrups?

I'm not sbloom, but I hate this form on lunging, though it seems to be set up as the holy grail of lunging on HHO. The rein that passes over and behind the horses hind legs pulls on the horses mouth with every stride the horse takes. You also can't get a good feel on the horse's mouth with all that length of lunge line between you and the bit. Hate it.

 

[Jellymoon]

Thoughts on the bands that just go round the bum? Never tried one but very interested.

 

[Breagha]

Thoughts on the bands that just go round the bum? Never tried one but very interested.

They do. I find them amazing as I am not overly keen on using aids on the front of my horses (sometimes side reins on the wee pony).

 

[Jellymoon]

I'm not sbloom, but I hate this form on lunging, though it seems to be set up as the holy grail of lunging on HHO. The rein that passes over and behind the horses hind legs pulls on the horses mouth with every stride the horse takes. You also can't get a good feel on the horse's mouth with all that length of lunge line between you and the bit. Hate it.

Sorry, wrong person. But interesting you say that, and that is my concern with it.

 

[Jellymoon]

Sorry, wrong person. But interesting you say that, and that is my concern with it.

I see what you mean now, thought I had replied to you by mistake, not sbloom, but very interested to hear anyone’s view on double lines!

 

[tallyho!]

Aside from being unnecessary, gadgets and aids could be considered "rollkur" as they attempt to fix a horse into a position. It's all lies as well - they all claim to improve this magical rounding thing which doesn't exist in a horse, only in people's heads. "Rounding" should be deleted from the equine vocabulary it is so bad for a horse. Alternatively, a picture of a horse lifting up in front and taking weight in the haunches should be in our image.

To truly 'lift', a horse needs to do so in the thoracic sling - the very area a gadget compresses. I believe that any gadget that works on the mouth is working on the wrong end of the horse, unfortunately. To lift up the ribcage between the shoulder blades, a horse needs to shift the weight towards the haunches which require lots of stretching to allow proper movement. I'm no expert but I have seen this in action over many years in the clinics and it just proves that gadgets are not required. A good place to start your research if interested, is the book "Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage". From there you can follow many threads and find out how you help your horse move better without any of these gimmicks.

 

[Cortez]

I second (or third?) the use of Vienna reins, but I usually use plain old side reins with most horses starting off, not to bring the head down but to start the process of teaching what to do in response to the bit. Vienna reins are good with horses that are afraid of their mouths as they allow a great deal of variety in the position of the horse’s head. The equi ami is another of the sock ‘em in the gob things, along with the Pessoa, no matter how you dress it up it still works in the same way. I’m not a fan of the bungee things either as their is no, or very little, release. Some horses don’t need any thing, but very few IME, and it depends on how you are using lunging, for exercise or training.

 

[Starzaan]

None! No gadget will achieve the same thing as correct work will, and in some cases they can actually cause significantly more harm than good.

 

[Cortez]

Aside from being unnecessary, gadgets and aids could be considered "rollkur" as they attempt to fix a horse into a position. It's all lies as well - they all claim to improve this magical rounding thing which doesn't exist in a horse, only in people's heads. "Rounding" should be deleted from the equine vocabulary it is so bad for a horse. Alternatively, a picture of a horse lifting up in front and taking weight in the haunches should be in our image.

To truly 'lift', a horse needs to do so in the thoracic sling - the very area a gadget compresses. I believe that any gadget that works on the mouth is working on the wrong end of the horse, unfortunately. To lift up the ribcage between the shoulder blades, a horse needs to shift the weight towards the haunches which require lots of stretching to allow proper movement. I'm no expert but I have seen this in action over many years in the clinics and it just proves that gadgets are not required. A good place to start your research if interested, is the book "Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage". From there you can follow many threads and find out how you help your horse move better without any of these gimmicks.

You can’t “round” a horse without the back end being attached to the front end, which requires the horse to know what to do with the front end, I.e. give.

 

[Cortez]

None! No gadget will achieve the same thing as correct work will, and in some cases they can actually cause significantly more harm than good.

A bridle is a gadget. A saddle is a gadget.