Best way to lunge to improve topline?

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CobsGalore

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I have started lunging my 5 year old as unable to ride as much as I would like to over the winter, and also to help him lose the pounds.

I have tried lunging him a couple of times using the draw rein method (over his back and through legs) which seems to get him working nicely - but is this method sufficient enough for improving his topline or should I look at getting something like a pessoa or equi ami?

I have tried using a chambon but he didn't get along with it. It's going straight on eBay!
 
You could always try longlining, did this to build topline on my ex-racehorse who literally had his neck on upside down so to speak. He now has a lovely topline and it's taught him to come off the forehand and use his bum more.
 
At the risk of advertising, I have just bought an equiami. This has been recommended to try and sort out my TB's kissing spine issues (which are mild) by building up his top line. I have only used it once and gave him yesterday off as I am not riding him at the moment (no saddle) and I don't want to hurt him by working an outline he's not used to, but by golly he went so beautifully on Saturday. No pratting about, hugely responsive and he really had his thinking cap on. I'm going to do a diary so will be photographing his weekly progress - I'll post pics up here.

I went for this over the pessoa on recommendation from the vet - who does not have a vested interest in either other than as a rehab recommendation. She suggested it was slightly kinder as it has no fixed points.

It is suggested that you use it only twice a week, but I spoke with its 'inventor' at length and she didn't see why I couldn't do it 4 times a week with long reining in between. I will be getting back on in a couple of weeks (he has now had two months off due to firstly, waiting for a new saddle and secondly, a sacroiliac injury due to a disaster with sedalin and his jabs - which is how we inadvertently found out about the KS - so wish me luck :eek:) and will be reducing the lunging over time to a maintenance of twice per week.
 
CobsGalore said:
Thanks, will also give this a go. How did did it take for you to see an improvement?
Click to expand...

I reckon by the end of a couple of months there was a significant improvement in his appearance but the signs that it would come were there from the first few sessions


Have also used this method on a mare that had kissing spine with equally good results
 
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I really like my Equiami too. Even my cob, who's not the biggest fan of lungeing, goes softly and well in it. I haven't tried a pessoa but I too had heard that they're slightly more fixed. Comedy cob just kind of thought about it for a couple of minutes, then seemed to get it and went really well. I had to stop because of my own illness but I reckon I would've seen an improvement quite soon, even though I only planned to use it a couple of times a week and not for the recommended time - she's just a bit weak for her age and I didn't want to push it.
 
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