double line lunging, any tips?

[angela_l_b]

Having only ever used a single line to lunge, my instructor suggested I try double lunging to get more control and flexibility with my very stiff horse. He has had some back issues - the visible result at the moment is that on the right rein his whole body is bent left. I'm doing what I can ridden, and he gets the idea better while I am on board, about bending to the right - but I am 6 months pregnant and want to keep him going for as long as I can, after I have to stop riding.

I'm a bit concerned that I won't be very coordinated with two lunge reins! How does it work? Do I thread the outside line round from his bit, through the roller and round his back end, and then try to use the two lines like normal reins? Or should I get someone to help before I make a real hash of it...?

Thanks for any tips!

 

[Harriephebs]

Are you thinking more long reining on a circle? I do a lot of this. I normally tack up and tie the stirrup to the girth and thread the lunge through that on both sides. I use the rein that is behind the bum as my control of the speed, use to push on and keep it fairly tight like you would in ur outside hand. Then the inside rein i use to keep the horse soft again like you would with ur hands.

 

[teddyt]

You have to be very careful with your hands when long lining. More pressure is exerted on the mouth than the equivalent contact when riding. It may help with bend but you may also get a sore mouth!

If you dont know how to do it have several lessons to show you. Or lunge with one rein and use one side rein.

 

[susannita]

I use a roller with two lunge lines with the clip directly on the bit and threaded through the ring on the roller.

It is definitely worth having a lesson doing it, it seems like a bit of a wierd one but I actually had a long reining lesson a couple of weeks ago as i was a bit rusty and it has made a huge difference (so much so I am using 2 lines instead of the pessoa or chambon on all of them at the moment!) Someone on the ground correcting when you do have too much contact etc is invaluble as otherwise you will be nervous you are pulling too much etc!

Top tip is to use 2 different couloured lines, you will still end up in a tangle at times but at least that way you can see which one is which!!

 

[Birker2020]

I used to do this with my horse using a bridle and a roller. I used to put the inside lunge line through the bit, over the poll and clip on the other side of the bit which always gives you more control. He never used to resent the outside lunge line put through the roller ring and passed above his hocks, but after he was diagnosed with bone spavin he really resented it and I think it was possibly because lunging him with the lunge line over his bum was making him use his hocks more which was hurting him. I stopped using it after that as he never makes a fuss unless there is a pain problem, and I know he never used to mind. I find its really good to double line lunge if you have a horse that won't halt easily on a normal single lunge line, especially if the horse try's to come in to you after you ask for halt.

Finally the best piece of advice I EVER had lunging which has really worked for me is to always say the horses name before you give a command, that way the horses ear is locked onto you when you say its name, so it will not miss the command. x

 

[soph21]

This is the only way I lunge, it gets them going in a nice outline too, I tie stirrups together with baler twine and put lines through stirrups.

You can do it with out saddle, just easier with saddle so they don't get lines caught up.

 

[karenjj]

I find this very good with my boy who is stiff, it is the only way I lunge him and I've had really good results! There must be a video on how to do it somewhere but am not sure where to look. I was taught how to by an old instructor, I find it much better than one line as he is much more responsive. Good luck!