Encouraging inside bend on the lunge

NiceChristmasBaubles

NiceChristmasBaubles

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I am trying to lunge our new pony a couple of times a week as he hasn't really been made to work from behind and through his back for at least the past few years (mainly hacked and jumped). He also lacks bend to the inside on a circle.

I have always lunged with even length side reins in the past, but is it ok to shorten the inside one an inch or so? Or is there a better way to encourage the inside bend. When riding him he can be a little 'plank like' round corners and although it is gradually coming, it would be good if the lunging can help with this as well.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. :)
 
Hi Im no expert but when my horse does this I move to the corner of the school and make him lunge right into the corner, his inside hindleg comes more under him and he starts to lighten and bend properly. Another thing to do is to replace the inside side rein with the lune line, as in clip it to roller and pass it through the bit ring then to you as normal.
I think your pony will find it really hard work at first if he hasnt done any schooling for a while, so I would only do very short periods until he gets used to it and fitter.
 
I was going to suggest what Louby said about clipping the line through the bit to roller/ D ring but be caeful that your not just pulling his head round and not bending through his body.
 
Kokopelli said:
I was going to suggest what Louby said about clipping the line through the bit to roller/ D ring but be caeful that your not just pulling his head round and not bending through his body.
Click to expand...

Yes agree, I keep the outside side rein on too to try and prevent this. I feel the lunge rein as if its a rein, giving and taking, if you know what I mean, stopping this feel when the bend is achieved.
 
I too agree with passing the lunge line through the bit onto the roller. I always do this with mine, with the outside side rein on a nice contact so you don't lose the shoulder and over bend in the neck.
 
I agree with everyone else - pass the lunge line through both bit ring and attach to the d-ring of the roller (or saddle) on the opposite side. Works a treat! I've just taught a mare that thinks lunging should be square, to lunge a circle :)
 
Sorry for the late reply, just got back in from riding said pony! It sounds like a pretty unanimous vote then! :) I'll give it a go - certainly makes sense as will give the same feeling that I am giving him when riding at the moment.

It's funny as I have corrected lots of crooked ponies/horses, but this is my first straight (as an ironing board!!) one. I can ride spirals etc, but was having problems on the lunge. Even squares would have been good, but we were doing triangles! :D

Son is riding tomorrow, but will try early next week and let you know how I get on. Thanks again, and have a good evening!
 
A couple of months ago I was having problems lunging our new(ish!) pony. He would run towards me for half the circle and then away from me for the other half. His head was up in the air most of the time (he's part Arab), and he had no inside bend whatsoever.

Several of you very kindly suggested running the lunge line through the bit and onto the inside D ring of the roller, with a side rein on the outside.

Well, we have been working on it, and he's doing really well now. He's so much more supple through his back, and bending nicely to the inside. We can even do trotting poles on the lunge!

I managed to get a couple of photos on my phone today and have posted below. I'm afraid there are no before ones, as it was hard enough stopping him getting tangled in the lunge rein, let alone taking photos as well. But is picture is the top left in my sig, and that's pretty much what he was like to lunge!

I just thought I would post, first to say thanks to those that gave me the tips and also so that anyone else having problems will know it works! :)

Towards the beginning of our session, going steadily but not stretching through his back yet:

Raffles23-11-2010b.jpg


Towards the end of the session and really beginning to work - never thought I'd see him like this!

Raffles23-11-2010a.jpg
 
It works doesn't it? No doubt the gadget haters will jump on you but proof of the pudding is in the eating...

An easier way is to thread the line through the bit and attach to the opposite side of the roller - that way there's no need for the side rein ;)
 
Inky_and_Sunny said:
It works doesn't it? No doubt the gadget haters will jump on you but proof of the pudding is in the eating...

An easier way is to thread the line through the bit and attach to the opposite side of the roller - that way there's no need for the side rein ;)
Click to expand...

Yes it does! I would never lunge without roller/side reins though. To me the horse just wouldn't be working properly without them. I did try with the lunge rein on the other side but he was still able to get away. Then as the pressure built up on the lunge rein (because I was trying to stop him run away) it pulled on outside of the bit making him turn the wrong way. Now that he understands more about what I want from him I can give it another go. :)
 
Glad your getting good results.
Just as an alternative - thought I would mention I got over this problem with Long Reining - its not just for walking around in straight lines! :)

Horse Magazine actually has an article on it this month :D
 
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