First time lunging..

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ChestnutConvert

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I'm thinking of lunging my horse when it's safe to do so, but it will be the first time i have lunged. He has been lunged before so should know what he's doing but i dont want to do something wrong and screw it up!
Any tips for a first timer??
 
Take it slow, my youngster was very scared of lunge lines to start with.

I took the long lines in to the field and layed them out, I put some hay next to it, and encouraged him to eat by it, then we walked over them in the field and got used to them not being scary.

I didn't want to make his lunging experiences negative, ( although I'm more of a long line fan, apposed to lunging), and didn't chase him, crack the whip or anything like that. Just praised him lots for walking calmly.

I was a novice lunger ( still am!), so I had to get used to using the lunge, so by taking it slow- we both could adapt to it. Take your time and there is no need to rush or hurry- keep calm and just enjoy it. That's why we have horses, so that we can enjoy them :)

x
 
I should have added that he is 17 and ex SJ and as far as i know has been lunged over the years, i just want to make it safe and right for both of us. But to treat it as the first time won't do any harm i guess, nice and slow and get used to it.
 
I am not a nervous ninny (hunt/event etc!) but always wear a hat, gloves and body protector if I am lunging a horse for the first time. (and then always a hat and gloves thereafter, even if they have been good!)

A few times I have had horses kick out and although I have never been kicked its better to be safe than sorry!
 
No your right Lynds saying that i tend to leave my gloves on for most horsey things while this snow is spooking them! You get too trusting sometimes, even when grooming never know what will happen - not that i'm trying to scare people!
 
This should give you an idea; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqv9a8NqHKw&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q7puDxRQ0g&feature=related

He should have an idea what to as he's done it before but you need to make sure your body position doesn't stop him going forwards. I find it difficult to explain but when watching the above links, you can see that each person is focusing on the front of the horse and has created a triangle between the horse's head and shoulders with the persons body. I'm sure someone else could explain it better than me!

I don't use a lunging whip but I use the end of the lunging line to create space between the horse and I. Use your voice to control the paces and when you ask your horse to halt eventually, don't allow him to turn straight into you, try and encourage him to halt on the circle as it were and walk up to him and praise him.

Oh and as above, always wear gloves! I've made the mistake of not wearing them once and it really really hurts!
 
First off always wear hat and gloves! It makes me cringe to see people lunging without a hat. Before I was allowed let loose on a horse my instructor gave me a whip to practice using it and aiming properlly, we would have to hit cans off a shelf :eek: rather difficult but its a good idea to have aplay with the whip first so you get used to it

What are you going to lunge in? Any aids or just normal? I'd recommend for a first time a bridle without reins or noseband on then a cavesson then possibly a saddle or roller with side reins connected to the bit rings.

I found when I learnt to lunge I had a small circle drawn for me in the centre of the school and I would keep one foot in the circle and pivott around so I didn;t travel. If the horse was going left my left foot would be in the circle. If the horse is still going left you hold the line in your left hand the same way you would hold your rein and the coils in the right hand along with the whip.

Long drawn out and calm words should slow him down so like "woahhhhhhhh" and very quick words will speed up, it isn;t a good idea to flick the whip as other horses around may get frightened by it. To begin with work without sidereins to let the horse stretch, do this on both reins in walk and trot and if the horse is behaving possibly canter. Once warmed on both reins hook the side reins on (if you decided to use them) outside one goes on first then the inside one. Then work in all paces on both reins and make sure you un clip them at the end to let your horse stretch after lunging. Always make sure the horse is working properrlly, have the whip pointing at his bum you should be making a triangle so the horse is one side, the lunge line is another side and the third side is the lunge whip. If th horse keeps falling in point the whip at the shoulder and if he still doesn't listen give a little flick at the shoulder.

When you stop him to adjust things or to change rein don't let him turn in and face you, he should remain on the circle and you should walk towards him. I always like to give them a rub between the eyes when they are stopped aswell.

I think first time lunging aswell it may be a good idea to have someone experienced at it with you so if you get stuck or the horse misbehaves they can give you hand.

Sorry for the ramble I tend to go on a bit, best of luck though and if you want to learn more a lot of centres do small courses on learning to lunge :)
 
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Not a ramble all good advice.
I don't plan to use anything on him at first, would like to do it for experience for me, something diff for him and also i can see from the ground how he moves.

The small circle is a good idea, dont want to find i've travelled 20 metres down and run out of room!
 
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