Getting the most out of 10 minutes lunging

[HaffiesRock]

So the snow has finally gone! Put grumpy on the lunge as he was full of him self and he had a mad 10 minutes, galloping around and jumping 3ft over the poles that were on the ground, before huffing and puffing to a slow trot and then a knackered walk

He's been out of work since early November and turned away. The show season starts at the end of March and I want to try a bit of inhand showing with him and maybe some ridden eventually.

Its dark by the time I get to the yard of an evening (no lights in the school), but I can get up during my lunch break 3 times a week. I have about 30 minutes when I get there so can dedicate 10 minutes to lunging (not including warm up or cool down) so 15 minutes total.

What can I do in the working 10 minutes to increase his fitness, suppleness etc? We have plenty of poles in the school too.

I know its not long, but he is unfit so hoping 3, 10/15 minute lunge sessions as well as ridden work at the weekends will be beneficial until the evenings get lighter.

Any suggestions welcome.

Nacho's and tea for anyone who got this far. xx

 

[Mongoose11]

Some raised pole work in trot? Canter poles?

 

[monkeybum13]

I think 10 minutes is a good length of time excluding warm up/cool, I don't like seeing horses drilled on the lunge for ages and ages.

Lots of transitions, increasing/decreasing the size of the circle. Moving about the arena, don't stay on the same circle.
Trot poles and raised trot poles, not too keen on canter poles when lunging personally.

 

[Hippophilia]

I like to do a lot of transitions, so do 10 paces in walk followed by 10 in trot, 9 in walk, 11 in trot, 8 in walk, 12 in trot, 7 in walk, 13 in trot and so on up and down on both reins.
Pole work is great too, although my girl can be pretty nifty at going around them if she decides she can't be bothered