How Come its ok to lunge with Aids but not ride?

[ShowJumperBeckii]

Just wondered, most people i know will lunge will side reins or a bungie or more/ other aids and everyone seems to think this is ok? but people say it is lazy and just a way to get quick results if you use them when riding either way its building a topline, but surely lunging with aids is just another quicker way to get an outline aswell?
Just wondered

 

[tallyho!]

yes it's quicker.

doesn't mean its always correct. sometimes it does the job.

depends what you want out of a horse... a quick win, or a long term performer.

 

[silver zaanif]

yes it's quicker.

doesn't mean its always correct. sometimes it does the job.

depends what you want out of a horse... a quick win, or a long term performer.

ditto sometimes its good to put a horse in the 'right place' with out a rider , but never as an every day / every week thing, and personaly i dont think lungeing is justified more than once a week , if at all.

 

[DuckToller]

Sometimes it gives the horse a chance to work out what is required without the weight of a rider on board. It is easier for him to use his back properly and to learn to stretch down and step under himself more without some great lump bouncing up and down on top and sending out contrasting messages (I am referring to myself here not you )

Also when you lunge you can see what is going on better, so although I am not a great advocate of lunging regularly, I do find it helps sometimes. I have a lunging kit (forget which one) and it has helped one of my horses to work from behind and carry himself better and he was much softer to ride after and understood what was being asked of him after a few sessions. Since then it has stayed in my tack box - oops

 

[Kokopelli]

Cause lunging on a headcollar does absolutly nothing for the horse if anything makes them worse as they may be falling in/ out.

I lunge on a regular basis in side reins and I had one very persistent pony who was 9 and had spent all his life going with his head in your face (literally) it took a long time to get him working correctly and sometimes I would ride him in side reins as he just had no idea what to do with himself.

If done correctly as well it will improve your horse, side reins should not winch your horses head in they should encourage an even contact, a lot of people go wrong hear. Same with the bungie it should not be used to winch the head down and cause a false outline, sadly I have never seen a bungie correctly used which is why I am not a big fan of them. I do like the pessoas though, get the horse working from behind which can be difficult on the lunge.

 

[Brookiinaa]

Side reins aren't made for forcing into an unatural outline, if done up too tightly then yes, it will but if done up correctly with a knowledgeable person lunging the horse can take the side reins forward and allows them to accept the contact, working through their back correctly.

 

[dominobrown]

You should never ever ride in side reins or bungie. This is mainly because (unlike draw reins) if the horse reacts adversly to the side reins (e.g rearing) and you are riding it could be very dangerous as you cannot release the contact easily, if lunging then you are not directly in danger. With draw reins you can drop and release the contact.

That is why you nevere ride in side reins or other gadgets which you cannot release.

 

[Bertthefrog]

Personally I have no issue with the use of schooling aids, whether used under saddle or whilst lunging.

Like many I have preferred schooling aids, and some that I have not found particularly beneficial. I have used standing, running martingales, market harboroughs, draw, side (and grass/daisy) reins, chambons, de gogues and pessoas. I will lunge, long rein and ride, with or without whips and spurs as I feel appropriate.

I think the more horses you deal with, the more problems you are likely to encounter and the more likely you are to use the odd schooling aid.

I think there is a time and a place for use of most schooling aids, provided they are fitted correctly, introduced carefully and used taking the horse's level of fitness and strength into consideration. In most cases they can be used for a handful of sessions to overcome the problem, and then you are able to continue and move on with training without it.

This doesn't necessarily have to be with the green or novice horse, as many experienced partnerships I know still "hit walls" and need to vary approaches on occasion.

Nothing is better than patience, perserverance, confidence, reward, correct and knowledgeable schooling, but I am, and always will be, open to ancillary methods and new ideas. This is how we learn insn't it?

Hark at me getting all evangelical......