How long do you lunge for in a session?

[SavingGrace]

Question in the title Thanks in advance for answering x

 

[claireandnadia]

Nadia has arthritis in her right hock so shouldn't be lunged for too long, I do it for a max 10 mins.

 

[benson21]

Donovan is only 4 and has not been backed, I lunge him for around 5 mins on each rein before doing something else, dont want him getting bored.

 

[Booboos]

I do 20 minutes max. I don't really like working them in such a small circle for much longer to be honest.

 

[monkeybum13]

I do 20 minutes max. I don't really like working them in such a small circle for much longer to be honest.

The same as this although I rarely lunge

 

[horsey mad matt]

i was always told no more than 20 mins but i suppose it depends on how fit the horse is. if you had a really unfit cob then probably 15 mins at the most, whereas a fit thoroughrbred could maybe do 30 mins.

 

[Magnetic Sparrow]

20 minutes, maybe 15 if I'm in a hurry. I spend at least five minutes in walk at the beginning getting that fluid, relaxed and forward-going before starting transitions or attaching side reins.

 

[AFlapjack]

Normally around 20 mins

 

[Sanolly]

I do 30-40 minutes BUT 10-20 of those are walking round the arena, and I walk up the longsides as well so not always on a circle.

 

[Bettyboo222]

I lunge on a sraight line as well so we are lunging 'properly' for about 10 mins bus he is working for about 20

 

[canteron]

My boredom threshold is about 15mins, so thats where we tend to be. However, I also think it depends on how the horse is going .... if they are being very unruly, I keep going until I can find a positive note to end on!!!

 

[MrsMozart]

Twenty to thirty minutes, but I lunge elliptically, i.e. walk up and down the length of the school, so as the horse is not taking so much strain. I also have the horse move in and away from me, which alters the angles.

I'll only lunge twice a week, unless there is some other reason to do it.

Also fussy about how the lunge line attaches. Currently looking for a nice leather cavesson with bit attachments

I tend to use the Pessoa more than just lunge. I know some people don't like it, but our horses seem to . They'll happily work long an low and have a reasonably steady head carriage, which in Dizz's case is very good . I tend to lunge only if I want some canter work.

 

[posie_honey]

up to 40mins in arena - but that includes warmup/cool down, some time with bungie on, some freeschooling, pole work, some in hand work (turn on forehand/quarters, leg yeild etc) sometimes loose jumping, 20m and 10m circles, spirals, lunging round whole arena as well as on circles etc etc

so going round in circles at the end of the lungeline - prob only about 10mins

 

[SavingGrace]

Ah I go around the full school when lunging aswell randomly bringing her off to do a circle or two so I can catch my breath

I tend to do around 30 - 40 minutes including warm up time and I let her run loose for 5/10 minutes at the end

 

[TallyHo123]

I also go around and use the full school when lunging. I'm not a major fan of lunging but it is a good tool every now and again. Usually around 20 minutes.

 

[Charliepony]

20 mins max Sometimes chase em around the arena for half an hour - 45 mins, but that's not on a circle, and the lazy buggers do insist on a lot of walking...

 

[Bug2007]

Only for twenty minutes at a time, it is a very stressful exercise for the horses legs....i'm not a huge fan of lunging but can prove to be a good training tool, or exercise if lacking time or you have a horse that is safer to lunge first before getting on!!!!

I try not to lunge any horse until it's about six as i don't believe it to be good for young joints, however some need it. In that case I keep the session as short as possible and make the circles as big as possible to limit the strain on the legs.