GrassChop
Well-Known Member
How long should you lunge for per session on each rein in walk, trot and/or canter for it to make a difference to fitness and/or weight loss?
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How long to lunge for?
- Thread starter GrassChop
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SOS
Well-Known Member
I don’t personally lunge for ‘fitness’ as cardio, the amount of circles you’d have to do to trot for X time or canter makes me uncomfortable.
However I do lunge and aim to do around 100 transitions per lunge, including slowing down and pushing on within paces. Snappy upwards transitions getting their hind end working and quality work.
For weight loss I’d build up to longer ridden hacks or long rein if I needed to get the hours in out of saddle.
However I do lunge and aim to do around 100 transitions per lunge, including slowing down and pushing on within paces. Snappy upwards transitions getting their hind end working and quality work.
For weight loss I’d build up to longer ridden hacks or long rein if I needed to get the hours in out of saddle.
Amy May In A Manger
Well-Known Member
I absolutely agree. I'm not a huge fan of lunging, but certainly for weight loss and fitness, ride, ride and ride some more.
Polos Mum
Well-Known Member
If you struggle for time or there is a reason not to ride - an alternative is riding and leading - then you can do two at once
And / or get the mileage in (in straight lines) up and down hills without the weight of a rider or if you're struggling for saddle fit or one of 100 reasons riding isn't an option.
And / or get the mileage in (in straight lines) up and down hills without the weight of a rider or if you're struggling for saddle fit or one of 100 reasons riding isn't an option.
IrishMilo
Well-Known Member
I'm a big fan of lunging and working the horse without a rider, but my version of lunging is with a rope halter, no gadgets, lots of poles and getting the boys to move laterally as much as I can.
I usually do 10 - 15 minutes in walk and trot only, with lots of transitions once or twice a week. I ride for fitness and lunge for strength, basically. I love this photo because it shows how much he's having to use his core!
I usually do 10 - 15 minutes in walk and trot only, with lots of transitions once or twice a week. I ride for fitness and lunge for strength, basically. I love this photo because it shows how much he's having to use his core!
Amy May In A Manger
Well-Known Member
Now that's brilliant!!
dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
OK so I lunge for exercise as he's nervous and can't be ridden. My youngsters are reliable enough to ride and lead yet.
We generally do about 15 to 20 mins 3 times a week. He's never going to be fit enough for that to not be a work out for him and my theory is that he's moving more than he would if he didn't do those sessions.
He's lunged in a headcollar and no gadgets. We use raised poles and small jumps. We use the whole of a 3 acre field doing circles and running a long the long sides. He has a great time, I get a work out and hopefully he keeps a tiny bit of weight off.
We generally do about 15 to 20 mins 3 times a week. He's never going to be fit enough for that to not be a work out for him and my theory is that he's moving more than he would if he didn't do those sessions.
He's lunged in a headcollar and no gadgets. We use raised poles and small jumps. We use the whole of a 3 acre field doing circles and running a long the long sides. He has a great time, I get a work out and hopefully he keeps a tiny bit of weight off.
SO1
Well-Known Member
According to horse and rider 20 minutes of lunging is equivalent of an hours riding if done properly.
www.horseandrideruk.com
So perhaps 20 minutes through I have not found it very effective in terms of weight loss but can be useful it short of time. I used to lunge Homey over poles a couple of times a week after work if I got to yard with not enough time to ride also to give his back a rest from the saddle.
Bert normally does ground work once a week with my instructor over raised poles on the lunge but I don't think that is very hard work for him. I consider that an easy day.
Lungeing kit explained
Lungeing is a great way to work your horse, particularly on winter nights when time is extra-precious. Fizz Tickridge-Marshall explains how to get started
www.horseandrideruk.com
So perhaps 20 minutes through I have not found it very effective in terms of weight loss but can be useful it short of time. I used to lunge Homey over poles a couple of times a week after work if I got to yard with not enough time to ride also to give his back a rest from the saddle.
Bert normally does ground work once a week with my instructor over raised poles on the lunge but I don't think that is very hard work for him. I consider that an easy day.
Errin Paddywack
Well-Known Member
This is how I used to lunge. I enjoyed it and so did my pony.
AppyLover1996
Well-Known Member
I would personally pick riding for fitness/weight loss rather than lunging as lunging can be mega taxing on their joints, so that is what I would do, unless there is a reason why you currently can't ride (rehabbing ect).
When I lunge Baggs my retired lad to keep him fit, I do about 20 ish minutes maximum, have him on the longest length of lunge line so he's not on a small circle, and I lunge in a bog standard headcollar with no gadgets to get him to use himself and not rely on being held together by gadgets. The 20 minutes include walk, trot and canter both ways and some lateral work getting him to move over etc. I also mix it up occasionally and take him into the big hay field (about 4 acres) and "school lunge" him - by that I mean he'll still be in his bog standard headcollar with no gadgets, however the session will be focused on more lateral work and stepping under himself to help keep him supple. We won't do any trot or canter in these sessions and I often spend about 30 to 40 minutes doing one of these sessions, but he won't be on a circle and there is a very slight incline in the big hay field so that helps with muscle etc
When I lunge Baggs my retired lad to keep him fit, I do about 20 ish minutes maximum, have him on the longest length of lunge line so he's not on a small circle, and I lunge in a bog standard headcollar with no gadgets to get him to use himself and not rely on being held together by gadgets. The 20 minutes include walk, trot and canter both ways and some lateral work getting him to move over etc. I also mix it up occasionally and take him into the big hay field (about 4 acres) and "school lunge" him - by that I mean he'll still be in his bog standard headcollar with no gadgets, however the session will be focused on more lateral work and stepping under himself to help keep him supple. We won't do any trot or canter in these sessions and I often spend about 30 to 40 minutes doing one of these sessions, but he won't be on a circle and there is a very slight incline in the big hay field so that helps with muscle etc
ycbm
Overwhelmed
How fit are you!? Seriously impressed, it's exhausting just to read it
To answer the OP
I was advised to lunge a clumsy horse on a slope and it helped him improve his balance a lot and was very fittening, so if slopes are available and fitness is your goal I would use them if you can control the horse on a big enough circle to make it less work on the joints. I mostly trotted up and walked down, so lots of transitions too.
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GrassChop
Well-Known Member
Yes, I never use gadgets, only ever lunge in a headcollar with or without poles. I don't always want to build strength or help with any needed weight loss through riding and pootling along walking in hand I wasn't sure would make a lot of difference unless you're walking for a long time. So for ease and time saving, I like to lunge and was wondering if a few laps in walk and trot on each rein would be of any benefit or if that sort of amount wouldn't have any effect.
I'm Dun
Well-Known Member
For exercise to have any real effect they need to be cantering and puffing. A gentle lunge session is going to make negligible difference.
JFTDWS
+++ Out of Cheese Error +++
If you're prepared to work on a larger area - and that means moving yourself, sometimes fast - it's entirely possible to do useful fitness work on the lunge without gadgets or excessive circles. Having two lunge lines helps as you can swap directions more easily (it's possible to change the rein in trot with a single line to a halter, but it's an acquired skill!). I wouldn't do more than 20 minutes on a surface / especially a 20x40, maybe 30 minutes on a larger field.
YourValentine
Well-Known Member
To help increase fitness, when I didn't have time to ride twice a day I did 20 min lunging mainly walk and trot. Aiming for a brisk walk, and doing most of the work in walk alternating direction roughly every 5min.
Some on a circle, but making maximum use of space available so squares, big circles, smaller circles, poles etc.
I found that 20min of constant movement even just at walk makes a really difference to fitness, not sure about weight.
ETS - I was riding in the evenings for an hour - 1.5hours as well, linger at weekends.
Some on a circle, but making maximum use of space available so squares, big circles, smaller circles, poles etc.
I found that 20min of constant movement even just at walk makes a really difference to fitness, not sure about weight.
ETS - I was riding in the evenings for an hour - 1.5hours as well, linger at weekends.
dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
I'm not, I'm normally puffing more than him.How fit are you!? Seriously impressed, it's exhausting just to read it
But it's fun and I think it's good to 'play' with him. He benefits from it and my relationship with him does too. He's such a nervous nelly when any pressure is put on him, so fun stuff is the best way to get participation. It's the only 'exercise' he gets outside of the field. He's built for comfort, not speed thankfully.
Nonjumper
Well-Known Member
I would lunge for 20 minutes, 10 minutes given to each side. Mainly walk and trot aiming for a steady, balanced pace and good transitions. I would sometimes do one canter on each rein, but it was kept short, around 5 circuits on each rein. I almost never stood still and made the horse go in a circle, but tended to walk up and down so the horse was working on more of an oval, and drawing the hose inwards and pushing it outwards to get some lateral work in there.
ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
When I did my BHS exam we always did 20 mins, as taught 20 mins lunge is equivalent to an hour schooling so that is what I do, though less if recovering injury.
10 mins walk trot or walk trot canter without pessoa both reins and then the last 10 with once warmed up both sides.
I lunge twice a week generally and doing raised poles. One of mine is lunged 10 mins am and 10 mins pm on concrete every day to stop her zooming as still partially box rest recovering and working really well so far, poles x3 not raised yet. I personally like lunging.
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scats
Well-Known Member
I lunge for 10-15 minutes, mostly in trot with a couple of canters and mainly in just a bridle with a lunging headpiece attachment.
I do it to keep an eye on how they are looking really. I don’t do small circles and tend to move around and use the whole school.
I do it to keep an eye on how they are looking really. I don’t do small circles and tend to move around and use the whole school.
spotty_pony2
Well-Known Member
Never for more than 20 mins and it’s to encourage a good stretch across the back rather and muscle development than for fitness. I do use side reins for about 10 mins when warmed up but not on the conventional way as I like to have them lower. I rarely do much canter on the lunge unless they are fresh when warming up - steady work and transitions in walk and trot is more beneficial and sometimes we do some pole work too. I taught my mare how to work out where to put her legs over canter poles on the lunge - much easier without me on top and then I progressed to doing this when ridden and she was much more relaxed having been give the chance to work it out herself beforehand.
Trot_on
Well-Known Member
I don’t do a lot of lunging, but I do do a lot with of long reining when mine are first coming back into work. Helps them and me get a good bit of base fitness in walk before getting on board and starting with trot work.
My fields are all slight hills so I tend to just walk them up ajd down there for an hour or so. Good forward walk in rough grass is quite exhausting
My fields are all slight hills so I tend to just walk them up ajd down there for an hour or so. Good forward walk in rough grass is quite exhausting
Slightlyconfused
Go away, I'm reading
Me too, rope halter, lunge line, x2 a week of 20 ish minutes walking and stretchy trot + a few transistions on each rein..no cantering
Mine builds up topline mucsle much better when adding this into his weekly work
Slightlyconfused
Go away, I'm reading
Just to add, its lovely to know there are some people who still only lunge for 20 minutes. Most I know lunge for more than 30 /45 minutes and one of those is an instructor
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
It does depend on what I am doing and trying to achieve.
Often I only walk horses when I am working them from the ground then a session might be longer but usually if the horse has not been stabled I set my iPhone for twenty minutes. If the horse has been stabled overnight I would walk for ten minutes and then work fifteen .
Almost always my horses go out straight after lunging if they don’t I would walk them in hand around place perhaps along the drive or something like that or they might go out and about led from another horse.
I time myself because I get absorbed and forget the time.
Often I only walk horses when I am working them from the ground then a session might be longer but usually if the horse has not been stabled I set my iPhone for twenty minutes. If the horse has been stabled overnight I would walk for ten minutes and then work fifteen .
Almost always my horses go out straight after lunging if they don’t I would walk them in hand around place perhaps along the drive or something like that or they might go out and about led from another horse.
I time myself because I get absorbed and forget the time.