How many times do you lunge a week?

Tiarella

Tiarella

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I used to lunge atleast 2-3 times a week, now i havent lunged for months, mainly because i find it boring
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Hi I usually lunge once or twice a week in a Pessoa. Although it may seem boring (although I quite like to see him going correctly from the ground) it's so beneficial for your horse. Lungeing without any gear on is hardly worth the effort to be honest but side reins or a Pessoa is hugely beneficial. Keep up the good work!!
 
One of my horses works mainly on the lunge at the moment and she gets lunged 3-4 times a week for between 10 and 20 minutes. My other horse is in ridden work and I've only lunged him a couple of times in the last few months. I tend to find that I lunge when I can't be bothered to ride, but then once I've started lunging I wish I'd ridden!
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Once a week max, in a fake pessoa just to see how hes going, would rather ride hate messing about with all those clips buckles and stuff, but it is handy if hes tweaks something to be familiar with how he goes when hes right if you see what I mean.
 
All the time at the moment, as I am waiting for my new saddle! But I only lunge her on Tues, Thurs, Fri and Weekends, but only for about 20-30 mins. I don't do loads, I just do walk, trot and canter on both reins without side reins and then the same with side reins, and then practice voice commands and transitions. I don't do too much at the mo as she has lost alot of condition (before I got her) and is unfit.

Lippy x
 
I don't lunge at all. I would only lunge my girl if I wasn't able to ride her for some medical reason. I find it much easier to work her correctly from the saddle!
 
2 or 3 times a week with a pessoa. My horse has a weak back and this helps keep him muscled. Also its convenient to do before work.
I agree it can get boring though - we did 12 weeks of nothing but lunging when his back problem was diagnosed!
 
1-2 a week. Helps them to develop their muscles to be exercised without a saddle or rider on their back. Tend to do it when lacking time or D is looking a bit fresh.

Only being lunged at the moment because I'm recovering from abdominal surgery and can't ride. Better than no exercise at all and RI has given me tips to vary it nd make sure she really uses herself.
 
we lunge twice a week but use the equiami rather than the pessoa as they dont become downhill and its easier to use. more often should really only be done on prescription (i.e. 10 mins a day post injury/treatment when riding not advised by practitioner/vet). its less boring if you do lots of transitions, rein changes and include some poles occasionally
 
I lunge once or twice a week using a pessoa to help develop my horses back muscle, I also nearly always incorporate 3 raised poles in one 'corner' of the circle. It is soooo useful to see how your horse is working on the ground, you can see them track-up - over-track, how well engaged they are etc...I know you can feel all these things when riding but it's not the same due to rider weight/balance. I do find it amazingly boring but it is too beneficial to ignore!
 
I don't lunge, if I want to exercise my horse I get on and ride if I don't she gets the day off.

My instructor always said 'lunging is for horse's that can't be ridden, stop being a lazy cow and ride it' the sentiment sort of stuck.

Not against lunging a horse that is recovering from an injury or a youngster to teach it voice commands and set it's stride but other than that I just think LAZY when I see people lunge.
 
... 1- 2 times a week - my horse has had back problems and I need to build in exercising her without rider weight. May increase amount this summer as pregnant with second baby and may be too knackered to ride every day by then (that's how it was first time round) - at least she can carry on working that way. Using long reins and double lunge a lot while doing this so she doesn't always stick to the circle line...
 
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more often should really only be done on prescription

[/ QUOTE ]

Who says so?
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And why?

ETS: I long rein my 3 yr old every other day (weather permitting) and when she had the physio out 2 weeks ago, she said that her triceps were nicely developed and it was obvious she was working correctly behind by her musculature.
I was getting on once a week but am now saddleless as she has broadened out. Awaiting new saddle
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no more than once or twice a week unless ordered to by vet - I dont like putting too much wear and tear on the joints, although I do a mixture of long reining and lunging in largish circles.

My anglo has a sacroiliac injury so he has to keep as much topline as possible so needs to be worked correctly on the lunge.

I find that many people dont really know how to lunge so there is no point really in letting the horse wizz round you on the forehand.
 
i lunge between 1-4 times a week with the rising 6yo.
if i cant ride for some reason i will either lunge is pessoa for 25mins and do lots of transitions.
or i will lunge without anything on just to get her exercised.
i always lunge on big circles and move around the menage.

the rising 3yo will long line 4 times a week mostly in walk and halt once she turns 3 and the weather is half decent.

the 19yo gets put on the lunge about once a month so i can see how shes moving, dont use anything on her as she naturally used her backside well
 
At the moment I'm short of time and the weather's rubbish, so when I'm there and have a few mins and it's dry I'll lunge Genie for 10 - 20 mins. We just walk, trot, canter on each rein, then do it with side reins. Then we'll finish with practicing our transitions, as she has no breaks! To her, the lunge is for trotting or cantering on, not walking...
 
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