In your opinion, what is the best lunging aid to help stretch long and low

[Fools Motto]

Pony going hollow and shying away from the contact, so its been mentioned to do more work on the lunge (I'm too big to ride him), in order to help when he is being ridden. I've thought of the bungee, but would like to know personal opinions and thoughts.
Equally, bits, any ideas? Rubber, straight bar, jointed, loose ring?? Want to encourage him to lean into the bit, as he currently just holds it! Teeth, saddle, back all good....

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I really rate the John Whitaker training aid. It works the front and the back, is fully adjustable and works from a series of separate pulleys. So the pulley goes from the back, via the sides, to a pulley which attaches to the bit and then the actual clip is on the girth between the front of the legs, it means that there's no jabbing on the mouth if the pony kicks out, or strides long etc etc.

 

[tallyho!]

Without seeing what’s going on it’s hard to suggest anything. Your horse could be avoiding contact due to any number of reasons. Since you said the teeth, saddle and back checked, it could be that you’ve not offered a good enough contact? Generally horses find it easier to take a contact on a bend first, so ask for it on circles working from inside leg to outside hand. Ask with the inside rein gently and give again. It’s not going to be instant but stay consistent. It’ll be hard for a horse to do this for long at first, obviously. Don’t rush... it’s taken me nearly three years to get a consistent outline for a whole test. It may have been quicker with a gadget but I didn’t feel the need to force anything.

 

[be positive]

Pony going hollow and shying away from the contact, so its been mentioned to do more work on the lunge (I'm too big to ride him), in order to help when he is being ridden. I've thought of the bungee, but would like to know personal opinions and thoughts.
Equally, bits, any ideas? Rubber, straight bar, jointed, loose ring?? Want to encourage him to lean into the bit, as he currently just holds it! Teeth, saddle, back all good....

I guess being ridden by children of different standards will not be helping his confidence so I would go for a soft rubber bit and do some close work on long reins so you can take a light contact and encourage him to relax and soften without using a gadget which will probably make little difference once the children get back on and he doesn't have the consistency.

I would also do some lunging with a rider on, very good for establishing the rider as well as getting the pony to trust a bit more and something that is not done enough, it can be great fun for the kids and not as hard on a pony as going around in a group although it may actually do more work it is able to relax and work into a better rhythm using its topline without fear of being pulled up.

 

[Pinkvboots]

It is hard to tell unless you get a picture of what is going on but having Arabs they tend to want to do head up and hollow, and lunging is very exciting even when your old enough to know better, I always lunge with a bungee over the head through the bit and between the legs as it encourages a lower head carriage, I am not a fan of fixed side reins or the pessoa as I think the side reins does not allow the horse to stretch, and the pessoa just jabs them in the gob as they go round, my horses are schooled to be ridden on a contact and they are used to some sort of pressure when lunged, so if your horse is not used to being ridden or lunged in a contact I would not advise having any sort of tight gadget holding them in a contact, it takes proper training for a correct contact to be accepted and the main thing is get the horse going forward.

 

[Cortez]

Vienna reins. All the pulley things do is exert a LOT of pressure, and/or sock them in the gob at every stride.

 

[ozpoz]

Mine was like this when I got him. I was advised to lunge in a loose Pessoa and swap to a loose ring nathe straight bar soft bit. It has taken a while but he now works properly on the lunge without any extra equipment and stretches down over his back. Ridden work too - he no longer snatches or curls up with a hollow back. It took patience - he had to learn that lunging is not exciting and whips are not scary, but I'm really pleased with his progress so far.

 

[nikkimariet]

Vienna reins. All the pulley things do is exert a LOT of pressure, and/or sock them in the gob at every stride.

Agree.

 

[Polos Mum]

I'm not a gadget fan - personally I'd lunge with two reins and work him correctly with your hands from the ground - you can then move in and out of lunge / long rein to easily change rein - go large etc. to build up gradually.