jumping on the lunge. Do you? Dont do?

[NeverSayNever]

i dont usually... but today because of how wet my school is (in field) i ended up lunging near my jumps. Some barrels about 2ft and skinny of pallets making a jump about the same size - so nothing big.

Today without much thought i ended up pointing him, in canter at the barrels and he jumped them. So we ended up having a jumping session over both, on th e lunge.What struck me, was he started out going too fast, lacking balance, scrappy canter, got too close etc, and had a few run outs and bucks. By the end, he was happy to trot in, without "eeeep jump yaaay!" and breaking into canter... and staying in a lovely rhythmical trot and popping over them in a nice shape. He was also then able to come in in a lovely canter and keep a much better rhythm and find his stride each time.

Sooo...this left me thinking that perhaps this is a beneficial thing to be doing and wondered if others do it routinely?

 

[showjumpergirl]

I did with my youngster when I had a fall last year which hurt my back so that I couldn't ride for a couple of weeks. I think it helped him because he learned quickly to sort himself out before the fences and judge distances himself, but the jumps were only about 70cm and I've never done it again since - I think that occasionally it can help if the rider isn't particularly able (as if this is the case, the rider could negatively affect the stride pattern) or the horse is inexperienced, but I don't think it's that good an idea to jump on a circle, and it's harder to regulate the pace.

 

[NicoleS_007]

yep i have a couple of times over a 70cm jump just to see what shape my horse made over the jump and if his approach was better by himself. His approach was the exact same as when under saddle lol so didnt make much difference to him

 

[miss_molly]

I do most of the time. I have a little ft pony who is lunged every morning and I put her over jumps just to get some energy in her. If I lunge with no jumps shes so slow and breaks to walk. If I lunge with jumps she looking for the next one and keeps trotting and the occasional canter!! I lunge in field so not circles as such as Im constantly moving with her to the jumps.

I think it makes lungeing more fun, I also have raised poles and didy cross poles for her to walk and trot over to get more flexion in hind legs.

Personally I would incorporate it regularly into a horses exercise regime. I also always lunge horse over scary fence before riding over it so they can get over the looking and getting too close or backing off then leaping it (well I say always but didnt earlier in year and horse put in massive cat leap and put me out of balance and really damaged ankle, so now always do)

If horse enjoys it carry on.

 

[NeverSayNever]

thanks, interesting to hear people's thoughts. I wouldnt do it on a circle.. i was moving with him so he was getting a straight line of 4-5 strides into each jump.

 

[JoJo_]

I havent got a saddle at the moment. Will be about another 2 weeks. I am still trying to keep Cooper semi fit so I lunge and loose school him. I lunge over jumps once a week if the weather is ok. He loves it. Its a nice change from just lunging on the flat. Yesterday I had him jumping top of the blocks which is about 3ft I think and he was clearing it easy and making a nice shape. I was impressed. I always walk with him so its a large circle and gives him at least 4-5strides straight approach at the jump.

I'd like to loose school him over jumps too but i've only got a 60x20 ish arena to work in and only 2 poles and some blocks to work with so it makes it difficult.

 

[Kokopelli]

I would rather loose school over jumps as if you don't give at the righ time you may jab your horse and affect the natural shape.

 

[Ali2]

I do a weekly session with poles/raised poles/small grid with my two boys. Usually do poles and raised poles on the lunge and then loose school for the gridwork.

Doing it with share horse to help him with his hind leg flexion, carriage and his jumping confidence.

Doing it with my boy for a bit of variety and fun!