Lunge lesson

[Jenna87]

Hi all,
The riding school where I ride have recently bought a new horse and she's lovely and we are looking great in walk and trot...then canter happens...she's really unbalanced and it unnerves me a bit plus she seems to channel her inner racehorse and goes faster and faster.

So I've asked for a lunge lesson to work on me being more balanced in canter to try and help her be more balanced ...the thing is I've asked for a lunge lesson but have never actually had one or seen someone have one before, what kind of stuff have I let myself in for?

 

[be positive]

I hope the RS spends time working her on the lunge without a rider before giving a lunge lesson on her especially in canter if she is unbalanced lunging with a rider who is also not secure will not be beneficial for either horse or rider, it takes a lot of work to get a horse to be established enough to use for lunge lessons.
I would not expect you to canter on this horse until it has had some proper schooling, trying to train it on the lunge with an inexperienced rider on sounds like a recipe for disaster and the RS should know better than to agree to it until the horse is trained, for now stick to walk and trot working on the basics.

 

[Equi]

What bp said. The only way to tech a horse to do something correctly, is by having someone who knows what they need to do to get it teach them. This sounds like my local riding school - buy loads of 5yo horses and throw them in lessons and sell them on with a price tag added. People pay THEM to school their horses. Its ingenious.

 

[Jenna87]

Thanks for the replies..i think I have been totally blaming myself when actually the horse isn't ready yet...my balance and seat are fine when I'm relaxed but when she starts feeling out of control I tense up

 

[Shay]

Lunge lessons are beneficial for the rider at any level - as long as the horse is established! You would probably enjoy a lunge lesson on something else.

Riding on the lunge gives you a unique time to work on seat and balance. You don't need your reins so you can do stretching exercises with your arms to help your seat and core. You can ride without stirrups knowing speed and direction are under someone else's control. Ride with your eyes shut to improve your feel of the animal underneath you. They are a great opportunity to focus on your riding without having to also steer and stop!