Lungeing - is it more beneficial to...

[smirnoff_ice]

...lunge straight from the stable (after being in all night) or to turn out for the day & lunge in the evening?? Or does it not make a difference?

Just pondering!

 

[Christmas_Kate]

I'd say after turnout, as they'll have loosened themselves up and settled too so less risk of injury (for both horse and handler

)

 

[burtie]

I would avoid lunging a horse straight from the stable if there was a good chance it would be lively, otherwise just make sure you do a good 5-10 mins walk warmup as part of the rountine. We have a horse walker so I'd use that first. But generally I ride/exercise after bringing my horse in from the field.

 

[jesterfaerie]

I would do either, but if you only ever ride after turn out then I would only lunge after turn out.
I personally think that if the horse is warmed up correctly then there should be not much risk of injury anyways if lunging from the stable.
Unsure if the benefits are different, I woudnl't think so but just my opinion.

 

[arwenplusone]

I do both, depending what the weather is doing and how much time I have!

Never had a problem with either way to be honest but always do some stretches in the morning with my mare (even if not doing any work with her).

 

[smirnoff_ice]

Thanks guys. I've always done both, again depending on the weather and time, but i obviously warm them up more if they're straight out of the stable.
One of them is very sensible & will do whatever you ask, but she's also the one who's prone to stiffness. The other one is just a loony, refuses to walk and must at least trot! She's younger though and not stiff. I'll only ever lunge first thing in the morning (straight from the stable) or last thing at night (before they're put to bed), so i wondered if it was better to work them in the morning, turn them out & their muscles can keep moving for the rest of the day...or have their muscles working in the day, lunge, then go to bed! Does that make sense?!

I know what i mean!

 

[arwenplusone]

If you are thinking of it that way, I would rather lunge in the morning and then let them walk it off (so to speak) during the day. If I had a horse prone to stiffening up I would be concerned at working them then stabling straight away - but some of that depends on how hard they work?

I do not think it is great if they work v hard then stand still in the stable. Just my opinion tho'!

 

[jesterfaerie]

I would prefer to lunge the one which is stiff in the morning, because then she can remain loose in the field and not be lunged then put in the stable. As for the younger horse it may have the same benifits, so she is worked and has the day to cool off and not get worked up and then put to bed where she might become restless.
When you had ridden/lunged in the past which time did they seem to be better suited to?

 

[pocket]

I lunge straight from the stable, as long as you allow the horse to warm up on a large circle first without side reins for five minutes on each rein and then work for five minutes on each rein. Once I've finished, I take off the side reins and let Ralph stretch down again on both reins. I never do more than 20 mins in total and always boot up

 

[Seahorse]

I always exercise my horse in the morning straight from the stable, so would lunge or school him 'from cold' all the time. I do give him lots of warm up and if I had a walker he would go on that for 15 mins first!

 

[lucylemon]

if lunging/riding straight from the stable i tend to put tack on and walk up and down the yard a few times, i have to really as the tackroom i share is up the other end of the yard to both my loan horses stables

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

My horse suffers from stiffness and I find the best thing is NOT to lunge. I used to wonder why on the lunge he was stiffer if not a little lame. Ever since I have stopped lunging he has been as sound as a pound