Lungeing - what do you use?

Vikki89

Vikki89

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My boy is sometimes silly when being lunged, most of the time he won't go out on a nice circle or he will start on a nice big circle then it just gets smaller and won't go out again, also he speeds round in canter leaning in, as i've heard it put before 'motorbiking round', which is no good for him.
I lunge him in a cavesson with one lunge line and he can sometimes lunge nicely.
Going to try two lines next time i lunge him, what do you use?
 
Roller pad, roller, side reigns, bridle and lunge line.

Unfortunately I can't be much else use!! My boy is obidient because he knows the sooner he's got the session done the sooner he can get back to munching!

When he used to fall in, I'd tap him in the shoulder with the lunge whip and say OUT. So now when he falls in he understands the vocal command. If he were to wizz round and lean in I'd simply bring him back down to trot and ask him to do it again...and again..and again. Same with cantering on the right leg etc
 
I do that with the whip, well don't actually touch him with it but flick it at his shoulder and say out but makes no difference. He always canters on the correct leg.

Just had a thought, when I lunged him in the field in the summer he would stay out, its just in the school.
 
Cavesson/bridle, lungerein. I only do it for exercise these days..

I think you need to go back to basics with lungeing in all honestly and get a person on the ground as your horse sounds really quite confused.
 
Can i ask why you think he sounds confused? He is 17 so i'm not sure if he has always lunged like this.

I wouldn't say its me making him like this as my nearly 4yr old lunges better than him, obviously doesn't do as much work though.
 
Vikki89 said:
Can i ask why you think he sounds confused? He is 17 so i'm not sure if he has always lunged like this.

I wouldn't say its me making him like this as my nearly 4yr old lunges better than him, obviously doesn't do as much work though.
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If he knew what you were asking I'm not sure he'd be so inconsistent so that's why, but then again he might be scared of something in the school making him come closer to you for comfort.

Still, I'd just tell him exactly what you want him to do and show him what to do. If you know what you're doing then it's just his confidence perhaps. Look, I'm not saying it's a problem, I'm juts saying he might need a bit of help from you thats all. Maybe you could try with two lines to begin with until he gets the hang of it in the school.
 
He doesn't come into me or turn into me just makes the circle smaller, he knows voice commands, walk, trot and canter.
He has a tendancy to lean round corners under saddle in canter when going faster but I have been working on this with my instructor and has improved alot.

I do understand what your saying. I had thought about asking someone to lunge him with me on him.
 
Vikki89 said:
He doesn't come into me or turn into me just makes the circle smaller, he knows voice commands, walk, trot and canter.
He has a tendancy to lean round corners under saddle in canter when going faster but I have been working on this with my instructor and has improved alot.

I do understand what your saying. I had thought about asking someone to lunge him with me on him.
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On his forehand perhaps? If you think about the dynamics he is more likely to lean in if he is on his forehand and rushing. If he was coming through from behind he couldn't do it as the energy would flow through his back and out the front into younr hand. It might be his impulsion is slightly lacking. Transitions often helps, again if not back to the two lines with transitions. If he's a heavy sort, cob maybe, it seems natural for them to do this.
 
Best thing to do is to ask someone who is skilled lungeing to give you a hand - they will be able to see exactly what the problem is and will be able to help solve it.

It is a fairly common problem - most often solved with side reins, popping horse on a smaller circle so that the lunge line keeps a contact and you aren't worrying about a loopy lunge line. You can then either point the lunge line (lash end up) either at his head or shoulder (a bit like a fishing rod - can touch him with lash on shoulder if he is a little stubborn). The art is to keep stepping towards the horse and push them out, rather than worrying about the lunge line being loose and stepping backwards to get it off the floor!

Once you have established a good contact for the complete circle, then you can start pushing them out onto a bigger circle - or keep the lunge line the same length and "walk" a circle yourself so that they do not remain continuously on a small circle.

It would be easiest to get an experienced individual to sort him out first - and you can observe - you can then take it over and have some help when your horse has got the hang of it! :)
 
Lunge rein on a headcollar and a lunge whip handy if I need it, don't require anything but then I suppose it depends exactly why your lunging them as well.
 
So back to basics then, I just don't think it's any good for him going round how he does sometimes.

He goes round too fast and leans, the leaning may be why the circle gets smaller :confused:

I taught my youngster how to lunge so looks like i will be doing similar with the oldie now.
 
I always used to lunge with one line, a cavesson and side reins but after reading a section in richard maxwells book (unlock your horses talent in 20 minutes) about double line lungeing i gave it a go and im completely converted!

there are several ways to do it, either thread the 2 lines, each attached to a bit ring, through the rings on a lungeing roller, with the back line sitting loosely around the horses back end, or thread the lines through the stirrups of a saddle (secure the stirrups with a strap to stop them flapping about).

My horse instantly dropped into a soft outline, and the two reins giving you a feel on the bit means you literally feel like your 'riding from the ground'.

the ability to use the lines in the same way as you would your reins means you can ask for bend, change direction and improve balance, and the line around the horses bum encourages him to move forward and use his quarters.


hope this helps x
 
The speed should be helped by the side reins and when he is calmer then you will find it easier to keep him on a larger circle.

The small circle bit should only be a correction exercise - once he understands how you would prefer things to be then he will work on a bigger circle.

Hairing round out of balance isn't great for him - but is something you can resolve and then the little tinker will have to do some work!!
 
dressage-diva said:
I always used to lunge with one line, a cavesson and side reins but after reading a section in richard maxwells book (unlock your horses talent in 20 minutes) about double line lungeing i gave it a go and im completely converted!

there are several ways to do it, either thread the 2 lines, each attached to a bit ring, through the rings on a lungeing roller, with the back line sitting loosely around the horses back end, or thread the lines through the stirrups of a saddle (secure the stirrups with a strap to stop them flapping about).

My horse instantly dropped into a soft outline, and the two reins giving you a feel on the bit means you literally feel like your 'riding from the ground'.

the ability to use the lines in the same way as you would your reins means you can ask for bend, change direction and improve balance, and the line around the horses bum encourages him to move forward and use his quarters.


hope this helps x
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Working with two lunge lines is very useful, particularly when the horse is starting to do more advanced work. On the down side - if lungeing from the bit it is very easy to take too heavy a contact, and with the problem in question, all too easy to use the outside rein to correct the problem which leads to incorrect bend and the horse falling in further!

Just be careful introducing the outside line - I've had a few fantastic "You've been framed moments" as the horse in question turns itself inside out when the line touches its hocks!:D
 
I will try him with the second line when i next lunge, when i lunge the youngster with two lines i use a roller and put the lines through the rings, its how i long-rein aswell, I don't think i've ever seen the second line used over the withers.

I don't have any side reins but will get some. Probably a stupid question but can the side reins be used with a cavesson (I don't lunge in a bridle)
 
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Mine does exactly the same thing. I've had somebody watch me lunge her and it isn't me causing the problems.

I lunge in bridle, side reins, saddlepad, roller, boots and obviously, lunge whip. Mine motorbikes and generally acts up on the lunge sometimes. I ignore it and keep requesting walk until she settles down again. I find the best thing to do is to ignore it, chastising will only make the problem worse.

When mine attempts to come in on the circle, I shake the lunge line at her, she can be whip-shy so flicking the whip at her makes things much worse.

I find holding the lunge line at chest height helps me as it's higher up and acts as a sort of 'barrier' for her to keep out on.
She is getting much better, she just tries to take the mick as she knows exactly how to lunge properly because some days she will be textbook-perfect at it :rolleyes:.

When she does act up then it helps to lunge her on a small circle and then send her out again. She now goes out on to a circle straight away whereas before, she would stand there and pretend she didn't know what to do :rolleyes:.
The side reins really help keep her balanced and she works much better in them, working her back end as well as them encouraging her to get in to a nice outline.

You can use them with a cavesson but when you first start using them, keep them on a semi-loose setting utnil your horse gets used to them. Keep them clipped to the roller until you get in the school/field then attach them to the cavesson or bridle. Also, you will know when it's time to start shortening them as the horse will start reaching for a contact.

Sorry if you already know all this, just thought it may be of help :o :).
 
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I lunge my big lad with a bridle, saddle, and two lunge lines running from the bit, through the stirrups (which are tied together under his tummy with a spare stirrup leather), and then the outside rein comes round his rump under his tail, resting just above his hocks. Since he lost the sight in his right eye, this is the easiest way to lunge him and keep him out on the circle.

I do occasionally lunge the others with side reins and a roller, but generally I use two lunge lines as I feel I have more control and can create a better contact with my hands that side reins.
 
Vikki89 said:
I will try him with the second line when i next lunge, when i lunge the youngster with two lines i use a roller and put the lines through the rings, its how i long-rein aswell, I don't think i've ever seen the second line used over the withers.

I don't have any side reins but will get some. Probably a stupid question but can the side reins be used with a cavesson (I don't lunge in a bridle)
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You can attach side reins to a cavesson - but much more effective attached to the bit - is there any reason you don't lunge in a bridle? (Can easily fit underneath a cavesson?

I tend to lunge in a bridle rather than a cavesson - I deal with rude youngsters quite a lot and prefer to have the control!:eek:
 
I thought they would probaby be more effective with a bridle.

I just prefer to lunge in a cavesson, Nothing against lunging in bridles, I used to lunge my youngster in a bridle until he learnt he wasn't going to get away with running off to the other end of the school, he is now lunged in a cavesson too.

If I need to lunge in a bridle then i would do though.
 
Roller, bridle, chambon. I like the results it gets me, although I still have about 10 mins of b*ggering around at the start with him motorbiking, and if he's cantering (again, sometimes just have to let him hooley before he'll settle :rolleyes: ) he'll demonstrate his flying changes for me and merrily canter round on the wrong leg :mad:

I have tried with 2 lines, but I just get all in a muddle - although have never tried in an arena where he is sensible before, only in our field doing that, where he positively he the most ar*s he can be :rolleyes: :)
 
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