Lunging an ex-racer, gadgets or not?

[HelenBack]

I've recently bought an ex-racer, he hadn't long finished when I got him so is still very much learning about a different way of working. He's doing well overall but is understandably still quite weak in his back and needs to learn to work over his back a bit more.

I thought some lunging would help so he can learn to balance and use his back without my big bum on it! I don't usually go much for lunging and am not into gadgets at all but I was wondering if in this case there's something that might just help him a bit? I know there are quite a few people on here who have experience with ex-racers so was wondering what others thoughts and experiences are?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Long rein and add circles in on double lines.
Good luck with him!

 

[fankino04]

Long rein and add circles in on double lines.
Good luck with him!

This is what I did with my ex racer x

 

[LEC]

This is something I wrote a few years ago following the IEF demo

https://fb.watch/h5RgM1Sl2q/

 

[fankino04]

This is something I wrote a few years ago following the IEF demo

https://fb.watch/h5RgM1Sl2q/

Love the bit towards the end where it says they find people these days have less patience, I see it so often now where people put a gadget on a horse to try "to fix it now" so sad ?

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I would add in some raised poles as well after a few weeks of long lining.

 

[HelenBack]

Thanks for all the advice, will give the long reining a go.

Have already been doing some raised poles just in hand and feel that he's definitely coming on there but sometimes it's hard to get a good active walk this way so hopefully the long lines will help with that.

 

[Cortez]

Do you have any experience long reining? If you don't, then the best thing to do would be to get some help - also applies to lunging. And no to gadgets, certainly at the start.