Lunging - Any thoughts..good or bad?

[Mbronze]

I lunge my girl about once or twice a week with side reins and have started to think that perhaps i am putting unecessary strain on her legs, she isn't very flexible so finds it quite hard work especially in canter on smaller circles. Ahe is quite fit btw although i think if i carry on i may injure her, so have decided to give lunging a rest for a while and perhaps do long reining..

She has had her back checked last friday and the back man was happy with how she lunged although i still have a nagging feeling about it

Any thoughts or suggestions on lunging/long reining, which one you think is most beneficial.

This is a bit of a repeat post from the new lounge, but i just wondered what you guys who don't venture in there thought of this idea

 

[Cliqmo]

I venture all around HHO but can I post on this thread too?

IMO lunging is for exercise and long reining teaches discipline and helps develop "steering". Long reining is great for youngsters as it gives them a sense of venturing out on their own (without someone at their head like when you lead them) but also develops trust as they rely on your voice and not your presence.

 

[ABE]

I personally feel long reining is a better option as you arent confined to a circle, i am not a massive fan of lunging unless the horse is too fizzy to get on straight away. I do feel it is unnecessary strain on legs if done regularly. I find it takes just as long to tack up a horse for lunging as it does to ride so i feel be as well ride? But lunging is sometimes a good thing for one horse but not so good for another, it comes to each horse being different.

 

[Mbronze]

ali_m. I think the trust issue would be one that i would like to develop a bit more. Just wondering whether there is a 'to lunge or not to lunge' clique out there and what there views are if any. Thank you for your sane and sensible advice though.

 

[Hornby]

I have noticed very strong views on this but can't say I really understand them. I can't see that a sensible lunged horse, balanced, not blasting about puts their limbs under more pressure than carrying a rider on a circle. My horses lunge sensibly, off a caveson (sp?) not the bit and I time it so as not to be excessive. Neither of them has leg problems, perhaps I would be more cautious with a horse with a history of lameness (but would be in all respects). I think it is a great aid to fitness (can't really achieve faster work with long reins unless you are very fit!) and certainly in the winter when the weather is appalling it is preferable to getting soaked (essay over!).

 

[BigRed]

The strain of working in a school depends on the surface, if it is poor, it can be very strenuous on the limbs, whether you ride on it or lunge. Constantly lunging on a circle must be mind numbing for a horse, some people lunge their horses with no purpose other than to seemingly want to tire them out. If you have 30 minutes to spare, get on it and ride, even in the school you will do more than just circular work - hopefully.

Experts lunge horses to work their different muscles and actually improve their way of going - very few people have these skills anymore.

Watching my trainer do it, is very enlightening.

 

[silverbreeze]

I lunge and long rein a lot throughout my horses training, no matter how old.

Long reining in itself is invaluable for getting them confident and responsive, I couldn't recommend it enough. I am working with my youngster on water tray issues at the minute and I am long reining her over it and it is working wonders (yes you have to be fit and quick!)

Don't think long reins are purely for youngsters either, I work my 16year old in them and it really makes him concentrate and has made him a lot more responsive under tack. I canter him on them in the school (in a circle as if lunging) and do rein changes etc with him on them..

I lunge on the pessoa and I use this with my older horse to and do loads of transitions. It has softened him and suppled him up a hell of a lot. I am careful not ot over do it and I know what I am specifically trying to achieve with it so it isn't just aimless running around.

When I pessoa my youngster she has long reins on too as she tends to fall in on the right rein and the combination allows me to ask a little more outside contact and lift her through her barrel with a flick of the inside rein on her barrel.

If both are done properly I can't rate them enough. you can get a little tangled with long reins if your not careful!!

I use long pieces of rope for long reining rather than lunge lines as they have a more affective contact on the horses sides.