Lunging - does anyone do it properly anymore?

[Gingerwitch]

Oh I wish it were open season on idiots just now !

Can someone tell me why a horse is lunged in trot and canter - well unbalanced gallop, and a near fall over at the one corner for over 40 mins in a pessoa - when its unfit, the school is as deep as a ploughed field and the circle is at best a funny shaped triangle - caused by horse falling in - and its doing the high school moves of approx 10 mtr circles.....

My back is aching just watching - well had no choice school is on way to the muck heap
why why why why ?

And no I would not dare say anything, had head ripped off last time I offered advice - so yes i am a coward !

 

[charmeroo]

I watched something similar yesterday except the pony was being lunged with just a roller and no 'gadgets'. The lunge line was connected to one bit ring - on the inside, and the girl didn't have a lunge whip but chased it around with the end of the lunge line...

 

[Uraeus]

I do it properly, boots, roller, two lines, the lot! We also have a roundpen so the horse gets its balance and goes a lovely rounded shape, but I have seen people do it in the corner if a field, using 1/4 of the line and asking for canter on just a lunging cavasson :-( face palm!!!!

 

[madeleine1]

hey no problem with the passoa on a unfit horse as my mare can be dangerous without the passoa as she gets to excited but i do fit it loose as is safe and would only walk her with a tiny bit of trot if she was truly unfit. also you dont have to have a lunge whip to lunge, if i picked one up she would be galloping round me so i just use my arm to encourage.

but yes what you decribed sounds like the extreme and i think long reining in walk may have been more appropriate or at least keeping it slow and working it on a proper circle.

 

[Littlelegs]

That does sound extreme. Wouldn't say strange ideas are confined to lunging tho. Most people who do stuff like that do it from lack of knowledge, could you discreetly ask the ym/yo to keep an eye out & maybe give some lunging tips? Though I know some people don't want to learn or improve its maybe worth a shot.

 

[partyangel]

I do it properly . Biggest hate is people who lunge off the headcollers and no roller or gadgets. And just let horse gallop at speed round and round.

 

[Quantock-cob]

Yes, agree with Gingerwitch, I too have watched terrible displays of lunging. I think it has become popular for people to lunge their horse, for various reasons such as "don't have time to ride", but they have never been taught how to do it properly. Very dangerous for horse and person on the ground. I was lucky that my RI was very strict that I was not allowed to lunge my horse without first learning how to do it properly, the BHS way. I think that even if I only have half an hour to ride I would rather just get on my horse and ride - don't really see how lunging is quicker as by the time horse is all set up and ready to go, you could have tacked up and been on board and riding.

Before I get jumped on, I do know that proper lunging has its place for training and development, but too many people seem to see it just as an excuse to let their horse charge around, uncontrolled at the end of a line for way too long.

 

[Littlelegs]

If someone wants to let their horse gallop round in a headcollar for a bit of exercise, I couldn't care less. But hate seeing people who think they're working a horse lunging in gadgets when they haven't any idea how to fit them, what they do or how to lunge. If someone let's their horse race round in a headcollar doing motorbike impressions its not uncomfortable or confusing for the horse in the way a misused gadget is.

 

[Toast]

I dont think it really matters whether you use a whip or not.. My sisters mare would happily steam roll her way round in flat out gallop if we had a whip! So sometimes if she's being a little lacklustre i'll flick the end of the lunge line at her. As long as its not dragging on the floor in the way of feet/legs i dont see a problem with it.

I lunge my rising 4yo in a pessoa twice a week but only for 20 mins and no canter just yet. But i'll do ten mins first with nothing on to let him have a hoon around on a huge circle otherwise i get no sense out of him. I'd rather he pratted about without the pessoa on than with!

 

[Jesstickle]

I can lunge properly but atm I just spin Nitty round for ten minutes before I get on her (recently backed 4yo) to get the worst of the fizz out. If you came round the corner and saw without knowing you'd think I was an utter numpty but I'm not.

At the moment BH is semi regularly spun round in just his headcollar. He has been lame and is coming back into work and so I just need to see him trot a few strides each rein to check the state of play. Again, people who didn't know would assume I was incompetent. I'm not.

Sometimes what you see isn't the whole story.

 

[frannieuk]

I lunge at least once a week, but only for max 20mins with a fit, well schooled sj-er. I also have a youngster I'm bringing on, and she does 10mins in the Pessoa and mostly walk and trot transitions on a big circle - it seems, at best, counter productive and at worst downright stupid, to put the horse at risk by pushing an unfit horse, in deep going and in an incorrect frame. If they won't accept advice I'm not sure what you can do but it sounds like painful viewing.

 

[monkeybum13]

So what is the 'proper' way then?
Surely there is more than one method to lunge...

 

[lauraandjack]

I'm another in the "no whip" brigade!

Jack is deeply suspicious of whips, and lunges perfectly well on voice commands alone, so why use one?

 

[Littlelegs]

I think the proper way is whatever is suitable for that horse at that time.
For me that includes;
- allowing a horse to let off steam in a headcollar.
- using just a cavesson & having the horse long & low, stretching right down with nice loose swinging paces.
- using gadgets correctly in a manner appropriate for the horses level of work.

 

[Gingerwitch]

Jess

Trust me I know exactly what was going on...

Monkey bum - correct lunging is an art form, the lunge line is basically the riders hands, the whip is the riders leg, the lunger should not be in front of the horse or behind the horse. The horse should be working forward into a contact that is correct for the horses fitness and education.

and it takes practice practice practice but for gods sake if you dont know how to do it, dont slap on instruments of pain to the poor animal until you know what affect they actually have.

I too hate lunge lines on bits.... I really do

Side reins, should be used that again are adjusted to a level comfortable to the horses fitness and education.

Slowly slowly - build up in walk, progress to trot, make sure said horse is in balance before you ask for canter - keep work even on each rein.

Lunging should be a calm affair, minimum of instructions, and yep the best of horses can go off on one... but a good rider is prepared for this and will minimise the risk to horse and themselves.

GW

 

[Jesstickle]

Jess

Trust me I know exactly what was going on...

I didn't mean it to come out like you didn't. You're on the same yard as them, I'm sure you know what the situation is with their horses.

I prefer to lunge with two reins, as an extension to long reining, and without side reins myself. Some would argue that I am long reigning of course, but if it's a circle I call it lunging

 

[LouS]

There's nothing wrong with lunging in just a head collar.

I never use a whip, use the end of the line if I need to. Mine all lunge very controlled just off headcollars, voice controlled, absolutely no bother, I don't care if its the BHS way or not, I have no interest in a lot of BHS-correct methods.

I do hate seeing horses forced into pessoas/side reins etc and pushed too far. I've only used a pessoa for one period of time and spent maximum 5 minutes trotting in it for the first two weeks as it was so hard for him, I don't think people realize what they're doing.

I just lunge with two lines now instead as I find it creates a more balanced horse and I can do more about changing direction etc.

 

[Mince Pie]

I can lunge properly but atm I just spin Nitty round for ten minutes before I get on her (recently backed 4yo) to get the worst of the fizz out. If you came round the corner and saw without knowing you'd think I was an utter numpty but I'm not.

At the moment BH is semi regularly spun round in just his headcollar. He has been lame and is coming back into work and so I just need to see him trot a few strides each rein to check the state of play. Again, people who didn't know would assume I was incompetent. I'm not.

Sometimes what you see isn't the whole story.

This, especially with Millie who is being re-started after racing/an accident/rider injury last year. So at times she is in a good canter getting some steam out and is falling in as she is totally unbalanced although is getting better.

Little Olly cob is a lazy bugger on the lunge so I have the line shorter and walk in a circle with him - unorthodox but works.

As for gadgets who cares if you just lunge your horse in a cavesson?! I use draw reins personally but there have been times where they've had a session with nothing.

 

[Oliviaandsparrow]

Another that uses a headcollar...
But to me, good lunging is being able to work the horse well in nothing but a headcollar and a lunge line. It takes time but very possible. However I do normally cheat and have 2 lines

 

[TigerTail]

Well I lunge off a dually as opposed to a bit as my mare is ridden bitless. I lunge with two lines + a roller, dont need a whip as she goes off voice commands, I dont do bogging off or other silliness, nor is it for her to let off steam - its work time not play time!

Whether something is correct to BHS standards means jack squat to me - given the way the vast majority of instructors teach and how much uk equestrianism has gone down over the last 20 + years! Not a standard I am bothered by

 

[**Vanner**]

I do fortunately I've not had to witness such things recently

 

[Lolo]

I can just about lunge, but only passably enough to get the fizz out and reinstate some calm. I can't do it properly enough by a long shot so I rarely ever lunge- more harm than good.

Some horses are horrific though. Had one mare in for reschooling a few years ago (when Al was diddy and mad so was given badly behaved ponies to teach them the error of their ways!) who was morbidly obese. As extra work, we tried lunging her- her response was to plunge and bounce, before charging at you. Promptly gave up and did lots of riding and leading...

 

[caramel]

I was taught to lunge the BHS way at college, I prefer to lunge off the bridle and I use boots all round, a roller and my training aid of choice, the lungie bungie. I don't use a whip as pony will go happily off my voice aids, and is very easy and co-operative on the lunge.
At my yard a lot of people do use pessoas, side reins etc but also we have a lot of parelli horses who lunge the parelli way (off the halter).

 

[monkeybum13]

Jess

Trust me I know exactly what was going on...

Monkey bum - correct lunging is an art form, the lunge line is basically the riders hands, the whip is the riders leg, the lunger should not be in front of the horse or behind the horse. The horse should be working forward into a contact that is correct for the horses fitness and education.

and it takes practice practice practice but for gods sake if you dont know how to do it, dont slap on instruments of pain to the poor animal until you know what affect they actually have.

I too hate lunge lines on bits.... I really do

Side reins, should be used that again are adjusted to a level comfortable to the horses fitness and education.

Slowly slowly - build up in walk, progress to trot, make sure said horse is in balance before you ask for canter - keep work even on each rein.

Lunging should be a calm affair, minimum of instructions, and yep the best of horses can go off on one... but a good rider is prepared for this and will minimise the risk to horse and themselves.

GW

I get this, but why is it an issue if people want to use different 'gadgets' or no gadgets at all?

I don't like lunging with a bridle either, much prefer a cavesson.

 

[rhino]

I get this, but why is it an issue if people want to use different 'gadgets' or no gadgets at all?

I don't like lunging with a bridle either, much prefer a cavesson.

We had a thread on this yesterday too. Absolutely agree that there is no one 'proper way' to lunge, you do what suits you and your horse. The prescriptive 'BHS' way is not always the best way

 

[AprilBlossom]

I have been known to lunge from a head collar, no whip, horse is very good on voice commands and body positioning, if I don't have time to give him a good groom and ride etc he just gets a walk trot and canter on each rein to keep him ticking over.
No gadgets etc, doesn't do him any harm whatsoever, but by no means BHS standard!

 

[zaminda]

Personally I don't like cavesons, so don't use them. I either lunge off a headcollar, or a bridle which can be don't have time to ride, horse coming back into work, our oldie who is 90% sound and is allowed to do as much/little as she wants on the lunge. I have one I always use a pessoa on,she has issues, and this is the vets/chiropracters answer.
BHS way? No thanks, I've watched a few people lunging like that, and doubt they could cope in a real world situation in many cases, not all obviously!
However 40 minutes in deep sand in a pessoa is excessive, excessive even if the horse is fit, especially if they aren't doing plenty of walk/trot

 

[Holly Hocks]

I lunge my youngster in a headcollar and my TB in her bridle. I dont' like gadgets, so I don't use them. Youngster will progress to a bridle eventually and loose side reins - but never anything else.

 

[EmmasMummy]

I am no expert at lunging. But even I know there is no point cantering on the lunge if you have a crap walk & trot. But then I am old school.........lunge rein held like the reins, arms at 90degree angle and lunge line just behind the horse.
I do lots of work on transitions and voice aids..........no point lunging when they dont listen to you and you cant be bothered to teach them!

 

[midnight mayhem]

Gallop around in a head collar on lunge? I mostly just use a head collar and lunge line. That's it. We don't gallop, walk and trot mostly..using voice control. Sorry to the head collar haters!