Lunging - does anyone do it properly anymore?

I lunged my horse this afternoon in just a head collar and lunge line.. Walk, trot and canter. I have no use for a whips as she's very responsive to voice. The only time she was unbalanced is when she spooked at one of the kids running around the corner behind her and she spooked. Sometimes I will use the roller etc but not always.
 
Lunge line, headcollar, voice and body language. I must say I honestly don't have any problem with all four of mine that I lunge (3 yr old not lunging yet). None of them pull me, they respond to my voice, on occasions have a mad moment but I could put them on a lunge in a school, corner or middle of a five acre field and have no problems.
There are obviously benefits to using pessoa's, parelli, whitaker etc other than making multi-millionaires and making your horse look good but on my Motley Crew I think they would look a tad silly.
 
Sorry I don't agree, I fully 100% feel the BHS way is the way to lunge. I dont think you can decide on ways to change the way to lunge until you can lunge the BHS way. (thats bit of a tongue twister! :))
 
Trot_On_Dressage said:
Sorry I don't agree, I fully 100% feel the BHS way is the way to lunge. I dont think you can decide on ways to change the way to lunge until you can lunge the BHS way. (thats bit of a tongue twister! :))
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Why do you assume the people saying the BHS way isn't the only way can't lunge the BHS way if they want to?
 
I'm not saying they can't Jesstickle. :) I have no idea of people's standards on here.

But in my opinion those who can't lunge the BHS way in the first place have no place lungeing how they want to as they obviously don't know the basics. Lungeing is dangerous in novice hands. Fair enough if you do actually know how to lunge efficiently, you can tweak aspects that you want but you need to know the basics in the first place.
 
OP, that's sounds like carnage.

On the other hand I'm quite shocked at some peoples comments, just because you are not lunging from a lunge cavason, bit, using a roller or double lines, gadgets etc does not mean you are not lunging correctly or getting the horse work properly, what ever happened to getting the basics there without force or restriction?

Nothing against using lunging gadgets but just because you have not kitted your horse out in god knows what does not mean you don't have a dolly blue!

I'd rather see a horse choosing to work correctly naturally once settled and warmed up properly than looking like its just walked out of a bondage shop!
 
I have always been taught that lungeing in a head collar or just cavesson is just going to be exercising/leg stretching the horse. To actually be able to work the horse into an outline where it is using its self it has to be going forward into a contact, just like when being ridden. This cannot happen if there isn't a contact there. A reason why bitless bridles are not allowed in dressage.
 
I lunge with either one rein attached to the bit, then over his head through other side of bit, he prefers this to the cavason, I don't think he likes the weight on his nose. Or two reins, I always use a roller, and side reins when using one rein, though I do tend to like him going long and low when I lunge. He can still be a plonker and spook and take off bucking though he does stay on the circle when he does this. Most of the time when I use one rein he goes nicely with very little contact, and from voice though I do use a whip to flip at him, not contact with him.
 
Agree with Kenzo, i lunged Rog this afternoon in just a headcollar and with a schooling whip in my hand, he's usually pretty responsive to the voice but sometimes i tap my boot just to get his attention.
I was taught to lunge by one of the top vaulting lungers but i also do a combination of longreining with circles thrown in and what he is lunged in varies from full harness, just a bridle with roller and longreins, side reins or just a headcollar.
Saying that some days he just trots round with his hooves in his ears pretending he can't hear me lol
 
Trot_On_Dressage said:
I have always been taught that lungeing in a head collar or just cavesson is just going to be exercising/leg stretching the horse. To actually be able to work the horse into an outline where it is using its self it has to be going forward into a contact, just like when being ridden. This cannot happen if there isn't a contact there. A reason why bitless bridles are not allowed in dressage.
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I'm sorry, but I totally and utterly disagree with you on this. A horse working in an "outline" is not necessarily using itself properly - take a look at a ring of show ponies - at least half of them will be leaving their back end at the other end of the ring. And my old TB gelding worked fabulously in a bitless bridle - amazing contact, suberbly wet mouth, forward and working far more correctly than he ever did in a bit - and this was backed up by my trainer at the time who was riding at Prix St George level (even she didn't believe it could work until she saw it).
I can lunge my other TB and get her to stretch forwards and down in a headcollar and lunge line - but maybe that's because she is using her back end properly.
 
What is the correct BHS way to lunge?

I lunge using just a cavesson, lunge line and my voice for walk/trot to keep him ticking over or with rollar, side reins attached to bit, cavesson, and whip for a bit more. If he is in due to weather I will lunge off the headcollar to stretch his legs...

I always boot all round and don't lunge more than 15mins.

What makes me angry it when I see some of the self-claimed professional riders at the yard lunge their horses round and round with their heads tied down for over 1/2hr with no proper warm up!!
 
A horse can't be using itself properly if it's leaving it's back end trailing Holly Hocks. An outline isn't just where the horse is lowering its head and tucking if in as i am sure you are aware. it needs to be going forward from behind working into a contact.

Fair enough if your horse does this without a contact on the lunge, that's good for you, less tack to worry about. How ever i have never witnessed a horse working correctly on the lunge without a contact to work into, I'm not saying it never happens, I have just never witnessed it in all my years of horsemanship.
 
Trot_On_Dressage said:
I'm not saying they can't Jesstickle. :) I have no idea of people's standards on here.

But in my opinion those who can't lunge the BHS way in the first place have no place lungeing how they want to as they obviously don't know the basics. Lungeing is dangerous in novice hands. Fair enough if you do actually know how to lunge efficiently, you can tweak aspects that you want but you need to know the basics in the first place.
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There are many aspects that are dangerous in novice hands and imo lunging with all manner of equipment is far more dangerous in the wrong hands than without.
In 40 yrs of owning many horses and starting several youngsters, if its done correctly there is just no need for me personally to change methods that work. So far I have not had any horse suffering from complaints/injuries caused by schooling practises.
 
Trot_On_Dressage said:
Sorry I don't agree, I fully 100% feel the BHS way is the way to lunge. I dont think you can decide on ways to change the way to lunge until you can lunge the BHS way. (thats bit of a tongue twister! :))
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Well I'm glad to have been taught by some experienced riders and instructors who believe that there is more than 'one' way, people who understand that horses work differently and need different approaches.

Horses for courses..
 
I think you have miss read my post cambrica. I don't mean that in order to lunge the BHS way the horse has to be strapped up in gadgets, as this is not the way. It was more in line with the handling of equipment and actual lungeing technique. Was this not the question of the original OP?

Yes the BHS do suggest you use side reins but agree fully with you damage can be done with them in novice hands. I don't think enough people have lunge lessons, it is an art form after all. I prefer a chambon to side reins anyway.
 
Yes that is fine Rhino, but I am assuming the experienced riders and instructors you use do have a knowledge of the BHS way so can adapt it occordinly as they are already sufficient at lungeing. That is what I was trying to say, you can adapt it to suit you but you need to be able to lunge in the first place.

I'm not very good at explaining myself via typing! Good job I communicate for a living!!! :)
 
I totally agree with Gingerwitch and Trot-on-dressage re lungeing. Im another big chambon fan, they're quite out of fashion nowadays.

I found this thread quite amusing - plenty of people poo-pooing the BHS way while telling us how they have to use a pessoa because their horse has issues or won't settle without it...

It would be interesting to know how many people have actually been taught how to lunge properly. After a long break from horses, it seems like the attutude nowadays is "if I can afford it I will just do it" this refers to lunge equipment and clippers etc! In my day, before qualifying I would never have clipped a horse, lunged etc without knowing the proper way, nor changed a bit without an instructor's opinion/advice. Nowadays it seems that 75% of people I see lungeing have no idea what they are doing, but just like the idea of "schooling" their horses.

But....at the end of the day its your horse!
 
This is a really interesting post. I have to say I'm not a massive fan of lunging, I find it mind numbingly boring! However, I was really struggling with Willie's canter when I first started riding him, he was plunging his head to the floor (due to him being cranked down by a Market Harborough by his owner every single time she rode him - a whole other story) so I decided to lunge him from his bridle, only one lunge line, lunge whip, roller and side reins, so instead to pulling me around he could pull himself around... This is not to say he was charging around, not at all, it was all controlled and sensible. The difference in his canter was obvious from the first time I lunged him. I now am able to ride his canter, and I put most the improvement down to the lunging.

Now I only tend to lunge him to save time, which it definitely does for me, not least because I don't get sweaty hat hair (I do wear my riding hat, but I don't get all hot and sweaty) so it means I can exercise him before work and not have hair stuck to my head in the office!

The thing that annoys me the most when I see people lunging badly is when people don't allow the horses to warm up or cool down. I use side reins, but before they are attached to the bit Will has a good warm-up able to stretch to the floor, likewise I do this after he has had the side reins on, so for every 15 minutes lunging on each rein, only 5-7 will be in side reins (ie 5 minutes warm up on each rein, 5 minutes in side reins on each rein 5 minutes cool down on each rein)
 
Trot_On_Dressage said:
A horse can't be using itself properly if it's leaving it's back end trailing Holly Hocks. An outline isn't just where the horse is lowering its head and tucking if in as i am sure you are aware. it needs to be going forward from behind working into a contact.

Fair enough if your horse does this without a contact on the lunge, that's good for you, less tack to worry about. How ever i have never witnessed a horse working correctly on the lunge without a contact to work into, I'm not saying it never happens, I have just never witnessed it in all my years of horsemanship.
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That was exactly my point if you read my post properly - you stated that a horse should be working in an outline on the lunge to be working correctly - I stated that an outline isn't a good indication of a horse working correctly - as per some show ponies who have their heads tucked in perfectly, but have their backsides in another county - they are not working correctly - just looking pretty at the front end - as I'm sure you are aware.
 
Fair enough Holly Hocks, we seem to be arguing but making the same point :)

I suppose it shows how different people use the term outline. To me an outline is a horse working from behind into a contact. A horse just tucking its head in and leaving backed behind is a false outline, a false outline can look like a good outline to inexperienced eyes (I am not suggesting yours are by the way, just trying to explain what I mean as I don't seem to be very clear this eve. Too much wine?
 
Im another one for lungeing in headcollars, i lunge my older mare in just a headcollar because I like to keep an eye on how shes moving and also to keep her hunting fit, in the season, she will calmly trot and canter for 5 mins on each reins a couple of times just to get the lungs working. I also lunge my youngsters with a bridle and side reins/roller on but with the lunge line attached to the head collar so they dont get pulled in the mouth by the line, never had a problem with this method and they are all calm and respond to voice.
 
Trot on dressage, thats a real shame you've never met a horse with developed self carriage. I'm by no means privelleged but I've worked with various horses who work through from behind without a contact!
Come see my boy, even trotting around his field you can see him using himself...probably more so than when he has my lump of a self on his back and my hands bothering him (I'm not that good lol, the horse makes me look a far better rider than I am lol!!)
 
Yes ME!

Lunge Cavesson
Snaffle bridle over the top
Side reins with no elastic or donuts
Lunge line
Lunge whip
Boots (in front only though)

I warm up without side reins in walk and trot
Horse is lunged for up to 30 mins with no more than 5mins a side at a time

I rarely canter though as that is very hard work

Most of the work is done in trot with transitions between paces and within the pace.

I work the horse into a frame and expect the horse to remain in that frame and activity until asked to change.

Recently I taught the senior ride at Pony Club - these are riders who have their B certificate and are working towards H & A and was flabbergasted at their methods of lunging. Two had never seen a lunge cavesson before, several lunged off the bit and one off a headcollar. Most of them could not see the purpose in lunging.
 
I can believe that Tnavas!

I had a client once who tacked up her horse for lungeing as she had told me she could lunge. I was going to show her how to use a chambon but had to rethink after I witnessed her attaching side reins. She tied them to the bit and clipped them into the roller!
 
Trot_On_Dressage said:
Fair enough Holly Hocks, we seem to be arguing but making the same point :)

I suppose it shows how different people use the term outline. To me an outline is a horse working from behind into a contact. A horse just tucking its head in and leaving backed behind is a false outline, a false outline can look like a good outline to inexperienced eyes (I am not suggesting yours are by the way, just trying to explain what I mean as I don't seem to be very clear this eve. Too much wine?
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Yep - we're trying to make the same point - I don't like gadgets as I like the horse to engage it's hindquarters which will in turn start to establish self-carriage, and I feel that I can do this with the minimum of equipment. I became enlightened when I started classical lessons. Shame horse is buggered now as she was showing so much promise :rolleyes:!
 
Agree entirely with April blossoms post. I was first taught to lunge by a fbhs. Not for an exam, with a horse I used to ride for the owner. We did it with a cavesson, lunge line & whip.
Later I worked for a dressage trainer, who whilst we did use gadgets when necessary, long & low was just a cavesson mostly. I can certainly lunge the bhs way. But I generally lunge the way I was taught. I do use sidereins & occasionally a chambon, but for long & low I have no need of anything to encourage an outline the horse is willingly offering without. I'm not saying I never have, but always with the aim of getting long & low to be offered by the horse without any artificial aids. And then only when the horse has long & low established do I work towards lifting the head.
Didn't really know it was that unusual tbh. I've seen plenty of good horses that will work beautifully from just a cavesson.
 
Yes I've seen it.
Young horse put in side reins from stable, straight into trot on awful menage, with owner cracking whip an screaming at it if it dares drop out of canter
Yo didn't notice I suspect as she lunged her aged horse strapped in v tight pessoa cold from its box straight into trot and canter.mind boggles
 
Surely t depends on what you want to achieve - most important thing is it is done safely and with an understanding of why you are doing it and what effect you are having on the horse.

If I just want to stretch horse's legs I lunge from a halter as horse is very responsive to voice commands and very forward. I normally concentrate on transitions. I use a rope halter as it is lightweight and is easier to fit over bridle if I want to use one and as horse is spooky I have more control if he were to get his knickers in a twist.

I rarely exercise him like this because I'd rather ride.

If want to achieve more from a lunging sesh, I use a kavalkade training aid as horse dislikes the poll action of a chambon but still needs the encouragement to stretch down and take the contact forward whilst I keep back-end active.

After loads of desensitizing he is still frightened of lunge whips - so I don't bother at all or else I carry a schooling whip or tape the end of the whip up. I also dont limit myself to circles as I am happy to run up the longside and include pole work.

It isn't how I was taught at college but I am not hurting anyone or my horse so don't see a problem personally.
 
Oh dear... what about the rest of the world who don't have access to the wonderful BHS trainers??? :rolleyes:

Actually I can lunge in the "prescribed" BHS manner, expect I think that personally, unless you are lunging with two reins, lunging from the bit is awfully hard on the horses mouth, whether you clip to the inside bit ring, or over the poll, especially if the horse tends to pull.

I much prefer to use a cavesson +/- side reins, and since my big lad is terrified of whips I use voice and body positioning... though if he is feeling really brave I'll use a schooling whip as an extension of my arm.

We do work in walk and trot, and occasionally throw in a canter transition, but never for more than 1/4 of a circle.

What I can't stand is monotonous circle after circle... so we will use the whole of the manege, changing ends every second circle or so, throw in some trotting poles on the long side, or in a fan on a corner to help with collection and extension of the trot etc.
 
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