Lunging exercises - transitions within the pace

[PolarSkye]

I always try to vary Kal's work both in the school under saddle, when lunged and out hacking . . . and it's second nature for me to use transitions when doing all three but today is the first time I have really used transitions within the pace while lunging and it was really beneficial - got him thinking, off his forehand . . . what lightbulb moments have you had?

 

[PolarSkye]

So that would be none then . . .

P

 

[PonyIAmNotFood]

Mine was a daft one, shoulder in. Always known how to do it, ride horses who know how to do it and taught some youngsters a bit of the sideways stuff, but only recently have I realised how beneficial it is (alongside other basic lateral work) when softening a distracted horse and getting them to listen. Got stuck in a circle rut, when the whole time there are sideways things just begging to be used.

 

[PonyIAmNotFood]

I always try to vary Kal's work both in the school under saddle, when lunged and out hacking . . . and it's second nature for me to use transitions when doing all three but today is the first time I have really used transitions within the pace while lunging and it was really beneficial - got him thinking, off his forehand . . . what lightbulb moments have you had?

This also reminds me of a pony i used to lunge (too sharp for kids to ride, too small for adults to ride). He would extend and collect in any pace on the lunge, and you could set him up to jumps like that too, switching from a 3 stride to 5 or 6, he was fab. Carl Hester is a big advocator of transitions, both between and within paces, you're doing it the pro way

 

[PolarSkye]

Mine was a daft one, shoulder in. Always known how to do it, ride horses who know how to do it and taught some youngsters a bit of the sideways stuff, but only recently have I realised how beneficial it is (alongside other basic lateral work) when softening a distracted horse and getting them to listen. Got stuck in a circle rut, when the whole time there are sideways things just begging to be used.

Sounds fab . . . how would you teach that first . . . under saddle or from the ground? I'm all for any exercise that can get my easily distracted horse to soften and pay attention . . . his brain is just too busy for his own good . . .

. . . thanks in advance.

P

 

[PonyIAmNotFood]

Depends on the horse, taught a big and daft horse turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches (to an extent) and a bit of 'leg yeild', more moving away from pressure on the ground and it's transferred quite well to ridden work. Another was too boistrous to teach on the ground so he was taught sat on (not by me, by YO) but both now do basic sideways well, the one taught on the ground is straighter though so I don't know if that had anything to do with it?

Another couple of ponies are up and coming at the mo, one i've taught turn on the forehand to on the ground as he's too clever to not be doing anything, i'll probably try a bit of leg yeild too on the long reins. The other kind of needs to learn to go forwards and straight first so he's not been taught any of that yet, he might never be taught as he's destined to be a safe RS pony so he may only be schooled to the level he needs and not beyond.

I think it's not beyond any horse to be able to do a bit of shoulder fore and a baby leg yeild or even half pass, doesn't have to be flashy just gets their head and hind in gear.