Lunging for fitness - ideas

ArcticFox

ArcticFox

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 February 2009
Messages
2,996
Location
Midlothian/Borders
www.bryland.co.uk
Hi all

I'm now 6 weeks away from my first BE100 of the season. I can't ride during the week due to darkness so I was thinking about lunging twice per week then riding sat/sun.

I don't use gadgets as such as my horse really objects to them (I do use a strap round the bum but nothing on front end as he is naturally on his forehand and panics about anything like the chambon, pessoa, bungie, etc so I'm not going to bother)

What sort of exercises do you do - anything to make it less boring?

I have a heart rate monitor which I will use on him while lunging.

Just thought I would ask you all on here :)
 
With our old horse we used to lunge over poles, alternating heights (so one on a polepod, one on the ground, etc) to get him working and thinking.
 
I'm sure you know these exercises, but JIC :)
- Pole work on the lunge, so either have the poles at 12,3,6,9 O'Clock or in a fan and practice making the circle bigger and smaller so they have to lengthen and shorten their stride if that makes sense.
- Indirect transitions, a ****** to do (at least for my dense horses ;) ), but great for getting them listening and also lots of 3/4 transitions
- Lots of change of size of the circle, smaller circle is obviously harder work, but can really make them step under themselves, then gradually increase the size really pushing for a powerful trot
- The other thing I do is move the circle up and down the school, takes pressure of the legs a bit

That's all I can think of atm, not sure if they're helpful, but will add some more if I think of them!
 
Thats great, thanks.

Usually when I lunge I walk for 5 mins, then pick up trot but I don't tend to have a structure I just do some transitions, then change rein, then do random things. Will be useful for me to have a plan I think.

Pole work sounds good - especially as the nights draw out.

thanks :)
 
Can you free school instead? I've found this very useful for fitness work as it incorporates more changes of balance and you can get the horse 'long trotting' and cantering forward without the sustained stress of being on a circles. It does have to be done in an organised way, not letting the horse just have a hooley, but I've used it for non-ridden fitness work before and been very happy with the results.
 
I could do that as the arena fencing is 1m 30 high.

Can you give me advice on how to set up the arena? Also a plan for the first session so I could give it a go which would be great.

I like the idea of loose schooling instead of lunging. More freedom to move :)

Thanks :)
 
I don't usually set anything up initially, although depending on your arena size and how you think your horse would behave, you could start with a section of the school blocked off to contain things a bit. I find most horses get with the program quite quickly though, and trundle around the perimeter on their own quite nicely.

The usual boots and either a bridle without reins or a head collar. The only time I usually bother with a bridle usually is if the horse has contact issues and could benefit from having a bit in its mouth in a neutral situation.

No roller or longeing attachments. I want the horse to be able to change its frame, balance etc and restraining the neck in that situation is counterproductive. I find most horses, with a bit of practice, will do stretches etc as you change pace and rhythm.

I usually just let the horse go, rather than starting with being led or longed. I want them to know this is work not release from the get go. I then push the horse in walk verrrrry carefully, just keeping it moving and guiding it out towards the wall, using my body language and whip/rope, plus voice for control. I stay in walk until the horse is swinging along, dripping its neck and staying more or less on the path. You can change direction by catching the horse and turning it, although I usually just turn it around either by stopping it on the track and turning it with my body, or steering it through the centre.

Then I cluck the horse into trot. Usually if they're going to have a run, it's now, so if that happens I just let the horse settle and start again. If I really think a horse might light up, I carry treats and make sure the horse knows I have them, so I can catch it quickly if necessary. I'll often let the horse jog forward and come back to walk a few times, just to show it it's all very boring.

Then if the horse seems to be relaxed about it all, I start trotting purposefully. I don't expect the horse to stay absolutely on the track, just more or less, and I want a good working trot. I usually gauge by eye, letting the horse have a walk break if it's really puffing, but for the first session or two I want the horse to be a bit tired by the end. Unless the horse is very chilled I'd probably not canter the first day, but I'd start to introduce a round or two at the end of the trot work quite quickly. I change direction frequently, although how often and how depends on the horse. Once the horse is in the groove you can usually just direct it across the diagonal. For more advanced horses, depending on how slick you are, you can even get the horse doing the change in canter. :) I only do that with the horse when it's very calm though. Some horses will start in canter by switching leads down the long side then switching back. I don't stress about that but I might play with my pushing a bit to see if I can find a pace where it doesn't happen. If a tired horse starts doing it unexpectedly I usually close the session.
Cool out by letting the horse wind down, as per usual.

The monitor should help you work out a program pretty quickly. I've always done it like any other internal training, working out distances, recovery periods etc but I do like that you can also watch the horse and see how its travelling etc.

I do also use free jumping and work over poles, but I don't mix that with fitness work, generally.
 
I agree with TarrSteps epic post! Done it before and they really get into it/ seem to enjoy it.
Mum has poles set up in her arena and loose schools and just says 'poles Harry Poles!' and he turns in and trots over the poles!

If you do lunge to add a bit of variety to the work I do things like lunge in a square (ish shape) using the side of the arena aiming for a tight 1/4 of a circle in each corner.
Or doing a steady 10m circle in each corner of the 'square' and lengthening down the sides (does involve a bit of running your self).
Or walking the circles and trotting the long sides.

Not really good if you are lunging just for fitness but some other stuff to do beside circles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top