Lunging on both reins (same day?)

HaffiesRock

HaffiesRock

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Just a random question really. We all know we have to work our horses equally on both reins, but does this have to be in the same session? Can you do a session/exercise on one rein today, and then do the same on the same rein tomorrow?

Just a musing really.

Thanks
 
In my opinion both reins in the same session ( butperhaps slightly longer on the weaker rein) so that the horse has even muscle use daily.
 
I tend to change rein several times during a lunge session (during warm up / 'exercise' / and cool down) I find it helps to keep the horse focused on you and what they are doing. Also useful to assess way of going on contrasting reins.
 
No, that would be highly detrimental. I don't even like it when some people do say 15 minutes on the left rein then 15 minutes on the right rein. It is just lazy. The longest I would ever lunge before changing reins is 5 minutes. I usually change every 3 minutes or so.
 
A friend of mine is quite lazy, so when she's short of time she will just lunge on the mares "good rein" Then when she has more time to deal with the "naughtiness" of the other rein she will do that side.

She's always been a bit odd so I never said anything. Just wondered if anyone else did it! xx
 
chestnutmarelover said:
I warm up on both reins, work on both reins then cool down both reins. Even if you only have 15 mins or so this is perfectly manageable :) Handy for bad sides & watching for unsoundness :)
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Me too, and change the rein frequently when lunging, every 3 mins or so. I also try and vary it, by trotting/running up the long sides, and then back onto the lunge circle.
 
I would do both. I can't see anyone going to the gym and only working their right arm today and the left tomorrow, so why any different for a horse? Perhaps put it that way to your friend!
 
I do the same as Wagtail. And ridden I do lots of exercises like loops, serpentines, 10m circles from the track etc so I'm constantly changing the rein. Even out hacking in straight lines, I will ask for bend either way to break up long stretches & work both reins.
 
I've never thought about changing rein several times on the lunge. i tend to work one rein then the other then cool down :$
the only time i changed rein again was when teaching canter, id warm up walk and trot both reins and then canter both reins before cooling down.
i wouldn't do a whole session on one rein though
 
HaffiesRock said:
A friend of mine is quite lazy, so when she's short of time she will just lunge on the mares "good rein" Then when she has more time to deal with the "naughtiness" of the other rein she will do that side.

She's always been a bit odd so I never said anything. Just wondered if anyone else did it! xx
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... which goes partway in explaining why there's a "good" rein ...
 
My newish boy obviously hadn't been lunged much when I got him and definitely had an issue with one rein but he has made so much progress in the last month and I'm sure that is due to swapping reins frequently. We start on the "good rein" to establish what I am asking him to do, swap to the "bad" side as soon as he is warmed up and then swap reins frequently. If we have a bad day on the "bad" rein, I tend to finish on that side as soon as he is relaxed and working properly. In a month we have gone from him trying to turn around or generally mucking about and charging forward on the bad side to a much calmer, more relaxed, happier horse.
So, no, I wouldn't dream of not working on both reins.
 
I wouldn't either. My pony gets bored very easily so I have to put a lot of poles at different heights, strides etc, rein changes to keep his brain in gear or he just gives up.

Friend only happy hacks once or twice a week so she lunges very occasionally in between. Mare is a lazy cob type and so is my friend! Oh well, each to their own x
 
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