Lunging to build topline

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CobsGalore

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As the nights draw in I am sadly unable to ride during the week, but can just about lunge with the lights that I have.

i will be doing hilly hacks at the weekend and lunging (or other groundwork) a few times in the week to keep him fit over the winter.

I'm really trying to concentrate on building his topline at the moment, but what's the best way to do this while lunging?

Pessoa? Side reins? Bungee etc? Or just a head collar?
 
Difficult one so will be interested to watch this post. Will also be in a similar situation but will be able to school mid week and sharer to hack out on a Wednesday.
Never used a pessoa but have heard good and bad things about them. I always lunge in full tack with a bit of side rein usage and ever only walk and trot.
 
For topline I would lunge in a chambon, if he is easy to get into good forwards motion from the hind end. Have to be careful not to let him fall on the forehand, though.
 
Sorry to hi-jack the thread, but also interested in views on this. For my horse Fabio, i lunge him in an Equi-ami and he goes really well in this and has helped build muscle. For my OH's horse though, he doesn't go well in it at all, even when left really loose fitting. Have also tried him with a bungee and went horribly in that. Now using side reins and going really well so will be carrying on with them - would anything else be more beneficial? He is a bit lacking in topline so does need building up.
 
My friend fits an exercise bandage from the roller, to behind their bum & back to the roller the other side & swears by it for helping to build top line on her horse.

It might be two bandages tied together, to be fair!
 
Also following for other solutions as in a simliar predicament to OP and have two horses to maintain. I currently just have enough light to ride one and then darkness falls and I lunge the other in an equi ami with the little light i have for about 20 mins in just walk/trot.

Not a huge fan of gadgets as such but this have been an invaluable tool for both my neddies and their way of going has definitely improved by using it on them.
 
I have been using the John Whittaker training system for a few weeks as been unable to ride due to illness. And I have to say she looks amazing from it and I couldnt recommend it highly enough! Even when she's ridden shes so much easier and nicer going, definitely helped with her topline!!
 
I've had great success with my equiami, wouldn't use anything else now! It really helped my mare to build up muscle in all the right places and encouraged her to move correctly when she'd always really struggled before, it really improved her ridden work too. I use it once or twice a week and she really seems to enjoy her lunge sessions.
 
I use the John Whittaker aid too and it made a huge difference. Lunging over poles or cavalletti helps too.

He went from this to this when being lunged in it four times a week. (plus hill work)

ba_confo.jpg
 
I sometimes lunge freestyle (ie no aids) but usually in side reins. Lunged twice a week while in fitness and when established only once. Always seen brilliant results regarding topline, and general muscle shape. Don't want to teach grandmother to suck eggs, but it's important to have the horse really powering forward, as loloping along in side-reins just pulls them onto the forehand IMO. And obviously don't have them any tighter than your rein contact would usually be. Have used a pessoa a few times but found it more annoying than helpful. Good luck! :)
 
hayleymyles said:
I have been using the John Whittaker training system for a few weeks as been unable to ride due to illness. And I have to say she looks amazing from it and I couldnt recommend it highly enough! Even when she's ridden shes so much easier and nicer going, definitely helped with her topline!!
Click to expand...

How is the JW training system different to a Pessoa? They look exactly the same to me (genuinely curious, not being difficult!).

OP, I use side reins between the front legs. Don't need to be tight. I actually have them on fairly loosely, just enough to prevent giraffe moments. I tried mine in the Kavalkade setup (http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/products/ask-hh-kavalkade-ho-lunging-aid/) but horse doesn't like it. I really dislike Pessoas, looks so uncomfortable for the horse. If I need something around the back of the horse, I just attach an exercise bandage to one side of the roller, pass it behind him, then attach to the same ring on the opposite side. Has the same effect and is what my physio recommends. You can also run a bandage around the front of the horse, across his chest from side to side.
 
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