Lunging vs Riding for topline

[Dumbo]

Finally at a new yard and taking full advantage of the (partly) floodlit school!
I'm trying to build up my horse's topline and have been advised to lunge with running reins 4 days a week which means I can ride 2 days. This works well as I can lunge in the evenings monday-thursday after work, friday he can have a break which is the day I usually visit my Mum then I have a lesson most saturdays which leaves sunday for a hack.
Is 4 days lunging too much? Should I be riding more? Which is more beneficial?

 

[tallyho!]

What does their horse look like on that regime? If theirs looks awesome then it obviously works.

Both are good if done properly. Check if there are any local lunging workshops or teachers near you. There are many techniques, with gadgets and without.

 

[khalswitz]

Finally at a new yard and taking full advantage of the (partly) floodlit school!
I'm trying to build up my horse's topline and have been advised to lunge with running reins 4 days a week which means I can ride 2 days. This works well as I can lunge in the evenings monday-thursday after work, friday he can have a break which is the day I usually visit my Mum then I have a lesson most saturdays which leaves sunday for a hack.
Is 4 days lunging too much? Should I be riding more? Which is more beneficial?

Depends. I find it easier for the horse to work properly on the lunge without a rider interfering, however if not lunged effectively then they are just running in circles. Also depends on the horse - very large horses or horses with joint problems may find small circles hard going.

With my exracer, I lunged all the time for six weeks, and then did half lunging half riding for another six weeks. This got him to the point where he could start to carry me effectively enough in the correct way to work and start to get something out of ridden exercises. Now, I lunge once a week as a review for me, and do most of his work ridden.

Lunging is a really useful tool if done properly, teaching them to be light on the contact, engaged, to perfect transitions, to do pole work and grid work, to lengthen and collect. With two reins you can also do lateral work. I have found it invaluable.

 

[Char0901]

Lunging with a pessoa will help. Makes them work everything and helps engage their back end (makes the come up underneath themselves) I kept my mare fit and in top condition using a Pessoa when I couldn't ride at all due to a broken ankle.x

 

[Megibo]

Lunging in Equi Ami, plus hillwork !

 

[khalswitz]

Lunging with a pessoa will help. Makes them work everything and helps engage their back end (makes the come up underneath themselves)

Not necessarily. Like every gadget it suits some horses and not others. I've seen pessoas in some hands to teach a horse to come behind the contact and shorten the stride behind, and anything that connects the mouth to the hocks blows my mind tbh. Like any gadget, it requires correct technique - you should always think about lunging like riding in that you push into the contact, and get forwardness first, then encourage engagement by transitions, transitions, transitions!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Hillwork is best.

 

[tallyho!]

I used to think hill work was good too, but I don't know now that a pony on my yard is horribly lame from hill work :/

 

[Lego]

I probably wouldn't do plain lunging 4 days a week, as I don't think it is that good for their joints, and they can't have a quick stretch then carry on in the same way as if you're riding.

Depending on shifts etc, I probably lunge up to 3 times a week, but try not to do the same each time. I loved my pessoa, but have been getting the same results with less faff with a bungee. I've been recently introduced to vienna reins/running reins and love them - ask for roundness but much less restrictive than bungee or side reins.

For example, I might do 'straight' lunging with lots of transitions, in vienna reins for roundness one day, lunge in a chambon for stretch the next, and then either groundwork or polework the next time. Not as many circles on their joints, and using different muscle groups.

 

[khalswitz]

I probably wouldn't do plain lunging 4 days a week, as I don't think it is that good for their joints, and they can't have a quick stretch then carry on in the same way as if you're riding.

Depending on shifts etc, I probably lunge up to 3 times a week, but try not to do the same each time. I loved my pessoa, but have been getting the same results with less faff with a bungee. I've been recently introduced to vienna reins/running reins and love them - ask for roundness but much less restrictive than bungee or side reins.

For example, I might do 'straight' lunging with lots of transitions, in vienna reins for roundness one day, lunge in a chambon for stretch the next, and then either groundwork or polework the next time. Not as many circles on their joints, and using different muscle groups.

I used to use side reins religiously, but have had such good results since changing my lunging technique and relying less on them. If lunging off a single rein I sometimes use very loose side reins, that only act if he giraffes, but if lunging off double reins I lunge into a contact to my hand the same way I do when riding - works a treat and plenty of give if he needs it. So another one to try and add to your repertoire You do however have to be able to juggle two lunge reins and a whip, which takes some practice...

 

[tallyho!]

If you want to know about the biomechanics of a moving horse on a lunge and off, get the book by a German author called "correct movement in the horse". It's a blue book with pencil drawings on the cover. A must read for anyone interested in lunging.

 

[Lego]

I used to use side reins religiously, but have had such good results since changing my lunging technique and relying less on them. If lunging off a single rein I sometimes use very loose side reins, that only act if he giraffes, but if lunging off double reins I lunge into a contact to my hand the same way I do when riding - works a treat and plenty of give if he needs it. So another one to try and add to your repertoire You do however have to be able to juggle two lunge reins and a whip, which takes some practice...

I would love to add more bits with double reins and in-hand schooling, but however hard I try I just don't seem to have the coordination! Forget trying to carry a whip aswell Can just about cope with simple walk/trot/canter and figure-8 on 2 reins but anything more fancy and I just get tangled up! Poor cob always grinds to a halt and looks at me with pity whilst I undo the knitting before we can carry on...