Please don't lunge your horse............

Solo1 said:
But how else am I supposed to test out my new spinny chair?
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hahahahaa brilliant!

I used to have a horse that whenever I tired to lunge him, turned into the always enjoyable sport I like to call "sand skiing".... except without the ski's
 
Ok you lot, you obviously know what you're doing lungeing, so don't laugh at me :) I've only just started to do it (see silly hacking horse/road nails post I've just done) and I'm very inexperienced.

I had a friend come and show me what to do. She's lent me a french pessoa-type gadget that seems to be less restricting than the pessoa and he goes nicely in it. I'm using that because he has a hissyfit lungeing just in side reins and the gadget prevents the hissyfits.

I did 3 mins walk each rein, 7 mins trot (with gadget on) each rein then 5 mins walk on each rein.

I would like him to do bigger circles to lessen the pressure on him but he does like to try to come in tight. My friend told me to walk around with him to move him round the arena and stop him having to go round and round in a tiny circle.

I'm planning on doing it once/twice a week in conjunction with riding round the farm, schooling and jumping.

Does this sound ok?

He is pretty fit (usually ridden about 6 times a week - hacking mostly and BS show once a week and jump lesson once a fortnight. He's only been ridden 3 times a week for the previous 3 weeks because he broke my foot) but I've started back proper since I got my plaster off last Friday.

Does what I've said about lungeing sound ok?
 
Indiangel said:
hahahahaa brilliant!

I used to have a horse that whenever I tired to lunge him, turned into the always enjoyable sport I like to call "sand skiing".... except without the ski's
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We should meet up and have races... I'm in the process of designing a four by four version of the spinny chair to give us the edge on the xc phase...



ets, I think LisaB might have mistaken this for a serious thread... Perhaps it was intended to be before the current posters got hold of it :p
 
lisab- in all seriousness that sounds reasonable BUT I wouldn't lunge more than once a week, it puts a huge amount of stress on the legs (in particular the hocks). The problem with lunging is that it has become a 'convenient' way to work a horse in a short time, but IMO I would prefer you to go for a short hack or even just walk about the school with tack on.
I was taught how to lunge properly by my Grandad, Mum and Dad, who also taught me how to work a horse on long reins, I thnk most folks see Pessoa's and the like as being a miracle tools, but they are only as effective as the user.
 
JFTD said:
We should meet up and have races... I'm in the process of designing a four by four version of the spinny chair to give us the edge on the xc phase...



ets, I think LisaB might have mistaken this for a serious thread... Perhaps it was intended to be before the current posters got hold of it :p
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yes we should, sadly my mare is too well behaved to give sand skiiing a go now
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on topic, I rarely lunge, I also prefer to go for a short hack or trot around the school - that and I always get the lunge line wrapped around areas you'd have no idea was even possible - on me, not the horse that is!
 
Baggybreeches said:
lisab- in all seriousness that sounds reasonable BUT I wouldn't lunge more than once a week, it puts a huge amount of stress on the legs (in particular the hocks). The problem with lunging is that it has become a 'convenient' way to work a horse in a short time, but IMO I would prefer you to go for a short hack or even just walk about the school with tack on.
I was taught how to lunge properly by my Grandad, Mum and Dad, who also taught me how to work a horse on long reins, I thnk most folks see Pessoa's and the like as being a miracle tools, but they are only as effective as the user.
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Ah, thank you for answering my question. I don't really know what you're on about with the smoking, wheely chair etc (didn't read the other thread) so I shall leave you to it! Thanks again :D
 
poppymoo said:
Lol...its almost worse when you notice whats happened...and have a panic attack trying to sort it before you go arse-skiing.

Hope you didn't get a friction burn on your nethers....:eek:.
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LOL! I was blissfully unaware until swept off my feet at high speed! I stupidly let a couple of the loops drop as he fell into walk, and stepped right into them as I simultaneously cracked the whip to send him foward. He obliged with alacrity, and got his first lesson in pulling a weight! :D
 
lisab said:
Ah, thank you for answering my question. I don't really know what you're on about with the smoking, wheely chair etc (didn't read the other thread) so I shall leave you to it! Thanks again :D
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Your horse is clearly more mannerly than some of ours. (I didn't offer advice since I don't think lunging advice from me would be worth anything!) I don't know what they're on about with the smoking either. Obviously no idea about health and safety - either that or their horses don't head straight for flammable materials such as hay in these situations :D
 
i find a swingball post is invaluable, i can sit on the gras and flick the whip when she goes a bit too slow!!

(though im reading this thread and thanking my lucky stars pink is such a good girl)
 
Solo1 said:
But how else am I supposed to test out my new spinny chair?
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Brilliant system. Could you do an eHow photo guide to demonstrate the method ?
Bit of a numpty question, but d'you think it would be okay to offer little boy a trip to the playground and asking him to 'just hold this' while he's on the roundabout ? He's a tall 6 year old....
 
Baggybreeches said:
The problem with lunging is that it has become a 'convenient' way to work a horse in a short time, but IMO I would prefer you to go for a short hack or even just walk about the school with tack on.
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But lunging can be a convenient way to WORK a horse in a short period of time, IMO i don't see that as a 'problem' if it is done correctly?
I lunge my horse once a week for 20 to 30 mins, it is an invaluable tool for me to be able to assess him from the ground, build his confidence, improve balance, and build a closer relationship. It's not just about going around in circles, we always start off on a 20m circle with no side reins, up through the paces until he is loose, listening and supple, stretching down on both reins, side reins go on and the more intense work starts, including many direct and indirect transitions, spiralling in and out, spectacle patterns, moving around the arena as if we were schooling. Finally side reins come off, for a cool down and stretch down.
It adds variety to his work, and great when i don't have a full hour to school or hack! I love lunging ;) and can't understand why ppl find it boring, there is so much more to it than just circles :p
 
lisab, i think that sounds like quite a lot of work, 7 mins trot on both reins, in fairly small circles by the sound of it, is hard work imho.
if you want him to move out more, step a bit more behind him (walk towards his bum not his head) and/or point whip at his ribs to 'push' him out.
i'd be v careful with the pessoa-like device, whatever it is...
i'd do lots of transitions to get him listening, you're more likely to be able to make him go larger if he's listening. good luck!
 
poppymoo.. frank attempts to eat the grass.. he is yet to manage it just bashes himself on the chin :rolleyes: for which he appears to expect sympathy :eek:

does mean long and low is quite easy though :D
 
Dab said:
But lunging can be a convenient way to WORK a horse in a short period of time, IMO i don't see that as a 'problem' if it is done correctly?
I lunge my horse once a week for 20 to 30 mins, it is an invaluable tool for me to be able to assess him from the ground, build his confidence, improve balance, and build a closer relationship. It's not just about going around in circles, we always start off on a 20m circle with no side reins, up through the paces until he is loose, listening and supple, stretching down on both reins, side reins go on and the more intense work starts, including many direct and indirect transitions, spiralling in and out, spectacle patterns, moving around the arena as if we were schooling. Finally side reins come off, for a cool down and stretch down.
It adds variety to his work, and great when i don't have a full hour to school or hack! I love lunging ;) and can't understand why ppl find it boring, there is so much more to it than just circles :p
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Thats fine, as you obviously understand why your are doing it! ;)
I have one horse that works beautifully on the lunge (which is revelation after 20 odd yrs of 'high input' horses), but the my others were just easier to ride than lunge.
 
I have a friend who round pens his horses in the following manner:

Take horse to round pen - a misnomer as is, in fact, oval.

Attach headcollar, roller and de gogue

Point horse in correct direction and slap it on arse. Horse begins to trot around the track

Friend retreats to plastic garden chair under parasol in centre of pen, sits down and opens can of sport drink and picks up 'Equestre' magaine and begins to read.

Horse continues to trot happily round the pen at consistent speed.

Horse slows down: friend notices change in cadence, leans down, picks up his catapault and a handy clod of earth and fires it at horse's rump.

Horse picks up speed and continues...this is repeated as necessary for 20 mins.

Friend then shouts 'Para!' (stop). Horse stops and looks at him. He points in the other direction and horse turns and begins trotting on the other rein - encouraged by more catapaulted earth if required.

I would add they are endurance racing horses and 40 minutes in this quite arge pen is a stroll in the park for them, but I do admire his style :D
 
Baggybreeches said:
Thats fine, as you obviously understand why your are doing it! ;)
I have one horse that works beautifully on the lunge (which is revelation after 20 odd yrs of 'high input' horses), but the my others were just easier to ride than lunge.
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^^^thank you ;) ^^^

but i did used to have one monster who would work like a dream on the lunge and then for the shear fun of it and with no warning what so ever would take off with me sand ski-ing behind him. An amazing instructor advised me that the split second he did this, that under no circumstances should i look with my eyes where he was trying to go, but look at where i wanted him to go....it works...but it was very disconcerting and i thought i'd be face-sand-ski-ing when i first tried it.
 
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