Training aids on the lunge

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Grey.mare

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My mare lunges amazingly in both a pessoa and side reins and she looks amazing, works correctly from behind and stretches down and uses herself correctly, however when i then get back on all hell breaks loose because she ends up so wonky! Doesnt look wonky from the ground when being lunged. Shes quite sensitive so takes a while to get her back straight and supple in both directions.

My training aids are completely even (i've measured them more than once). She seems to like lungeing and its been really beneficial to her over the years but my question is has anyone ever had a similar situation and how did you go about getting around this? I like having lungeing in my weekly routine as it helps me asses them from the ground and get a good look at muscle tone whilst workign and give me a better idea of my affect whilst sittting on her.

Or does anyone have any suggestions for different aids that will encourage her to work correctly whilst keeping her straighter without placing uneven pressure on her back or pinning her head (no chance of making out of walk in that case) Would prefer somehting that attaches to the roller or saddle :)

(ps, never tried lungeing her off of two reins but im not sure she would accept this, reckon she might just spin round and go the other way)

Thanks in advance :P
 
I would look to why she's crooked as a fundamental, make sure you have a good body worker keeping an eye on her and then consider something like Straightness Training, or have a professional who is very good with ground work come and help you and assess her. I'm no great fan of any gadgets and have seen such amazing work done with none that it makes no sense to me to use them.
 
I can second Straightness Training, it's really helped my gelding. I also use TTeam wraps, which seem to be helping.

Regular physiotherapy has helped to identify where he was weaker and asymetrical.
 
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sbloom said:
I would look to why she's crooked as a fundamental, make sure you have a good body worker keeping an eye on her and then consider something like Straightness Training, or have a professional who is very good with ground work come and help you and assess her. I'm no great fan of any gadgets and have seen such amazing work done with none that it makes no sense to me to use them.
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I think getting a body worker to examine her is important, but regarding people lunging horses correctly without any aids, these are often very knowledgable people with novice horses or not so knowledgable with horses that know how to carry themselves. In other words not the average person who needs a bit of help.

Imo lunging aids are a much better option than letting a horse go about crooked with its back down and head in the air. Lunge lessons from something who really knows what they're doing should be helpful. Also carrot stretches are very good for suppleness.
 
Am I reading this correctly? She lunges straight but when you mount she goes wonky? If that is right the approach would, I think, be two fold. You need to check her saddle fits correctly and that she is not in pain. Get a physio to check her muscle development is such that she can carry your weight correctly (she is clearly in self carriage at liberty). But then also get someone to check you over. She could be responding to an unevenness in your body rather than something in hers. If you sit crooked she will carry you crooked.
 
mule said:
I think getting a body worker to examine her is important, but regarding people lunging horses correctly without any aids, these are often very knowledgable people with novice horses or not so knowledgable with horses that know how to carry themselves. In other words not the average person who needs a bit of help.

Imo lunging aids are a much better option than letting a horse go about crooked with its back down and head in the air. Lunge lessons from something who really knows what they're doing should be helpful. Also carrot stretches are very good for suppleness.
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I didn't suggest she just go ahead an lunge without gadgets. Gadgets almost always create tension and a false way of going, Pessoas, Equi-Amis, even side reins. Lunging has no value unless done correctly so no point a novice doing it at all. Plugging into a programme like ST or getting expert hands-on help is way better than any other approach.

I do agree it might be saddle (and slightly ashamed I didn't think of that immediately lol), so worth getting it checked by someone you really trust.
 
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