What ‘aids’ do you use when lunging and why?

SavingGrace

SavingGrace

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I am a bit of a lunging virgin when it comes to using items other than the standard cavesson, side reins, roller and lunge line! What do you all use when lunging?
 
I usually use a pessoa, and on the odd occasion just a bridle and lunge rein so that I can see how he is moving. I found getting my horse to work from behind in side reins really hard work, hence buying the pessoa which does it for me!!
 
I've just started using a bungee, which is a little bit like the front part of a passoa but made of one big bit of elastic. Only used it a couple of times but pony seems to be responding well (touch wood!). :)
 
I lunge off the bridle and lungeline. No whip, just my voice, if necessary the end of the line to move the horse away from me. All I've ever really needed with mine and others. I lunge in side reins for schooling but prefer to use saddle to a roller as I am normally lunging to bring on and I won't be riding in a roller!

Would not subject Beau to this as she dislikes it but behaves well, so headcollar only for her, only lunge her if I am too ill to ride.
 
My little guy lunges just off a headcollar - he's easy to lunge. I only use a whip if I'm popping him over some 'scary' jumps (fillers etc) to give him some encouragement.
 
I lunge with a bridle and lungie bungie- which both of mine go nicely in. Zigs is active from behind so no need for pessoa.
 
At the moment just a headcollar or bridle, lunge line and whip. I've used a pessoa a lot in the past with my TB (long and low setting only) - he doesn't seem to need it now. He trots around beautifully without it with his nose practically on the floor - beautifully stretched out.
 
Walrus said:
I've just started using a bungee, which is a little bit like the front part of a passoa but made of one big bit of elastic. Only used it a couple of times but pony seems to be responding well (touch wood!). :)
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Agreed! I started using a bungee on my mare last year both on the lunge and when flat schooling last year, she didn't like side reins at all and would evade contact with them which defeated the object somewhat! I think a bungee has more 'give' then side reins and also helps to give some added poll pressure which is always a bonus when your horse thinks it's a giraffe!
 
nikCscott said:
I lunge with a bridle and lungie bungie- which both of mine go nicely in. Zigs is active from behind so no need for pessoa.
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Should add that I lunge for 1st 10 minutes without the bungie on to stretch out and warm up, and then gradually up settings (as per horse) and then down again and back to stretch.
 
Erm, horse, lunge pen and voice! I have a lunge whip by me on the floor that I can pick up to back by voice up if needed. Mare learns to carry and balance herself and react to my voice and body position, she is the sort that will have a grump against something if she doesn't like it so the less going on the better.
We had an interesting start though as she went around like a horribly hollow giraffe - tried a few bits of tack but even on the setting that did basically nothing she had a grump against it! With nothing on she is concentrating on me and working. She is fine in tack when ridden, she just seems rather a sensitive sort and just didn't get on with a pessoa/side reins/lunge line (she just leant on it!).
 
Lunge cavesson and draw rein set up. Save time as dont have to bother with bridle or any other tack. Boots on all legs and have a lunge whip but not really required but would rather have to hand than not just in case. Easy and quick to put on if pushed for time and works really well.
 
head collar & lunge line
but in fairness - my mare is elederly & i only tend to lunge for a few mins in walk & trot to ensure she is keeping mobile - we are not working on any schooling as such - hence lack of additional devices
 
The Kavalcade HO/ horse heros lunge rope? (we made our own homemade version from a pair of draw reins), you can see it on horse heros, it works really well and was recommended by our physio. It looks too simple to be effective but it really works and there is nothing for them to lean on.
Double line lunging is great too as you have more control of the outside shoulder.
 
Depends what I'm trying to achieve :)

If purely lunging to get rid of excess energy, then just saddle & bridle, lunge line and whip :)

If working or warming a horse up, side reins/chambon lunge line, saddle and cavesson.

If long lining, 2 lunge reins, saddle, bridle :)
 
Have used an EquiAmi which is like a pessoa and my last mare went well in that but my current boy is very inconsistant in it. Lungie bungie which is elasticated side reins. But the best of all is the Kavalkade HO Lungeing Aid. Really gets my boy lowering his head and neck and stretching over his frame. Some people use draw reins in the same technique.
 
Bridle and lunge line. I don't like anything which applies poll pressure or side reins which put them into an artificial outline. I don't like Pessoas as the only horses which I've seen wearing them seem to be socked in the mouth when they move the hind legs. The only thing I have tried before is a Harbridge which seemed ok, but it's not something which made me think "wow".
 
Walrus said:
I've just started using a bungee, which is a little bit like the front part of a passoa but made of one big bit of elastic. Only used it a couple of times but pony seems to be responding well (touch wood!). :)
Click to expand...

Please have a look under ponys front armpits . As mine had rub mark under one of hers when the bungee slipped. Just a heads up.
 
Depending on the horse
I dont like to use side reins as i feel there is not enough elastic in them (mostly) and so it can encourage them to lean on the fixed contact
I use a pessoa to encourage them to work from behind and long and low streching over their back
And a bungee to see how they are going behind when not in the pessoa and as its just elastic i feel it gives more of a true contact
 
I normally lunge my guy in a bridle with a roller, sometimes side reins and occassionally a straight bar with keys to encourge a bit more softening
 
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