What damage does frequent lunging do?

[peanut]

I was asked this last night (by someone with a bad back) and didn't really have a better answer other than saying that it puts a strain on the joints.

I never normally lunge more than twice a week. How often would you say is too often? And exactly what real damage does it do?

 

[MotherOfChickens]

bad lunging? strain on the joints and then possibly the back. good lunging for short periods of time? ask the SRS-all of their horses are lunged daily as youngsters, they don't have a rider canter them until they can perform a balanced canter, riderless on the lunge and those horses work for years. Of course, not many people lunge correctly let alone well.

 

[abbieandfiona]

think it depends on the breed im not going to lunge my youngster til she is at least 4 will long rein her on roads etc but i have one with leg issues already and dont want another! It puts pressure on joints and if they have arthritis it adds more pressure.

 

[peanut]

bad lunging? strain on the joints and then possibly the back. good lunging for short periods of time? ask the SRS-all of their horses are lunged daily as youngsters, they don't have a rider canter them until they can perform a balanced canter, riderless on the lunge and those horses work for years. Of course, not many people lunge correctly let alone well.

Very interesting regarding the SRS.

I don't know how well the person who asked me lunges

 

[NicoleS_007]

Mine has a chipped bone so i will only lunge if theres nowhere to ride or after physio so i would probably lunge about once every couple of months lol ... I was told by an instructor at our yard that ur not suppose to canter on the lunge! but i like to do lots of canter trot transitions to get him engaged

 

[Quartz]

I lunge mine once a week. Including small jumps and pole work.

 

[Ali_H]

My lad had arthritis developing in his hocks so i lunged very rarely...... and its not something i am hugely competent at anyway, i know the basics but it isnt something i know alot about!

 

[Natch]

Somebody I know used to lunge horses for rehab after injury - very successfully.

ETA: as a living, and as a regular, indeed the only exercise for these horses.