What do you lunge in ?

currently he has a lunge roller with side reins attached to it. Bridle and lunge cavesson on. Side reins only go on if i feel he needs help with straightness, currently wanting him to find his own balance stratching and keeping things loose. **Touch wood** he's being good to lunge, obedient etc. Have used sidereins to encourage him to accept the the contact as well. Generally don't like using other things.
 
I have a whole multitude of kit in my box.
Side reins, running reins, equi ami, chambon, Pessoa.
I generally experiment a bit and use whatever is most appropriate for the horse.
On the whole, side reins and a bandage round the bum is my most frequently used.
 
Nothing, because those gadgets are the work of the devil and do nothing but teach the horse to lean on the bit and disengage it's hind end. The exception is side reins, which I will use if I'm lungeing something difficult that's liable to tank off and I'm lungeing them purely for exercise. All you need for balance is a big enough circle that the horse isn't struggling fighting the lunger and full of tension, to walk close enough to the horse that you can flick at its hocks with the end of the lunge whip if necessary to keep it stepping out and tracking up, and plenty of transitions to encourage the weight onto the hindquarters.
 
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Sugar_and_Spice said:
Nothing, because those gadgets are the work of the devil and do nothing but teach the horse to lean on the bit and disengage it's hind end. The exception is side reins, which I will use if I'm lungeing something difficult that's liable to tank off and I'm lungeing them purely for exercise. All you need for balance is a big enough circle that the horse isn't struggling fighting the lunger and full of tension, to walk close enough to the horse that you can flick at its hocks with the end of the lunge whip if necessary to keep it stepping out and tracking up, and plenty of transitions to encourage the weight onto the hindquarters.
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Generally a saddle and bridle. I like side reins to introduce the concept of a contact to a young horse or if the horse is in a nutty mood to stop them standing round but if just for exercise or to get rid of the fizz before I get on I spin them with just their tack. It's the whip I vary from horse to horse. The cob goes nuts if I use anything longer than a schooling whip. The mare doesn't move unless you've got a big lunge whip in your hand..
 
blitznbobs said:
Generally a saddle and bridle. I like side reins to introduce the concept of a contact to a young horse or if the horse is in a nutty mood to stop them standing round but if just for exercise or to get rid of the fizz before I get on I spin them with just their tack. It's the whip I vary from horse to horse. The cob goes nuts if I use anything longer than a schooling whip. The mare doesn't move unless you've got a big lunge whip in your hand..
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Saddle & bridle with coupling on the bit. Reins looped on stirrups to give contact.

I'm not sure on any gadgets, they seem contra productive.
 
Any gadget is counter productive if you don't know how to use it correctly. Folk used to say that any bit not a snaffle or a flash was a "gadget" designed to mask poor training or poor riding. And now look where we are - flashes are a fashion accessory and even modern snaffles are now harsh in the wrong hands. I'm afraid I do disagree with sugar and spice that every element of possible kit without exception would teach the horse to lean on the bit and disengage behind. Not least because many bits of kit don't attach to a bit in any event! That is a possible impact for some and is a risk is any are used badly. But absolutely is not the effect in such broad terms.

Like ihatework I have a whole plethora of possible kit - and none. What is important is to know what you are working toward, where the horse is in his development to that, what the kit you want to use will achieve and how to fit it correctly.

The only exception for me - I don't lunge in a saddle unless the only purpose is to get some fizz off. If you are actually trying to work the horse over the back then it doesn't help to conceal a large chunk of it.

My start point on a horse I don't know is normally just a lunge cavesson and boots or wraps. If I'm concerned abut control then a head slip with a loose ring french link snaffle and an underjaw check -but I'd aim to move back to the cavesson as soon as possible. That said I have a horse who always needs an overhead check, although only to the left. (He is partially sighted and we need a bit more on his blind side to reassure him we're still there! Then once you see what is there and what you need -take it from there.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
Nothing, because those gadgets are the work of the devil and do nothing but teach the horse to lean on the bit and disengage it's hind end. The exception is side reins, which I will use if I'm lungeing something difficult that's liable to tank off and I'm lungeing them purely for exercise. All you need for balance is a big enough circle that the horse isn't struggling fighting the lunger and full of tension, to walk close enough to the horse that you can flick at its hocks with the end of the lunge whip if necessary to keep it stepping out and tracking up, and plenty of transitions to encourage the weight onto the hindquarters.
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This ^^^ If you lunge properly you will find that all that is necessary is something like a cavesson, or even better, an american style rope halter. Get the engagement by transitions, encouraging stepping under (click as the foot comes off the ground), spirals and the front end will put itself nicely in "an outline", it's simple biomechanics and balance. I keep meaning to video mine, but it isn't easy to find a stable camera position when you are lunging!
 
Usually roller, bridle, side reins..

However he will lunge with nothing, nada. I discovered we could do this by accident when loose schooling one day. All about body positioning. Change the rein by stepping in front of him.

He will also then join up, I don't like that term, but need to use it to describe. Then follow me about, if I turn, he turns, if I jump the cross pole, he does too. For some reason works best in the dark with only school lights on. This must minimise outside distractions... he is a stallion. Oh and no tasty bits of grass within eating distance!


Edit to say... he wouldnt ever go in an outline unless there is some form of contact through side reins or alternative. But he will move properly, uses himself etc.
 
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A cavesson (although it has suddenly started rubbing her nose and I can't work out why. I need to get creative with sheepskin). I can attach a bit to this one, but currently its popped on over her bridle.

I used to be one of those 'gadgets are the work of the devil' people, until I had a horse that struggled to use her hindquarters properly (PSSM) and impulse bought an equiami. Fantastic piece of kit - its really helped strengthen her core muscles and the difference under saddle is obvious.
 
Very rarely lunge mine, we aren't allowed to lunge in the school and while we have a round pen area, it's (a) not round (b) not level (c) full of stones!

On the odd occasion that I do, I find a bridle, roller and 2 lunge lines works the best for my horses.
 
Depends on the purpose for which I am lunging. If it's simply a can't-be-bothered-riding sort of day and I'm purely doing it to exercise horse, I might lunge in nothing but a bridle and cavesson.

If it's for straightness or accepting contact, I will use a roller and side reins, but used relatively loosely. I like them to have a contact to seek and reach in to, not be pulled in to.

If I am planning on riding straight after and am lunging to get the yee-haa's out, I will lunge in full tack.
 
I use bridle, roller and side reins. I find this combination really gets him working from his hind legs and helps build the correct muscles, whilst giving me control.
I have tried just a head collar but he runs off and jumps out the school so a bridle is a must. However to me it is pointless lunging without a roller and side reins because he would just run around and not actually work.
 
I only use a bridle and lunge line - very rarely use a lunge whip and/or side reins. I usually do it just to see how my horse is moving and to sometimes to exercise. She uses herself very well on the lunge without gadgets etc
 
I lunge in a headcollar if it's sensible, a bridle if it's prone to knobbing off. If I want to work on straightness, contact, laterals or anything more complex, I work in hand in a bridle with reins or, sometimes, on long reins.
 
Headcollar and lunge line if it's purely for exercise and stretching as my boy does work very well.

Bridle with lunge line for general lunging as again he works off body positioning and can work correctly with stretching and transitions . Theres a very rare occasion I use a roller with side reins to encourage him to hold a steady contact but that was a while ago now when he didn't take the contact forward . Now straight after some stretching he can lift himself up and carry himself properly when asked .

My pet hate is people who put all the gear on - side reins , Pessoa whatever you want and then take the horse down to start .... let it stretch first!! Each to their own.
 
Nothing usually. Just send him round and increase/decrease speed when I want to. I'll use a lunge line and halter if I want to get him doing trotting/cantering in smaller circles to help build some muscle and understanding of where his feet go without a rider but otherwise I generally can't be bothered with other stuff. I have a pessoa thing but he doesn't like it and doesn't work well in it, he just tries fighting against it so it's pointless.

Free lunging him over jumps is funny I don't even have to encourage him he just goes over them happily by himself. Shame we can't do big jumps now as the indoor is too small, just a tiny one so he can have some fun.
 
Just a bridle now that he lunges beautifully.

When I first got him, he was prone to bombing off after a spook so I established some control either with side reins or using two lunge lines. Since he's "got it", we now use nothing but a bridle. His balance is much better than when I got him and transitions are also much less problematic for him.

I am a fan of lungeing for general exercise and for developing balance and rhythm. Others on the yard often free school but my horse finds the whole idea terrifying and just legs it into a corner, whereas the lunge line is his comfort blanket now.
 
It depends totally on the horse and what I want to achieve .
I use bungees sideriens the most Vienna riens sometimes as well .
I don't use pessoas I have an equiami and have used it a bit .
I sometimes use a tail bandage or theraband round the bum .
 
Mine each have a decent lunge cavesson (Portugese but without the metal nosepiece), I've never really needed to use the other gadgets but I will use sidereins if needed but mostly just from cavesson. Also do some inhand work and longreining.
 
milliepops said:
On the odd occasion that I do, I find a bridle, roller and 2 lunge lines works the best for my horses.
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This ^^

If I lunge its generally long-lining in a circle with a bridle and roller. I will sometimes lunge with a single rein if he's already tacked up (before riding, during riding to check something) and then might pop on side-reins. If I'm in a hurry (or he's very muddy!) it might be 2 lunge lines and a Dually halter. I have used a tail bandage around the bum in the past.

I'm not anti gadgets used correctly and have seen good results from a Pessoa on a very upside down TB-type horse, the one time I tried my boy in a Pessoa (many years ago) was a total disaster though he just got shorter and tighter and more on the forehand until he could barely trot.

I used to often use nothing at all (i.e. loose school in a circle) but I'm schooling in a field now and the grass is way too tempting for that to work!
 
Nothing. I generally only lunge for 5 mins if i think horse might be a bit fresh and chuck me off!! Don't really see the need to go round in circles more than is needed.
 
Not a fan of lunging or the gadgets that come with it.

During 3yo was lunged very lightly in a very loose bungee to stop him from hollowing and help him to use his body/develop the correct muscles.

However, some horses really do benefit from lunge work so each to their own.
 
I just lunge & do all my in-hand work in a cavesson.

I personally find that my own horse swings and works through his back much better without any additional gadgets. He is also much more inclined to stretch down.

Incidentally, I don't often lunge on one circle though (only if the school is busy) - we do lots of straight lines, travelling across the school & lots of polework on straight lines and angles & jumping.
 
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