when did you start lunging your youngster?

kerrieberry2

kerrieberry2

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I got my boy 3 months ago and when the vet came out she asked when I was going to back him etc, but made a point of saying not to start lunging him until he was older as it would be no good for his joints etc.

today he was a right a*se for the farrier and he asked me whether I'd started lunging him yet.

So just wondering when people have started their horses. He was only 2 last week, so don't want to start doing anything too soon, and obviously don't want to get him too fit for when I do eventually back him!
 
I walk youngsters out in-hand.

The grey did a bit of lunging at 3 1/2 just to get her used to it and to the idea of wearing a saddle. I only did 15mins once a week for a couple of months - I'm a reluctant lunger though. ;)

I also have a two year old and I have no plans for lunging him until he's at least a year older.
 
Same. I did a bit with mine a few months ago when he turned 3 and lightly backed him. Won't fo anything else until the back end/early next year now.

He hadn't had much done with him before that and was absolutely fine. IMO you don't need to mess about with babies like that, just the odd bit of leading in hand etc will be enough :)
 
oh thats cool then! didn't want to be leaving him too long if it was normal to start them younger! I wasn't planning on doing anything like lunging until he was at least 3! I have been taking him out in hand and he's been enjoying that but I'm stuck at the moment as my friend has left the yard, so its just my two. so need to find something else ASAP to go out with them so they don't get too upset being left in the field!

its only been a week and im already hating it!
 
Faracat said:
Can't you rope someone into leading your mare out so that you can walk them both together?

;)
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yes, I think I have just managed to get my friend involved, she used to ride my old mare when I had her and she's missing being around horses, so said she will come up and help me! so hopefully I can get them both doing something again soon :)
 
I was always told, as the growth plates in a young horses' body on the whole don't close until after the age of three, that it was potentially hazardous to a youngster's physical development to lunge before then. Personally I led in hand, and long-reined, until Holly was backed aged 3.5, and introduced lunging when she was 4.5. I love long-reining, and think it's the perfect start to a young horses' education :)
 
I was always told, as the growth plates in a young horses' body on the whole don't close until after the age of three,
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5 1/2 yrs old unless the horse is really big (might then take until he/she is 6). The last growth plates to fuse are in the spine.
 
I might do a few loose circles on the lunge with a 3yr old if I thought it was necessary in order to back it, same at 4 really, more to establish the idea though than work them. Usually end of summer after they're 4 for anything much though. Apart from establishing very basic controls I prefer to hack 4 yr olds & school on hacks for more refinement. Will longline at 3&1/2 & do the odd circle. Before that I walk in hand, lead from another horse on hacks & if its a sane type will longline on hacks. But generally short & fun a few times a week, not work as such. Think its physically too much strain to lunge a youngster properly.
 
I wouldn't lunge at two tbh - id have him out 24/7 and do lots of fun groundwork - learning how to lead, back up etc lots of desensitising and potentially look to do a bit of long reining. My youngster has been lightly backed and is lunged but for short periods - the lunging is great for learning voice commands that can then be used for the ridden work. I tend to do very short lunge sessions two or three times a week on two lines so I can long rein inbetween and walk him over poles and around obstacles - I then hop on and do a short hack up the lane - so all in all he does about twenty minutes two or three times a week with max 5 mins lunge on a big circle - no cantering though yet. Hes three and didn't start lunging til he was three.
 
Elfen said:
I wouldn't lunge at two tbh - id have him out 24/7 and do lots of fun groundwork - learning how to lead, back up etc lots of desensitising and potentially look to do a bit of long reining. My youngster has been lightly backed and is lunged but for short periods - the lunging is great for learning voice commands that can then be used for the ridden work. I tend to do very short lunge sessions two or three times a week on two lines so I can long rein inbetween and walk him over poles and around obstacles - I then hop on and do a short hack up the lane - so all in all he does about twenty minutes two or three times a week with max 5 mins lunge on a big circle - no cantering though yet. Hes three and didn't start lunging til he was three.
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thats cool, thanks for your advice, at least I know we are on the right path now then :)
I have been doing a lot of backing up with him and leading in hand and he's been very good until today but that was my fault for leading him and my mare together!

He's pretty good with the desensitising too, not really scared of anything, except fly spray! he seems to want to eat most things. He's even been a brave boy and had a saddle on recently. just got him his own saddle yesterday, so now he can get used to having that on every so often too!

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My boy is 2 and TBH i wouldn't even contemplate on lunging him - he is far to immature IMO. My cob is 4 this year and i may start a bit of lounging with her this summer.
 
I am lunging my very-nearly-3 year old twice a week for about 15mins a time. This is so she has learnt voice commands.

I am buying her a saddle on Friday and then we will no longer need to lunge as we will be backed and riding! :D
 
Cedars said:
I am lunging my very-nearly-3 year old twice a week for about 15mins a time. This is so she has learnt voice commands.

I am buying her a saddle on Friday and then we will no longer need to lunge as we will be backed and riding! :D
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oh how exciting, good luck with the backing! I hope it goes well! make sure you get lots of pics for us all to see!
 
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