Youngsters lunging before riding??

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FAB1

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Hi all,

just a quick pondering really, how many of you lunge before you ride your youngsters ( not specific to youngsters if you have an older horse!) and why do you do this - is it habit/ because you've always done it and worry what they may be like if you stopped or is it to just take the edge off?

I have a young horse and I don't lunge him before I ride. I have had some criticism for this but as I broke him myself and do not feel it necessary to do so - I don't. He is not particularly sharp although as he grows stronger he is obviously getting more responsive as he is learning what to do etc. and I wondered would it benefit him to have this ? or am I right in thinking I know him and therefore its up to me? Also he is a big lad at nearly 17hh and I don't feel that circles on young legs is really a good thing? he is schooled in a large arena or paddock on very large circles and is hacked to build his strength and give his brain different things to look at. Just interested in peoples opinions on this and if I am the only one who doesn't lunge before riding and im missing something! thanks All
 
I have only ever lunged very fresh/feisty things before riding... just to take the edge off. Very rarely had to do it at all really, don't see the point if you don't have to. I know some people do it to 'warm up', esp with cold-backed/sensitive horses.
As you mentioned, I don't like lunging youngsters really... certainly not on a very regular basis.
 
Thanks Anna yes I can appreciate people doing it if their horse was cold backed etc, but im the same school of thought as you - i wouldn't want to do un necessarily and not on a regular basis thank you for reply.
 
I did when I first started backing mine and will do now if it's blowing a gale and he comes in on his toes. I only ever do 5/10 mins to get him to the point he will walk/trot when I ask. he normally does about 3 circles in power trot with the odd hump back then he's fine so we stop.
 
I occasionally lunged the dressage horse I had on loan - purely because it was better for my life :eek: :p

However I wouldn't do it just "because" :)
 
Have only ever lunged a young one for the first few rides once riding away I never lunge them before, 1 it takes more time, 2 I like a challenge haha.

Tbh though I have just never felt the need I have has plenty of young sharp ones but none that I considered dangerous which is very different!
 
I am currently lunging my newly broken 5 yr old for 5-10 mins before I get on. A) he was broken away from home and only been back a week. B) I don't have a school so I have to get on him on the yard and go straight downhill down the drive. C) I'm on my own with no help, so at the moment I'd rather take the edge off him 1st. D) it's blowing a gale every day, again I'd rather take the edge off before getting on.
 
I lunge first when very newly backed, i.e first week or 2 of being ridden, very very fresh, or horses I don't know, for example youngsters coming back into work after a break, or a youngster/quirky horse that I have never ridden or seen ridden. :)
 
I never do once past the initial stages, dont really see the point in tiring them out when I'd rather spend the time educating them from on board
 
I lunge to work muscles that need to grow without me bouncing up and down on them, the horse I do it with has some seriously wasted back muscles from a previous bad saddle and rider combo. I also lunge if I need to teach the horses something that they can learn better by themselves (like rythmn/cadence). I rarely waste lunge time by "taking the edge off"; if they're stupid fresh I usually let them have a play in the field. Much under utilised tool, is lunging (in contrast to tying a rope to their heads and chasing them around, as is often seen).
 
Only in the first month when I got him, he was 4, I didn't lunge to tire but to assess his mood. Some days he was placid others wild. Haven't done it since apart from when he was struggling with canter leads with a rider.
 
Some days I do, some I don't. I always do some kind of ground/in hand exercises for a few mins before i ride just so I can have a quick look at any possible stiff or tender areas (boys play rough in the field)
 
Not at home anymore as I usually ride after he's been out for 8hrs. He had winter off but if he'd been in work and was in a lot I might have just to see how much energy he had. I will lunge before I ride if I take him somewhere for the first time as he's often really distracted and lunging for 5 mins gets his attention back on me. I usually only have to do it the first time at a new place though. Maybe if we are somewhere really busy. But as I have gotten to know him better, I feel the need to lunge before I get on much less :)
 
I would only do it if absolutely necessary. If I have the choice and in the right situation, I prefer to walk in hand for anything up to 15 mins instead. I worry about them injuring themselves if they go charging off on a circle, after all I wouldn't go for a sprint before warming up first. I am fairly paranoid though! Sometimes it is unavoidable for life preserving reasons, I'd rather neither of us got injured but given the choice between me and the horse, I'd rather it wasn't me!
 
if I think they have tickles in their feet and need a buck then I'd rather loose school than lunge (for the reasons stated above about circles and young legs).

However, if I just want to do a "pre-flight check" as to what mood my young horse is in, I might do a tiny bit on the lunge before I jump on.
 
I used to lunge or round pen mine when he was rising 4, especially if it was very cold or he had had a couple of days off as he could be a bit sharp and over react to noises or sudden movements.
I also still take a lunge line with me when I go to shows or hire new arenas just in case, but I often find just leading him round the arena once on each rein to have a look at the sights is enough.
But I was very lucky that my trainer taught me a good routine to settle him if he is fresh or worried - trotting easy circles in a 'safe' place ie away from the walls or any spooky places until he takes a big breath and relaxes!
 
I did for the first few times I sat on him, and repeated that this year when climbing back on board as a 4yo. Don't bother now he's had a few ridden sessions and has proved himself capable of keeping all hooves on the ground!
 
Cortez said:
I lunge to work muscles that need to grow without me bouncing up and down on them, the horse I do it with has some seriously wasted back muscles from a previous bad saddle and rider combo. I also lunge if I need to teach the horses something that they can learn better by themselves (like rythmn/cadence). I rarely waste lunge time by "taking the edge off"; if they're stupid fresh I usually let them have a play in the field. Much under utilised tool, is lunging (in contrast to tying a rope to their heads and chasing them around, as is often seen).
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Nice idea, but ours live out! Bee gets lunged to take the edge off when she's had days off or is being a bit fresh to handle/ has been fresh. It gives her the chance to vent her frustrations before Al risks life and limb clambering aboard :D
 
I don't, and I don't lunge youngsters as a general rule. However mine are level headed natives who aren't prone to hissy fits (that said, next time I get on D he will, no doubt now!) and I can't guarentee I wouldn't lunge one if it were a daft sort who would make me fear for my life otherwise!

I'd prefer to loose school, but not easy in a field! I long rein rather than lunge for education while young, but that wouldn't work for taking the edge off either!
 
I lunge as a training tool on a reasonably regular basis, but I would then have lunging as the exercise of the day rather than as a warmup. I find lunging very useful as a training tool and a chance to see how your horse is moving etc when 90% of the time you're on him!

At comps I will lunge in walk/trot just to let him settle, as he can be quite excitable. But I don't consider that proper lunging.
 
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