Horsesetcthoughts: Lungeing the Horse and Pony

Lungeing a horse and Pony

Why? Benefits to the horse
• teaches aids and commands will be expected to do when in work (walk, trot, canter quietly)
• strenghtens and conditions the body (in a good way if doine correctly)
• supples the horse (horse must be bent to inside)
• introduces new material slowly

Benifits to the Rider
• can see horse moving
• exercises horse when you are not able
• gives introcudtion to work horse will be doing under saddle
• safer when horse is excited or young to have the edge taken off (but horse is not allowed to gallop and buck)

How to lunge a horse

Introduction
Lungeing horses on a 20 m circle (bigger or smaller) depending on the horse will condition the horse for riding. A stronger horse can carry the rider easier. (no inverting)
Sessions should last up to 30 minutes. Finish at the time rather than horse if finally going well.
Work both reins equally to ensure equal development of muscles
Have good footing (not hard, not slippery, not really deep)
With a good fence (to discourage jumping out)
Not to large so can control the horse easier when beginning (20m lunge ring works)
If do not have ideal set up you will have to go a bit slower but in the end horse will learn.

Equipment
Lunge line (cotton nice, nylon not nice)
gloves to protect hands
helmet (in case of kicking)
boots (so don't get stepped on)
lunge cavesson or bridle if schooled horse
lunge whip: long enough to reach the horse is ideal. Snapping the whip is not good as other horses will react.

Aids
Voice: tell the horse what you want: walk, trot, steady, whoa; praise: what you want, ignore: what you don't
Body: faces flank of the horse. step to rear for an upward transition, step to the front for a downward transition
Arms/hands: hold lunge line in left hand when going on left rein, whip in right hand when going on left rein
hold your arms with bent elbows
half halt with your arms by bringing your elbow back and then forward (need contact with the horse to do this)
raise the whip to drive horse forward: swing the whip to hindquarters (where heel would be riding if you have a good aim)

shake lunge line ttowards the horse to slow, down tranistion, whip to front of horse

Work
horse goes in a round circle with even tension (ideal)
neck is level (about) with withers at walk
strides slow, long and forward (in that order)
horse is bent to inside
hindlegs follow the front legs so circle must be large with inexperienced horse/stiff horse

Format
Start with a walk, when calm, trot, then canter, change the rein, walk one lap, trot one lap, canter, trot several minutes, walk 5 minutes
Sidereins on at trot and canter. Nose in front of vertical (just at halt). Inside shorter for a bend to inside

Neck stretcher
bungee cord from girth to bit (inside to outside), around poll, through bit to girth.
Nose should be in front of the vertical. or more if younger
Good for getting the neck down and back up, back relaxed
Can ride in a neck stretcher
Long enough the horse has a long top of neck

Lauffer reins
Can use draw reins if do not have Lauffer reins
from girth (elbow area) to bit (outside in) to saddle/surcinge about point of chest area
Good for getting neck down and back up, back relaxed
Long so horse has a long neck

Horse that counter flexes
Use a siderein on inside
watch bend of horse.
Whip at shoulder to bend out
half halt use whip as inside hindleg come forward
young horses tend to do this in the beginning

Horse should be expected to work off the forehand
Watch which leg starts/stops first: front (on forehand) hindleg (good)
half halts and transitions help

Horse can be half halted to correct balance: bring your elbow back and release

Ask for a square halt: by asking when hindlegs are coming forward

Alex trotting. (Please ignore saddle) Long, forward, loose strides

• Tail swing means back is relaxed

chewing the bit so a line of saliva shows is good. Looking like shaving foam is a sign of tension.

Crest flops to inside as the horse turns

• Short legged horses do not have a lot of overtrack especially with a long barrel

• Short backed horses can have a lot of overtrack (with long legs)

How to Lunge
1. Arm is relaxed and pointing to the horse's mouth. Just like in riding it also moves as the horse's head nods (hand goes forward as the outside front leg goes forward)
2. lunge line can have a bit of a droop as it shouldn't be tight. A flex of the finger should elicit as response
3. Lunge line in one hand, with large to small coils so it doesn't tangle
4.. attach lunge line to the centre of the lunge cavesson or bit on the inside
5. Metal clip may bother a sensitive horse so use a strap and buckle
6. have definite aids and thoughts: raise whip to go, swing to back up and insist goes.
7. no cracking of the whip. you are not trying to scare the horse but to encourage the horse
8. Point to the front of the nose to slow down, stop. Use the same words
9. point to the shoulder or swing the whip to the shoulder to move the horse out
10 anticipate the horse falling in and ask the horse to move out before the horse falls in. The horse will do it at the same spot
11. Half halt and do a transition. Give the horse warning.
12.

Jumping on Lunge
It is easier to teach a horse to jump well without a rider. If you can keep the lungeline loose and keep up with the horse jumping on the lunge works

Lunge Lessons
Help the rider develop skills needed for riding. builds confidence. The only way to learn to ride if cannot vault.
One needs a safe and reliable horse. If your horse is not safe enough to have a lesson on, why not?

Vaulting
Safest of the Equine sports because the vaulter learns to jump off at any sign of trouble. Someone else controls the horse. A great way to start a riding career.
Standing on the horse: vaulter must be loose, move with the horse, have balance

Starting the young horse or retraining

The easiest way to start a horse. (the only way) Horse learns skills needed to be riden. New material is introduced in baby steps. Confidence builder.

Ponies it is especially they are rideen by a competent rider, are kept in control, and have a good experience being ridden

Retraining a horse

Easier to control the horse. Easier to see what is going on. Most likley the horse has not been lunged before so no retraining needed. Pony below most likely was round penned (chased to go fast until quits). Goes around at trot as fast as she can.

No relaxation.

Tense movement.

Difficult to control as only has one speed: fast

No walk: just a fast trot

Neck too high so back is dropped (tense back)