by Lucy Collins

Created on: December 19, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

Lunging a horse can be an extremely beneficial exercise, as long as it is performed correctly. It is good exercise for the horse and it teaches it to respond to verbal commands. It also requires respect for the handler from the horse. It can be a very good way of teaching the horse to be more responsive when ridden. The horse can also enjoy lunging.

Before considering lunging, make sure that you have a suitable area. Never be tempted to lunge of wet grass. The horse will be more likely to slip and injure himself, especially when going round in circles. An ideal place is a menage or school, often with a sand floor. There are other suitable surfaces like rubber. Just use your common sense. Grass may be alright as long as it is flat and not slippery. It would be best for it not to be too hard either as it would encourage concussion. The area needs to be clear, free of lumps and bumps and to allow the horse to move in a 15 to 20 metre circle. Any smaller would be too small, making it more difficult for the horse, and risk placing strain on the joints.

The handler must be suitably dressed for lunging. A hard hat and gloves should always be worn. It does not matter how calm the horse is usually, many a horse enjoys a buck on the end of a lunge rein. I have known experienced horse handlers to be injured by a horse when lunging when it has become too exuberant. Gloves are important to protect against the reing being pulled through your hand. Never ever be tempted to wrap the lunge rein around your hand. The lunge rein or line should be held in your hand (the lead hand), the left if the horse is on the left rein. It should then be looped over itself several times, backwards and forewards. Never wrap it around the hand. The idea is for the rein to be safely pulled through the hand a bit at a time should the horse pull away or make a larger circle. The last thing you want to do is to pull against the horse. Do this before you start, make sure the rein isn`t tangled.

Before commencing, ensure that the horse has brushing boots on. The nature of moving on a circle, makes the horse more likely to strike itself. If intending to use a training aid, or side reins, don`t use them immediately, allow the horse to warm up first. If using a lunging cavesson, clip the lunge line to the centre ring. By doing this, there is no need to change the rein over when changing direction. Some people prefer to lunge straight from the bit which is fine but it is necessary to change it over when

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>