Top Five Mistakes Made Lunging A Horse horse forelocks

this is really ganna help kuz when i go to shows i c aot of horses getting hurt just during lunging

Good aritcle! I agree with all of these,I see so many people not lunging their horses safely it makes me mad.

good points! also, it drives me crazy when people step in front of their horses shoulder when lunging and then get mad when their horse slows down. if your horse is trained correctly, it should stop or slow down when you step in front of its shoulder. many people think lunging is just a thoughtless way to exercise your horse, but it really can be an effective way to train if you use correct body positioning!

Oh my, this one gets me all the time. People lunging without gloves, with the loops of the lunge line dangling round their legs, or lunging in a field with loose horses. Trust me, if your horse spooks, you’ll be glad for the gloves. I have plenty of scars on my hands form learning that lesson the hard way! Keep your ‘left over’ lunge line in neat loops. If you get muddled up, then stop your horse and sort yourself and your line out. Don’t use a line that is miles longer than you need. Never ever put your wrist through the loop at the end if you have one. Don’t lunge around trash, junk, or loose horses. And personally, I never lunge without wearing my riding helmet. Once again, you only need a spooked horse to come charging across you to learn that one too! And by the way, unless you really know what you are doing – and be honest with yourself – don’t lunge with two lines!

In some cases, people use lunging to cool down a hot horse. In my mind, if you’re horse is so excitable you need to lunge it before you can safely ride, then you need a different horse, but that’s just my opinion. An excited horse tearing around a lunging circle is begging for an injury, so if you can’t control your horse on the lunge, then get yourself a horse more suited to your abilities. To prevent muscle strain and leg injuries, you need to start your horse out on the lunge at a walk and a quiet trot or jog before you move into more balanced work or ster paces. Warm up both ways too, then go back and start your lunge lesson!

Lunging a horse is a great way to build fitness for your horse, and when used correctly, it can improve your horse’s movement, balance, and flexibility. If you don’t have much time, you want to see how your horse is moving, or there is a particular aspect of your horse’s performance you want to work on, then lunging is a great option. Most horses can enjoy a lunging session too – they often appreciate the variety and the opportunity to work without the weight of a rider on board.

this is great! i lunge horses occasionally and i only used a couple of those and didnt know about the others.

Awesome article. I see these way too much....and it bothers me so much. A million gadgets on your horse, allowing them to step on themselves, junk lying around, lunge line wrapped around the hands, head tucked way in.... Shudder I could go on and on. Thank you for covering all of this. Hopefully people will take this in to mind and use it to help both them and their horses out in the long run.

this is really ganna help kuz when i go to shows i c aot of horses getting hurt just during lunging

Great article! I posted this article on Facebook because some of my barn friends need to hear this!!

Good aritcle! I agree with all of these,I see so many people not lunging their horses safely it makes me mad.

good points! also, it drives me crazy when people step in front of their horses shoulder when lunging and then get mad when their horse slows down. if your horse is trained correctly, it should stop or slow down when you step in front of its shoulder. many people think lunging is just a thoughtless way to exercise your horse, but it really can be an effective way to train if you use correct body positioning!

Constant work in a circle means your horse has to continually think about where to put his feet. Unless you are working a very experienced horse at a steady pace, boots or wraps are a wise addition. On the lunge, especially if your horse is excitable or tends to hang from time to time, it is very easy for your horse to take a wrong step or stumble. Instead of taking a risk with your horse’s legs, why not prevent an injury with some brushing boots or wraps? If you are lunging with your saddle, secure your stirrups or take them off so they don’t bang your horse’s sides or elbows. Choose a place to lunge that has a good suce; not slippery, muddy, or too hard. Lunging is hard work for your horse, you want to make it as safe and comfortable as possible.

i think this needed to be said. i have seen a man clip the lungerope onto the bit then over the horses ears under its chin and back onto the bit. some people have no concern for how badly it could hurt the horse or develop bad habbits

Nice post. I know a lot of people can make mistakes lunging, myself included, and this is an awesome reminder.

Even if you are just lunging to give your horse a little exercise when you don’t have time to ride, make the most of your session and instill good lunging habits by being effective. That means, once your horse has warmed up, be sure he is always moving forward actively, with energy, and using his hindquarters. Don’t let your horse laze on the end of the lunge line. Your horse should be paying attention to you at all times, focused on you and your next command. You want to keep a gentle but consistent contact with the lunge line at all times – so be ir on your horse and even if you are a ‘walker’ make sure you offer your horse a perfect circle! Your horse should respond quickly to your voice; use your voice commands when you ride to help your horse learn if he has trouble understanding what you want. Have a plan for your session. Pick one or two things you want to work on, and don’t let your session go on too long. Trying to warm up, work on transitions, then flexion, then go on to jump on the lunge is too much. About 30 to 40 minutes is quite enough for any lunging session if you use it effectively; 15 or 20 minutes if you plan to ride afterwards. You may not be on board, but the same principles apply. Be clear, be patient, but be firm, and work your horse properly!

There are all sorts of things available that you can use when lunging to help develop your horse’s balance. None of these are supposed to be used to ‘force’ your horse into an outline. Strapping up side reins too short will tuck your horse’s head down, but will cause it to hollow and not round its back, resist going forward, and may even teach it how to ‘drop’ the bit or go behind the bit. Side reins are great if used correctly; once your horse is dropping its head, stretching its topline and moving forward freely, the side reins will give your horse a point of contact to work into. That’s all they should be. If your horse is carrying himself correctly, there should be no tension in the side reins – that’s the whole point! It’s just like when you ‘give’ with your hands when your horse goes on the bit – there has to be a reward. Anything else is exhausting and pointless for your horse and will teach resistance and bad habits. Personally, apart from side reins and occasionally a chambon, I’m not a great n of gadgets like Pessoas, or ncy ways to hook up side reins. And of course, never lunge your horse over jumps with side reins or other restrictive gadgets! In my experience,Horse hair fabric-No.36-Herdsma, keeping it is better for you and your horse (and your wallet), and translates better to riding.

i think this needed to be said. i have seen a man clip the lungerope onto the bit then over the horses ears under its chin and back onto the bit. some people have no concern for how badly it could hurt the horse or develop bad habbits

However, all too often lunging is used as a ‘shortcut’ to training or exercise, and when this happens it can lead to bad habits, poor behavior, or even accidents and injuries to horse or rider. Here are a few of my personal pet peeves that I see all too often with lunging!

Awesome article. I see these way too much....and it bothers me so much. A million gadgets on your horse, allowing them to step on themselves, junk lying around, lunge line wrapped around the hands, head tucked way in.... Shudder I could go on and on. Thank you for covering all of this. Hopefully people will take this in to mind and use it to help both them and their horses out in the long run.

Great article! I posted this article on Facebook because some of my barn friends need to hear this!!

Nice post. I know a lot of people can make mistakes lunging, myself included, and this is an awesome reminder.

this is great! i lunge horses occasionally and i only used a couple of those and didnt know about the others.