Lunging Lessons

[stablehand]

Hello,

As a Horse Riding instructor i thought i would ask all of the NR people for some help!! When i am doping lunge lessons... i often talk to the rider about positions, rising trot without stirrups etc..., but i was wondering what other exercises could i do with them on the lunge.. Either improving the position or using their seat more?? Any ideas would be a virtue!!

[lavondyss]

How about teaching them the sequence of the horses footfalls in walk and trot and then teaching them to feel which hindleg is on the ground

[Keket]

No reins! Gives a good indepedent seat, as I see far too many riders balancing off their hands. Get them walking, trotting, cantering etc with arms folded in front of them, behind them, straight out to the sides, straight above their heads, twisting back and forth... All great balance exercises.

[dilaika]

yeah...one of my instructors likes to do lunge lessons for more advanced riders, has you knot the reins and then do all sorts of crazy things with your arms (learn to move your body independently, balance, etc) - things like doing circles, reaching arms up like climbing a rope, my favorite (not!) is swinging your arms in opposite directions, particularly while doing a posting trot. Reach one hand (one at a time) to touch to opposite ankle during the sitting trot. Also things like reach one arm back to touch the tail, then one arm forward to ears, two-point with arms out, canter w/ arms like an airplane, etc.

Just be carefull, lol. I am almost went flying once... I was sitting the trot, reaching back with my hands touching Chester's hindquarters when a different instructor told her student to canter from right next to him, he's very voice-activated, and I was sitting the trot, so he shot off. =P

[summerguest]

depends what their problems are..

If they find sitting trot and moving to the canter difficult, working without stirrups and leg exercises to open hips is useful, then when they are sitting still while holding the saddle with outside hand, progress to dropping both hands behind thier thighs etc...then take stirrups back and see whether its improved their sitting trot.

If they find rising trot difficult...get unbalanced, loose rythem or legs swings, then keep stirrups and take away reins and getting them to find their own balance with hands on hips, out to side, on head etc....really helps them.

As someone elso suggested learning to 'feel' footfalls is good for the more advanced rider...tell them when the inside hind steps under ( if they close eyes sometimes they can feel better) then get them to guess what legs are moving when.


I had a lot of lunge lessons swinging arms, and shrugging shoulders, and sitting with arms folded behind my back. in sitting trot in attempt to loosen up my arthritic stiff shoulders.....but I was in agony for days!!!