Lungeing

[theresamac]

I am interested in lungeing my horse and saw two different schooling aids for sale.
The first is called Equilonge, and the second it the Pessoa Training System.
Does anyone have any experience of either of these?
Any comments greatly appreciated before I spend my hard earned cash!!

[cvb]

it really depends what you want to get out of your lunging.

You could lunge with just a line and lunge cavesson or halter. Or you can start to add equipment to try and encourage the horse to use its body properly.

"Standard" lunge equipment is side reins. These are a fixed rein either side from bit to a point on the roller or saddle. You can get them with varying degrees of elastic added.

Then you get some simple variations on this which allow the reins to lengthen and shorten either side. You can use a running rein - from between the front legs, through the bit rings, and to the side or top of the roller/saddle. This allows the horse more vertical movement.

Then there are things like chambons and le gogues. Or elastic bungy things which are very simple and do something similar. These tools tend to encourage the horse to work long and low. OK for some horses but could put others dangerously on the forehand.

From there it gets more complex and you get into balancing aids.

Personally, the more complex the aid is, the better trainer and lunger you need to be.

If you are not used to lunging much, you should keep it simple.

Also I am not too keen on tying my horse down into a particular position. You can cause all sorts of resistance and bad muscle development, completely opposite to what you wanted !

The more complex lunging aids are also more expensive. I went through a chambon phase with my pony at one stage - part of his re-education and it did the trick. Bought a nice leather one to replace my home made affair - and have hardly used it since. Once he had worked out he did not need to go round like a giraffe, he did not need it anymore. It was always loose so I just took it off.

(p.s. you should always warm up your horse on both reins with no devices in place.)

[theresamac]

Thanks for the reply cvb.

I wanted something different for my horse to do.
I want to stop him from working on the forehand so much, and start using his hindlegs under him.

You have given some good advice, and I'll keep it simple because I am definitely not experienced in lungeing!!

[cvb]

I would suggest you start with conventional kit, and do things like transitions on the lunge to help. Both between paces and within (i.e. extend the trot and then back down). This should help.

As you get used to seeing your horse, you can work out what to do next. And you will have more practise lunging then as well.

I quite often do a little lateral work on a short rein as well - useful to have a wall around when you start this. This also helps with engagement.

and working over poles can help as well. You can start with them flat then elevate opposite ends of alternate poles and so on.

Lots of fun with basic kit !

I like lunging because it gives me a chance to see how the horse is moving.