Lunging advice, please!

[*Sez*]

I sent my step-mum out this afternoon with a list of equipment to get for lunging/long reining Jake, who is not used to either.

I certainly don't claim to be an expert - I learnt how to lunge at 15 with another girl at the stables, rather than an instructor, and have not had an excuse to lunge for about three years, so please bear with me.

My list included:-
Lunge Cavesson
Training Roller
Side Reins
Lunge Rein
Lunge whip
Long reins (I don't know if there's a technically correct term)
brushing boots & over reach boots.

She has come away with a lunge rein and a whip, and has been told to connect this to his normal head collar. Apparently, the woman in the shop said the cavesson would just scare him (he's used to being driven, so is used to strange things), and everything else was just "unneccessary". I'm somewhat appalled, partly because I was always taught that if you plan to do something you should do it correctly, and secondly that we've been having difficulties with Jake (see my post on him bucking) and I feel I would have more control if he were in a cavesson with the rein above his nose (as I was taught) rather than attached to the side of his headcollar (which I was always told to never ever do with a lead rein, so is a lunge rein any different?).

If this is perfectly safe, and actually a correct way to lunge a novice horse, please let me know before I give my stepmum a dressing down for not listening to me :D

[Esther.D]

I lunge off a headcollar I just attach it to the normal ring under his chin and find that works perfectly well, however Rupert is really good to lunge so it is not really an issue. I don't lunge in boots but again, he is not a youngster. I can't see how a cavasson would scare him, especially as a driving horse used to blinkers etc! Surely it is up to you what you buy, not up to the tack shop owner :eek: If your stepmum is not horsey then I would be gentle with her ;) it sounds like the fault lies more with the shop owner..

[cvb]

OK - to lunge you need

Something to connect you to horse :D

Your list had: Lunge Rein, Long reins (I don't know if there's a technically correct term)

A lot of people just use a pair of lunge reins to long rein. So this is often 2xlunge rein. But I'd start with one rein til you get used to it ;)
I have a separate set of reins to long rein which I got from Sweden, but they are quite long and other people have rightly raised the risk of horse spooking and getting tangled up (as they are one piece) and instructor recently commented how long they were - I guess they are more for "ground driving" from a distance !

something to attach line to horse

Your list had: Lunge Cavesson

You can lunge off the bridle but it is "stronger" and can confuse the horse as they have contact both from side reins and lunge rein.
A normal headcollar is normally too loose and would slide. Plus you would be lunging off chin not top of nose (as with cavesson).

I actually use a rope halter for my groundwork but my horse is happy with the chin pressure and I would not advise it for someone new to lunging.

Then you have on your list:
Training Roller
Side Reins

You can attach the side reins to the saddle. And you can long rein through the stirrups. But it is useful to have a roller for when you don't want to use the saddle.

Lunge whip: yep - need one of these to help keep the triangle (line, horse, whip)

brushing boots & over reach boots: to protect and support the horse. Especially with a baby/novice who will be less balanced.

[cvb]

p.s. would definately NOT attach to the side pf the headcollar as it may twist the head rather than ask head and neck to curve around the circle .... either chin or nose...

p.s. you can get a "converter" that puts cavesson rings onto a normal noseband (maybe thats the next thing I should dig out and eBay - I never use it !).

[*Sez*]

Thanks for your replies.

You can attach the side reins to the saddle. And you can long rein through the stirrups. But it is useful to have a roller for when you don't want to use the saddle.

She didn't get any side reins (apparently they're unnecessary), and the reason we're wanting to lunge is that we think his saddle is painful and it will be two weeks before the saddler can come out :mad: , so we couldn't use that in place of a roller.

Not quite sure how to put it to my mum - as Jake is half theirs they will be offended if I go out and buy everything else (my intention had been to get a Robinson's complete set), and they tend to listen more to others opinions than to mine (I think it's a parental thing - they don't like it if a child knows more about a particular subject :rolleyes: ) so will be adamant that all I need to lunge him (because they wouldn't know where to start) is a rein and a whip.

[cvb]

Sez

OK - you can lunge for more than one reason

1) for exercise.
2) for training/education

For (1) you are less concerned about outline etc. and more concerned with them moving ;)

for (2) you are most definately concerned about HOW they lunge as well as time, speed etc

It is for 2 that you are more concerned about things like side reins. Side reins are there to ask the horse to work into a contact. You can also use things like a chambon or the elastic equivalent (bungee rein). These ask for a novice outline but you need to know what you are aiming for to make sure they don't just slop along on the forehand :(

Then there are more complex gadgets which I would say are for remedial use only and in experienced hands only - pessoa etc.

Side reins are not essential, but are useful. Of course if you don't use side reins you don't need a roller ....

What you might want to do is start with the very basics (and yes, I would see about a cavesson !). But as a compromise hold off on roller and side reins and see how he goes... Then depending on how he lunges and what the saddler says, you can build a case for the roller and side reins ;)