Lungeing... confused!

[Holly B]

In the summer, I would like to start lungeing our two ponies (13.2hh and 14hh). The main reason for this is that, due to school commitments, exams blah blah blah, my sister and I can only ride 3 times a week in summer. Whilst exercise every day isn't vital as they live out 24/7/365, we would like them to have a little more exercise as they put on weight easily and we need to keep them slimmed down. Lungeing would be far easier as I could give them a decent amount of work without spending nearly as much time there, so it would be easier to fit around school etc. Also, I think it would be quite useful for getting them a bit more supple etc, and it would be good to get them used to the voice aids.
Anyway, basically I need some advice. Firstly, is once a week too much? It would probably only be a short session, say, 15 minutes per pony? I don't want to risk doing any damage!
My main confusion is about tack! Is it necessary to lunge with both a bridle and cavesson? And side reins? I would prefer to work with a cavesson only as it would be easier. Also, why do people always seem to lunge in a saddle or roller? Is this vital or are the only used so that side reins/draw reins etc etc can be attached/ to get a young horse used to the saddle? I think I'd prefer the minimum of equipment, so would lungeing cavesson, lunge line and whip be all right or do I need anything else? Please help! :)

PS. Both ponies are aged 13. They were probably lunged at some point in their past, probably when being broken in, but neither will have done it for many years! Oh, and I'm going to be taught how to do it by a friend of my sister's who was taught by her instructor and is pretty experienced at it.

[jumper_stars]

Hiya,

Well iv always lunged for 20 mins in a sand school which apparently equals a hrs schooling session. They say you should not lunge for more then 30 mins.

I alternate between using a roller and not.. When you use the roller you use the back end aswel. Though my horse does not track up some of the time so i find once on and once off is best. I lunge about 2 times a week when she is in full work though that is if i dont have the time personally i prefer riding them.

Using a caveson only is perfect.. I am willing to speak under correction but isnt using a bridle for when the horse is naughty or is hard to lunge. I dont know never used one.

Hope this has helped a bit, Best of luck
Tam xx

[Holly B]

Thanks jumper_stars! To me it seems a bit pointless to have a bridle on as well as a cavesson, unless you want to attach a training aid like draw reins to the bit. However, I have been researching lungeing in lots of books and in practically every picture, other than those of unbroken horses being lunged before they've been introduced to the bit, they seem to be wearing a bridle underneath... seems like a waste of time, though I think they were using some sort of aid, usually side reins, in most pictures. In what way does using a roller make the horse use its back end? :)

[horse__obsessed]

Its fine to lunge in a cavesson and nothing but. You can lunge in tack if you want, say if youre giving the pony a stretch before you get on, or if youre breaking it in. Once a week should be fine, its not too often. You shouldnt lunge in a bridle with no cavesson, but the bridle can go on underneath if you are lunging with tack on.

[Ehley]

Hey I dont believe, 15 minutes would do any damage to your ponys..I have an arab..and sometimes I lunge her for an hour depending on how she acts....I lung using my saddle because I f I do ride her after the saddle is already fitted to her and the tighting up is easier..also ...by using the saddle you can attach side reighns or rubbers or whatever...and I use the Bridel to lunge her also which seems very usefull..

[Slewgal]

Can you lunge in just a halter? I seem to rememebr my trainer doing that with her horses....but he could have just had his bridle on.

I know he just had his bridle when I had lessons on the lounge line.

[alfie1410]

Hi, sometimes I lunge using just a caveson, sometimes bridle, roller and sidereins, sometimes I long rein and sometimes just use a halter. I try not to lunge from the bridle to often in case she's naughty and I end up pulling on her mouth, for example, she had yesterday off, so I will probably lunge her in the cavesson tonight as I think she may be quite giddy, but tomorrow, I'll lunge with the bridle, roller and side reins so that she has something to work into. Lunging is a blessing in disguise when you work full time, particularly in the winter!

[LouHarvey]

If you're lungeing for the purpose of exercising and fittening your horse, you really need to use side-reins to ensure that the horse is working correctly from behind and going into a good contact, otherwise it is pointless to just let your horse run in circles!

To use side reins, you need to have a roller or saddle to attach them to at one end, and a bit to attach them to at the other. Therefore, your horse needs to wear a bridle to attach the side reins to, and a lunge cavesson, for you to attach the lunge line to. Otherwise the energy you are creating with the lunging whip (which is a substitute for your leg aids) will be useless and wasted, as it will not be contained by the side reins (substituting for your hands) and will merely be lost as the horse cannot move between leg (whip) and hand (side reins) if you are just lunging in a cavesson and nothing else.

Also, remember to boot your horse all round, as they are more likely to catch themselves on a circle.

[hackedoff]

I think if you've got a pony who self-carries well then a just a halter is fine, (especially as you say its really to keep the weight off) however if its going to go round like a wheelbarrow then some side reins might be needed.

[BNaturally]

Lunging your ponies is a good idea and you only need a halter and lead rope.
If you can, try and lunge them for 10 minutes and use the next 10 minutes for lateral, vertial flexions and help them to soften all over their bodies.
You can always cut your lungng time in half, once they have become good at this and use the other half for teaching new things- sidepassing, backing up straight and into circles in both directions etc...
The thing here is not to drill, drill, drill and drill and bored them.
You must make sure they have learn one thing before starting a new lesson.
When this happens then, take them thru what they already know and insert the thing new and always allow them to try the new thing 3 times and if the ponies seem to be confuse, then ask them to do what they already knows.
So use the old to keep their confidence up and keep them trying for you.

I hope this helps.

[Bay Mare]

Hey I dont believe, 15 minutes would do any damage to your ponys..I have an arab..and sometimes I lunge her for an hour depending on how she acts


You can do a LOT of damage through bad or inappropriate lunging. An hour is far too much to lunge a horse as it puts a lot of strain on the joints.

I lunge in a variety of ways:

With bridle, cavesson and saddle/roller - so that she can have the bit in her mouth (she's had bitting issues in the past) without my plebian hands attached to them. I use the saddle/roller as I do use side reins sometimes, I don't have them winched in, they're just there to provide a contact and to enable her to figure out where it's comfortable to put her head (ie not up in the air). It's worked wonders with her as it's allowed her to figure it out for herself.

Off the bridle with a saddle - if I'm riding afterwards

Just off the cavesson - for exercise

Off the headcollar - because she lunges nicely and I do this if I don't have much time and just want her to stretch her legs

It's not the BHS way of doing things but it works for madam! I lunged her with two lines the other day and she went really well. I'll try that again :)