Lunging, can anyone give me advice???

[Lacey]

Hi, im getting a new horse in a few weeks time, and since its still young and very green id like to beable to lunge a bit before riding (dont enjoy bucking too much lol)

Can anyone give me any tips as my lunging technics arent all that :(

I can lunge, but never really have enough control, I dont like lunging with a bit, what else can I do??? :confused: :confused:

[Manda]

I had a green 6 year old who needed lunging, and I hated it, because walking in circles made me dizzy.

What I would recommend is that you stand so that we is trotting/cantering, you are directly across from his hindquarters, if he sees you "behind" him, it'll keep him moving, because he think's you're going to chase him.

I never lunged with a bit, I just hooked a lunge line up to the halter. Or if it's in a round pen, you could free lunge, using a lunge whip, just smacking it on the ground should keep him moving.

I'm having issues explaining things, if anything is unclear, or whatever, let me know and I'll try to help some more.

[Horse_Trainer_101]

hi there. I think lounging is totally over rated, yes its important but you can do the same work with a round pen and a loung whip. Just put a halter on the horse and make his feet move, run him around you like 15-20 times then make him change directions by getting infront of his withers and turn him the opisite way, after you dothis several times he wil lstart looking at you, inner ear on you, low head set. Do this til lthe horse wants despritly to come into you.

YES, this is a way to gain respect and trust...and ALSO prepairs you for lounging believe it or NOT.

After the horse has came into you and you praised him for it. place on a simple lead rope and turn him in a cirlce, tossin the lead rope at his hindquarters to get them moving, do this for a good 7-10 tirms one way thengo the oposite direction. As you work on this i want u to slide ur hand further down the lead rope till you can get him moving in still a godo small cirlce but getting him to move further away from you and still getting that nice turn from his hind quarters.

Finally place on the lounge rope and have him start off in a small cirlce and slowly move him further away from you, make sure and do both sides, as it is very criticle to do his off side as well! U can also do this while the saddle in on them too, so they can get there bucking out there and not with u in the saddle. Hope this help a bit...

Keep the dream alive

[Lacey]

Hey, thanks for the replys, iv always loose schooled my horses, and loved every minute, but I never really thought of it as doing the same job as lunging, or using it to get the horse used to lunging. Il give it a try and let you know what happens :)

[Horse_Trainer_101]

It really jsut gets the feeling of the circle but the real part of teachnig the horse to lounge is with the lead rope part i talked about...

[MyHorseRocks]

hi there. I think lounging is totally over rated, yes its important but you can do the same work with a round pen and a loung whip.

What if you don't have a round pen available to you? :(

[Horse_Trainer_101]

A paddock or small pen will do fine, although it dont give you the feeling of the circle it could possibly work...

Keep The Dream Alive

[Patootie]

I hate lunging, I just chase my horse around his paddock for a while. :D

[Horse_Trainer_101]

haha ya lounging is a bit of a hectic prossess, by mindless chasing around a paddock doesnt teach a horse anything, but the teach the horse not run when you try to catch them. Oh well... im not hear to judge

Keep The Dream Alive :p

[Wary Fox]

I hate lunging, I just chase my horse around his paddock for a while. :D

And oh the disaster.