For many people, lungeing is nothing more than an exercise useful for horses that cannot be ridden. However, the benefits of lungeing for the both the horse and rider can be ample, however novice or experienced both horse and rider happen to be.
Young or green horses almost always start their training on the lunge. Lungeing is used as a basis for schooling because it trains the horse to respond to voice, rein and whip; both to go forward and to stop. Lungeing teaches the horse the regularity, rhythm and the activity of the paces, and once side reins are introduced into lunge work, this allows the horse to become familiar with a light contact through the mouth. This will one day make riding less traumatic on his part.
Lunge work is also extremely useful for settling an over-fresh horse before riding. However, it is not only untrained or overly- frisky horses who may benefit from lunge work, but almost any horse. Lungeing improves a horse’s lateral flexibility and develops suppleness, balance and dexterity. It also builds communication, confidence and calmness leading to obedience and attention.
In addition to being tremendously beneficial for the horse, lungeing is also a valuable exercise for the aspiring rider. To begin with, being lunged allows the rider to concentrate solely on developing his own balance while someone else worries about controlling the horse- a real confidence builder for inexperienced riders. For the more advanced equestrian, lungeing presents a great opportunity to work without stirrups in order to strengthen and develop that ever-illusive independent seat. A truly independent seat takes years to achieve and is the basis for effective riding.
Despite all the benefits however, lungeing can be detrimental if done badly. Many people make the mistake of underestimating how strenuous lungeing actually is for the horse. When a horse is ‘over-lunged’ or it is done incorrectly, a horse can suffer fairly serious injuries, such as damage to the joints or muscle strain. Problems usually arise when the trainer is inexperienced or unobservant. When either a horse or a trainer is new to lungeing, it is always best to start gently, and gradually build up from there.
Due to this possibility of damage to the horse, one should always learn to lunge with a calm horse while under supervision by an experienced trainer. Lungeing is an activity that looks a lot easier than it actually is. The body position of the trainer is all-important; if the trainer is positioned too far forward, he/ she will have difficulty sending the horse forward, and possibly cause it to turn in. If the trainer is positioned too far back in relation to the horse, the correct bend will not be achieved and the horse may race forward.
Ideally the trainer should be positioned facing the horse’s inside shoulder, slightly turned in the direction of movement. The body language of the trainer is crucial and at all times during a lungeing session, the trainer must remain quiet and confident while giving clear, positive aids. The lunge whip should always be held low in the right or left hand (we are not taming lions, after all!) pointed toward the horse’s hip. Never lay the whip down on the ground to later pick it up, as this is a major safety issue. Rather than stepping around in a small circle, the trainer should endeavor to stay still and pivot on the spot to follow the horse’s forward movement around the circle. The excess length of the lunge rein should be looped safely in the trainer’s hand, not twisted.
It is of vital importance that the trainer closely observes the horse while lungeing. Pay attention to the horse’s body language- his expression will usually give you a clue as to what he will do next! Ensure that the horse is not falling in or out with his shoulders and that his back is relaxed, swinging and that he is ‘tracking up’. The horse should move away from the whip and maintain a steady but light contact on the lunge rein. When lungeing a young or unfit horse, always start off with a circle of around 20m in diameter and gradually reduce it down to around 15m. When in doubt, always opt for a larger circle, as the tighter the circle, the more strenuous for the horse. Fit horses can be lunged for periods of up to 45 minutes, but younger horses should be started at short spells of 5-10 minutes on the lunge. When a rider is being lunged, the lesson should be no longer than 30 minutes, as riding on the lunge is tiring for both horse and rider.
Once both trainer and horse are comfortable with lungeing at a range of paces and circles of varying diameter, you can then expand your lungeing sessions into work with cavaletti and ground rails. The beauty of using cavaletti (set at the lowest height) is that the length of horse’s stride can be altered as needed by making the circle smaller or larger without having to change the cavaletti. However, the trainer must be extra-alert, as the lunge line may catch on the cavaletti stands if proper contact with the horse is not maintained.
There are many fancy bits and pieces on the market designed to be useful for lungeing, but when you and your horse are just starting out, there are only a few vital items of equipment that you will need before you can start to lunge your horse. The first of which is a good lunge rein and a nice, light lungeing whip. It is not crucial to use side reins when lungeing your horse, but should you choose to do so, ensure that they are not adjusted too tightly. Only ever lunge in a snaffle bridle, with either a roller or a saddle with stirrups secured or removed. Remembering that lungeing is a strenuous activity, the horse should wear brushing boots on all four legs. Some trainers prefer to use overreach boots in addition, just to be on the safe side. Happy lungeing!
Books on lungeing:
