The Art of Lunging, it's not just about going in circles!
The Art of Lunging, it's not just about going in circles!
Lunging is defined as exercising a horse in a circle on the end of a lunge rope. Lunging is an extremely useful tool for horse owners and trainers as not only does it offer form of exercise but also a useful tool for education and the monitoring of the horse's behaviour and movement. These categories are discussed in greater detail below;
- Exercise: Lunging can be used to exercise a horse while a rider is unwell and cannot ride, or as a start to a work out, before a rider mounts allowing a hot' horse or a horse that hasn't been ridden for a period of time to initially expel some energy prior the rider mounting. Lunging improves a horse's impulsion and strengthens muscles, improves flexibility through bending and can improve balance and rhythm (Huntington, Myers & Owens, 2004). Lunging also offers the chance to exercise a horse without the added weight of a rider (Sutton, 2006), which is of particular relevance when exercising for rehabilitation purposes after a horse has had an injury or illness.
- Education: In teaching a horse voice commands including walking on and halting lunging is a great aid (Sutton, 2006). Lunging can also be used to educate more advanced horses with progressive advanced moves such as dressage movements in hand. Whilst an excellent educational took for horses, lunging is also used for the education of the rider, as a beginner rider can focus on seat and rhythm and build confidence while their instructor maintains control of the horse on the lunge (Huntington, Myers & Owens, 2004).
- Monitoring the horse's behaviour: A benefit of lunging is it's use to monitor a horse's behaviour, a person may wish to lunge a prospective new horse to assess the horse's responses; to see the horse's power or lack of response, to assess whether he is accepting the bit and to see whether he is spooky or unflappable (Fielder, 1999).
- Monitor the horse's movement: Lunging is an excellent way to monitor a horse's movement, checking for lameness or irregularities in balance and motion. A vet check with often consists of lunging horses on firm non slip surfaces, allowing a greater load on the inside fore and hind limbs increasing even the subtlest lameness, obviously then the horse must be turned around and monitored when circling in the opposite direction to the assess all four limbs (O'Brien, 2007). This is of particular benefit as some horses will not display lameness while trotting in a straight line or they may appear lame in both limbs (fore or hind), therefore lunging is a good way of pinpointing the affected limbs.
Safety is always important in horse handling despite the activity or procedure as the sheer size and power of the animal may cause dire consequences to the handler or horse, even unintentionally. Lunging also requires attention to safety in order to protect the handler and horse. If the handler has never lunged a horse before they will need to learn with an experienced horse prior to attempting to train a young horse. The handler should familiarise themselves with holding the lunge rein in one hand and the lunge whip in the other, as a safety measure the handler must never wrap the lunge rein around their hand or arm but must have the rein folded in the hand with loops short enough as to not trip the handler. The lunge rein must also be untwisted and must be taut. The handler should be wearing non slip boots therefore riding boots are not a good idea. As well as good boots, the handler should be wearing a helmet and gloves, helmet being protection for a horse that may kick out when changing direction and gloves in case of the event of the horse running further away at a high speed causing rope burn to the hands.
A handler must always check all equipment before use to make sure there are no concerns with the equipment and for safety all equipment must be correctly fitted. For the horses safety they should be fitted with protective leg boots, especially young horses who may be prone to hitting themselves when working in circles. The environment for the lunging exercise must also be checked for safety issues, such as if the ground is flat without holes or divots, that the ground is free of obstacles and not slippery, the space is large enough (should not be less than 20m) and if lunging young horses or horses new to the activity then the space should be enclosed such as a round yard, arena or small paddock (Huntington, Myers & Owens, 2004). In relation to horse safety also, a horse should not be lunged for a period over 45 minutes, and a horse not used to the activity should start at a maximum of 10 minutes with slow increments, this is due to the strain and stress on the horse's body but performing circular bending work.
The equipment that may used in lunging includes; a cavesson, a simple snaffle bridle, a roller or saddle, breastplate, boots or bandages, a lunge rein, a lunge whip and side reins (Huntington, Myers & Owens, 2004 & O'Brien, 2007). Various equipment must be fitted correctly for safety and comfort and suggestions for fitting are below;
- Cavesson: Must be well padded in the nose area and fit snug, if there are small rings on either side these must be firmly fastened or will cause rubbing, fasten the cavesson straps under the bridle cheek pieces if lunging in a bridle and cavesson, the cheek straps of the cavesson must be kept away from the eyes by fastening the throat latch snugly to prevent slipping and rubbing, sheepskin or padding under the jaw may need to be added to prevent rubbing.
- Bridle: The bridle must fit comfortably and the noseband should be snug, the correct tightness for a drop or flash noseband should allow two finger widths below the nose piece, the bridle reins must be removed or fastened up.
- Roller: Should be well padded over the horse's back, there should be no pressure on the spine from the roller, the horse should be able to freely move it's elbows and chest wall, if too far forward the roller can cause pressure on the shoulders and inhibit movement.
- Saddle: Similar for roller, if using a saddle the stirrups should be removed of fastened to prevent jiggling.
- Lunge rein: Should be no less than 10m in length.
- Lunge whip: Should be long enough to encourage the horse to move on therefore the lash should be able to touch the back legs of the horse, should be light enough for the handler to utilised without being tiresome.
- Side reins: Fasten so that contact is equal on both sides, the reins will be at the correct length if you can take up a hand length of slack rein from behind the bit rings, position side reins lower on a young or inexperienced horse, these can be positioned higher on the roller or saddle for a more experienced horse after a warm up, must never be fitted so tight that forward movement is restricted.
The lunge whip should never be used for punishment and is instead only used to coerce the horse to move forward, this is achieved by moving the whip in a circular motion in the direction of the hock and if the horse continues to refuse to respond the whip can be used to give a small flick to the back leg of the horse.
Side reins should be fitted as above. Some people prefer to work with side reins as they assist in teaching a young horse to accept the bit, assist in keeping the horse straight and stop them from grabbing grass if lunging in a paddock, they can increase the control over a fresh or strong horse, to improve the well trained horse's way of going, to teach a horse piaffe from the ground and to allow a rider to have better balance and offer them a greater feel of the paces. Side reins are limited by restricting a horse's free movements which he uses to naturally balance himself (Auty, 2005).
References
Auty, I. (2005). The BHS Complete Manual of Stable Management. Kenilworth Press: Great Britain.
Fielder, P. (1999). All About Lungeing. J. A. Allen & Co. Limited: Britain.
Huntington, P., Myers, J. & Owens, E. (2004). Horse Sense, 2nd Edition. Landlinks Press: Victoria.
O'Brien, K. (2007). Essential Horse Health. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Sutton, A. (2006). The Injury Free Horse. David and Charles Limited: UK.
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