Lungeing the Horse
$35.00
Product code:Mini05
There are many reasons why we would lunge a horse. Sometimes when the horses Lungeing roller with side reinshave been locked up for a while and they need to get the bucks out before the rider mounts. Some horses have cold backs or are girth proud which means they hump up when they first move off. It is important that the horse does not learn to buck with the rider on his back. When he learns his strength by bucking the rider off regularly ...!?!
Another reason for lungeing is to give the horse exercise when the rider does not have enough time or is injured. To lunge the horse hardly needs any preparation and can be done in a short time. Riding takes much longer: grooming, saddling, time on the horse and cleaning afterwards. At least the horse gets let out of the stable and is exercised regularly.
The more important reasons for lungeing are to give the horse strength and suppleness before he is broken in. Lungeing also makes the horse obedient to the voice aids, which is helpful when riding the young horse.
Lungeing is riding from the ground in which the whip and the voice represent the legs; the body the seat; the rein is the reins. The voice is in command of the horse and tells him what to do.
All Mini Courses are supported with video. The video is important because 85 % of our learning is done with our eyes.
Let me just mention the reasons for lungeing in point form:
- Horse has not been worked and has been confined to a small area, eg. stable.
- Horse has a cold back.
- Horse is girth proud
- Horse or rider is injured
- Time stress of rider
- Young horses for gaining strength and getting familiar with voice commands.
Whatever we do with our horses, I believe it should always be a positive training experience. Its no point just letting the horse run a few circles around the lungeor without your personal involvement. Horses are not individuals who like to do things on their own. They are herd animals who need to be part of a herd for their own safety.
There is a lot you can do with lungeing. You can improve the obedience and the paces by not only using voice commands but also body language. Walking in the rhythm you wish to achieve is a great aid in improving the paces with the horse.
You can learn a lot about your horse, for instance how he reacts to you and its surroundings. Lungeing also give the opportunity to check how effective your training under saddle has been.
