9 Great Ways Lunging Can Add To Your Regular Riding Program

Lunging the horse

Once we get into riding our horses, ground work can easily be left to the wayside, in preference to getting on and going places and doing things. But really, the quality of your ground work is a great indicator of how well your rides are going to go, and a reliable way to work on the basics without being on your horse's back - even once in a while.

These days, people get all worked up about fancy ground work that requires years of education and practice. In contrast, lunging is accessible, easily learned, needs just basic equipment, and can be done anywhere there is good footing and room for a circle.

If you can add a lunging session even once or twice a month in place of your regular rides, you might find that your horse does so much better later on when ridden. Here are nine ways lunging can add to your regular horsing around routine. While I can only get into a brief description here, I hope you can use these ideas with a little help from a mentor or instructor.

1. Movement without the rider.

First off, lunging allows the horse the opportunity to move freely without the weight (and influence/interference?) of a rider. There are many times in a horse's riding career when he will actually benefit from not being ridden, and rather, be allowed to move on his own.

When you feel that your horse will benefit from a little walk/trot/canter, bring out the lunge line, even if you think you'll get on afterward.

2. Controlled spiciness!

While some people let horses run loose in the arena to get their "heebie-jeebies" out, there may be times when it's in the horse's best interests to NOT get worked up or overly romping and lunging is a great way to moderate the amount of spiciness while still having the opportunity to move actively.

3. "Legging up" after a long winter's break.

I make it a rule for myself to include more lunging after a lay-off, just to let the horse find his own strength, balance and suppleness before I ever get on. I might stick to lunging only for a number of sessions, then lunging for a shorter time before riding, and then finally, riding without any lunging at all.

The horse will benefit from the straight-forward exercise, get used to moving again, and get a little huffing and puffing workout. You'll also notice that he's much better to ride after the lunging sessions than if you were to just plop on and try to get him going.

4. Evaluation.

Use lunging any time you feel you need to evaluate the horse's movement, or condition. There's a lot of information that can be gained from observing the horse as he works in each gait. You might want to watch a horse move on the lunge for a pre-purchase exam, or to learn more about his particular movement, or to assess a physical problem.

5. Transition workout.

Transitions are the best, even WITHOUT the rider! Work on the quality of both the up and down transitions, do progressive and non-progressive transitions, and make sure you do them both ways. Ask for transitions at random times, don't stay in one gait too long (or do the opposite and stay longer than usual, just to develop stamina), and get this one - you can even work on transitions within each gait, just to work the horse's hind end!

6. Communication/responsiveness to the person on the ground.

It goes without saying that the more you work together from the ground, the better your communication is going to be. You'll have to learn enough voice and body cues to get your horse to do all the things we're talking about - from the middle of the circle!

Over time, all the body language will become second nature to both of you. There is such a thing as  "great" lunging.

7. (Riderless) hind end striding under/half-halts.

Now we can get more into the training aspects of lunging. One of the things you can work on from the ground is getting your horse to reach underneath better with the hind legs, and respond to half-halts from the rein. Better yet - you get to be on the ground where you are stable, and watch the effect your aids are having!




Use the lunge whip lifted upwards to ask for "forward" and the lunge line attached to a "bit

bit converter lunging horse
Bit converter for lunging

converter" to have even pressure on both sides of the bit. Then ask the horse to move forward, and "catch" the horse with the lunge line and ask the horse to half-halt. Teach the horse to NOT run faster with a go cue, and rather, become more powerful in the gait. See if you can influence the quality of the gait right there from the middle of the circle.

8. Moving straight on the circle.

We talk about this all the time when riding, so why not start from the ground? Add a pair of side reins to help keep the shoulders of the horse straight, even while moving on the circle. Make sure they are even length so that the horse can use both sides of his body evenly.

Some horses will bulge one shoulder or the other, even with side reins. In this case, ask the horse for more impulsion (#7, above), and see if you can get him to straighten out with that extra energy. Work the hind end to straighten out the front end.

9. Rounding over the back/stretching to the bit.

This one takes a little more explanation than I can give here, but it can be done. Once again, you can play with energy from the hind end, sent forward so that the horse learns to reach to the bit. If the side reins are long enough and allow the horse some room (not too long), you can teach the horse to stretch in a gait, right on the lunge line. I have a great demonstration of this in one of my Ground Work Sessions in my Practice Sessions group. Click here to learn more about the Practice Sessions.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that you should go out and lunge day after day, hour after hour. In fact, too much lunging can be detrimental to the horse's tendons and legs. But adding lunging into your regular riding and training routine can be of great benefit to you - and your horse! 

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the Horse Listening Practice Sessions. 

This is NOT a program where you watch other people's riding lessons. Start working with your horse from Day 1.

Click here to read more and to join one of the most complete programs on the Internet!

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Have you ever wished your horseback riding lessons could come with a user manual? Do you feel that you could serve your horses better as a rider if you only know how and what to do? From the writer of the popular Horse Listening blog comes a new collection of one of the most enjoyable and rewarding activities of all time: horseback riding.

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https://www.horselistening.com2017/11/14/horse-leading-essentials-in-5-minutes-or-less/

https://www.horselistening.com2015/02/26/horsey-words-of-the-week-ground-work/

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One Simple Way to Quiet Your Hands While Riding Horses

Cantering
Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

Well, by now, if you've been reading my articles fairly regularly, you might already know that when something is "simple" in horse riding, it isn't necessarily easy! Quieting your hands falls into this category.

What is this simple way? Well, stop using your hands!

It's pretty simple to not use your hands, but it might not be so easy to increase the use of your other aids in lieu of the hands.

If you're anything like me, and you developed the habit of controlling pretty much everything from the horse's mouth long ago, then you know how difficult it can be to reduce your reliance on your hands.

However, I'm here to tell you that it can be done. It is possible to go to your other aids and save your hands for only two things: the end of the half-halt (in order to help with re-balancing the horse) and straightness/flexion.

The hands do play a role in the half-halt. I've explained it in detail along with the other aids here and more of a basic description here.

They also can maintain the horse's straightness, especially in the shoulders, especially when you are on a bend or turn. They also can help with maintaining the flexion of the jaw (usually in the direction you are going).

Other than that...

... the hands should and can sing poetry in the horse's mouth and help him develop confidence and strength within his own movement. (Click here to tweet that if you agree.)

The rest of the body can take over much of the in-movement communication with the horse. And this is where the difficulty comes in for some of us. It takes a quite a lot more coordination and core strength to aid your horse through your seat, legs and body. But with practice and guidance, it can be done. Only then can your horse lighten on his feet and carry you with more comfort and strength. And for the rider, there is a sense of freedom that comes along with the reduced reliance on the hands.

4 Aids to Use in Lieu of the Hands

The Seat

The rider's seat is the root of all good in horseback riding. Not only does the seat keep your balance and allow you to move in harmony with your horse, but it also sends an almost unlimited amount of communication to your horse.

Because, you see, the seat is the largest area of contact with your horse, and it sits (pun!) literally in the middle of the horse. From there, you have such an opportunity to send almost invisible signals to your horse. And he will likely respond easily just by virtue of the fact that it is easier for him to move from the middle of his body than the front.

The Weight

The use of weight is an off-shoot of the use of the seat and they work together in tandem. You could ride with a balanced seat that isn't indicating anything in terms of weight, or you can use your weight to your advantage. Let's imagine a turn - if you can weigh your inside seat bone into the turn, you will invariably help your horse turn easier and with better balance. How about a leg yield? Use your weight aid to invite your horse into the direction of the movement.

The Legs

The legs are critical for clear communication. The inside leg works on bend and keeping the inside shoulder moving straight. The outside leg is responsible for asking the hind end to stay in line with the front end (and not swing out, for example). It also is the main initiator of bends, shoulder-ins/haunches ins, canter departures and turns.




You can also "step into the stirrups" to support your seat aids, or to create a stronger leg if the horse is moving into it. The more educated you and your horse get, the more meaning you can offer through your leg aids.

The Voice

Especially at the beginning, either for a novice rider or horse, the voice can be a welcome reinforcement of the body aids. If the horse is young or relatively untrained, voice cues might not initially carry much meaning, but they can serve to calm the horse or conversely, add a little "spice" into the horse's movement (if you need increased energy).

Voice cues can be words or sounds, depending on how you want to develop them. You do not have to be loud to be effective. Use consistent voice cues and your horse will in fact be able to understand and predict what you want.

Well, there you have it! Riding with less emphasis on the hands is possible and highly recommended, not only for your pleasure, but for your horse's comfort as well. Although it might take more time than you might initially want to invest, developing your other aids to the point of clarity is well worth the effort.

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the Horse Listening Practice Sessions. 

This is NOT a program where you watch other people's riding lessons. Start working with your horse from Day 1.

Click here to read more and to join one of the most complete programs on the Internet!

Horse Listening

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Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book:Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

From Horse Listening, The Book:
"There are many reasons why we enjoy riding horses. Maybe one of the most appealing facets of riding is the sense of freedom: freedom from our own limitations, freedom from gravity, freedom to (literally) roam the Earth. Time stands still while we have the privilege of feeling movement from the back of our four-legged friend.
Riding gives us the place to just be.
Of course, there are other purposes too. Some of us revel in the challenge of learning the skills required to becoming a good team member of this unlikely duo. Riding is like no other sport or recreational pursuit simply because of the equine partner that must not only carry us, but also do so effortlessly and gracefully. As we develop our specific skill sets, we also grow as human beings in character, emotional maturity and mental acuity.
But there is one other motivation that drives some of us to persevere in the never-ending learning process that is horseback riding: improving the horse. As your own skills develop, you begin to realize that not only can you meet your own needs through riding, but also that you can even become an instrument of benefit for the horse."
And so begins the book that reflects the most important learning I have had in all of my riding years: that I want to be the best rider I can be for the sake of my horses.
This book is geared toward the rider:
- the rider's motivations
- the essential skills for the rider
- some specific strategies
- solutions to common problems
- and the results: the great horsey moments we get to experience
Along the way, you will find chapters that discuss everything from the seat to the leg aids to the reins, discussions on half-halts, imbalance, halts, straightness and more!
Special in this book are the "In The Ring" sections that give specific suggestions based on the preceding chapters. Take these to the barn to try with your own horse!

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