Lunging Horses
By Caryn A. Tate
Lunging a horse is the process where you stand while you have your horse lope or trot, or even walk, around you in a circle. It can be used simply for exercise or for a training and fine-tuning tool.
The most important aspect of lunging your horse is that it teaches him to pay attention to YOU. This is especially helpful with a horse that enjoys not taking anything seriously. Even the setup of lunging focuses the horse's attention on you--for a time, you're the center of his world, so to speak. With many horses, it teaches the horse to calm down and simply pay attention and try to do what you want him to do. It can really help to develop a good relationship between you and your horse, and to help you work together when you're up on his back instead of on the ground, as well.
It is possible to lunge your horse with a somewhat long lead rope; however, a lunge line allows more room for you and your horse to experiment with. A nylon lunge line works fine, although there are more expensive versions out there. Mine is just plain nylon, and I like to tie knots in it at the distances where my horse and I feel the most comfortable. Also, using a lunge line is safer for your hands, since often with a regular cotton lead rope you can get rope burns.
Another tool I like to use when starting a horse on lunging is a lunge whip. Of course the whip is not used to whip the horse, but simply for a long tool that you can use to cue your horse. Often the horse may try to stop, or to turn around, or come towards you, or to run away with your lunge line, or several other things that the whip is helpful to prevent.
First, it's good to start your horse on a somewhat short length of line. Basically, I'm assuming that you and your horse already have some ground discipline and he respects your space. Let some of the line out and step back, urging your horse to move around you in one direction or the other. At first the horse may be somewhat confused, assuming he's never been lunged before. Have patience--as in teaching a horse anything--and use the whip to cue him. You can use the hand holding the lunge line to urge him forward as well. Lead him around you in whichever direction you're wanting him to go by simply dramatizing it with your hand, moving it in the correct direction and allowing him to see where you want him to go.
Before long the horse should be getting the idea and walking, if somewhat haltingly, around you. Be sure to let the horse know this is what you want him to do. Talk to him and let him know by your tone of voice that he's doing the right thing. Allow him to walk around you in several complete circles before asking for more speed.
As I said, I'm assuming that you have ground discipline with your horse already, at least to the point where you can communicate with him and without him running over the top of you. As far as communication, let him know you want him to go faster when you feel he's getting the general idea, and only then. If you try to rush him too much, it will only hurt the process and delay his learning what you want even more.
As your horse continues to trot and/or lope around you, you should notice and feel his concentration centering more and more on you and/or calming down and focusing on what you want him to do. One important thing to remember is to be sure and lunge your horse in both directions--don't allow him to move in just one direction. I like to be sure the horse knows this basic concept because it applies to so many things in training, on his back or on the ground.
When you feel your horse is getting the idea, or after he gets the desired amount of workout, stop him by simply raising your hand holding the lunge line up in the air. Be sure and talk to him and communicate to him what you want from him. When the horse stops, and probably turns to look at you and your raised hand, urge him towards you. When you stop your horse after lunging, you want him to stop, turn toward you, and walk straight up to you and stop there. After you get your horse to come to you, be sure and reward him for doing as you want him to do.
About the Author:
I have lived around and worked with horses my entire life, and learned how to ride when I was a small child. Riding and training horses are great loves of mine, and I enjoy helping other people overcome training issues with their horses. I love working with horses and developing relationships with them, as well as talking about them with other people who are as passionate about the subject as I am.
Caryn may be contacted by email at scribe_79@yahoo.com.
Article courtesy of Suite101.com.
