'Round and 'Round: Lunging

Learning to lunge your horse is a vital training technique when it comes to keeping a horse sound and happy.

After learning about lunging and using some of these tips, you will soon be an expert, and be able to experiment with your horse! Each horse has different needs when it comes to lunging. For instance, while most horses maintain their sanity on a lunge line, Lenny tends to get a bit too excited. I only allow Lenny to walk and jog while lunging so that he stays calm and relaxed. Lunging should not be used to tire a horse, but rather to stretch a horse’s muscles and act as a “warm-up” before riding.

Why lunge?

There are many reasons why you should lunge a horse, but it mainly serves as an alternate way of exercising when riding is not an option. You should know that lunging is not a safer way of exercising a horse, by any means. An unskilled rider who attempts to lunge will have trouble maintaining control and a slow pace of your horse. Remember, practice makes perfect.

Just like human athletes, horses need to ease into a workout and have “easy days.” Lunging is always my go-to in both instances. When a horse is exercised on a lunge rope, they have freedom to stretch their neck down, thus loosening the muscles all the way down the back and to the dock of the tail.

You can stretch your horse's legs by pulling them up, and then forward, as shown here

Lunging can help reduce your horse’s back soreness. To check for a sore back, press your fingertips on your horse’s back and run them firmly down the spine, towards the dock (top) of the tail. If your horse’s spine cringes upward (this movement resembles a stretching cat), then he is back sore—time to lunge!

Check for back soreness

If your horse is in rehabilitation from an injury, like Lenny, then lunging is a great alternative to riding. With any injury or health concern, it is best to stay off of your horse’s back until the issue is resolved.

Lunging is also a great way to teach your horse vocal cues and obedience. When we break young horses, we always start by lunging. Not only is it easy exercise, but it is also the first time the horse experiences a human as the center of control.

What You Need:

• Lunge rope—about 35 feet long
• Lunge Whip
• Halter
• Gloves with no-slip grip
• Leg wraps and bell boots
• Enclosed area (never lunge in an open field or grassy area)

Lenny is all ready to go!

How To Lunge

1. Groom your horse, wrap his legs (see post), and place bell boots around the ankles to ensure for leg and hoof safety during the exercise.
2. Lead your horse to the center of the arena or enclosed are, and unclip the lead rope. Clip the lunge line to the left-cheek hook on the halter (always hook to the side closest to you.)
3. Start lunging counter-clockwise. Cue your horse (shake the rope or whip) to move out and away from the center of the ring. You must keep your place in the center, and act as the pivot point.    
4. Hold the rope tightly (this is where the gloves come in handy!) and allow your horse to naturally jog in a circle to the extent of the lunge rope. Do this for about 10 minutes. Keep your horse controlled, and do not let him gallop uncontrollably. Vocal cues are key.  
5. Pull on the lunge rope and cue your horse to “woah” (verbal commands work best here).  
6. When your horse stops, walk towards him and grab hold of the halter. Change the rope so that it is snapped to the right-cheek hook on the halter.  
7. Turn your horse around, and repeat steps 2-4. Lunge your horse clockwise for another 10 minutes.  
8. When you are finished, halt your horse just as you did in step 5. Replace the lunge rope with a lead rope, and you are finished!  

Lenny loves his lunge day workouts!

This video is a bit more advanced than what I have explained, but once you become more practiced with lunging, you should follow the tips provided here! Videos are often the best way to learn training techniques, so be sure to spend some time on YouTube!

Remember to groom your horse again when you are done so that any sweat is dried and dirt is removed! In addition to these tips, you can use some of the troubleshooting techniques offered by Equuisite.

Best of luck! Leave your comments below with any questions or concerns. I look forward to hearing from you!