Conference noted::equitation

2013.0. "Oh NO, spring lunging!" by CSCMA::SMITH () Fri Feb 02 1996 16:29

Question on Lunging, 

    Every spring I fear getting my mare back into work.  She is just so 
    full of it for the first few days.  I've taken to just getting on her
    because she's not as likely to hurt herself as when I lunge her and at
    least I have more control, but that is still dangerous.
    
    The first time she is lunged after a layoff, she starts out politely 
    enough at a walk, trots when I tell her and suddenly she does a leap 
    straight up, kicks out (it is truly lovely) when she hits the ground
    she's off to the races. She'll run full tilt, flat out for about 10
    minutes, slipping, falling, kicking, leaping in between.  I can't stop
    her, I tried tugging, reeling her in to a 5 foot long rope, everything.
    I get exhausted as I'm leaning back with all I have to hold her.  I
    usually have a bridle on her (lunge line over her ears clipped on the
    outside ring), I have also used a halter with the chain over her nose,
    it doesn't matter.  She has gotten a few cuts and scrapes in the past
    so I just avoid lunging in the beginning.
    
    After this frightening show, she is as gentle as a lamb, does
    everything on voice command without question, she is normally a
    pleasure to lunge.  We usually have do go through this 2-3 days in a
    row, than she's fine unless she's unworked for a couple weeks. 
    
    Do any of you have to go through this?  She has free access to her
    paddock at all times, so it's not like she's cooped up.

    Any suggestions?  Would a real lunging caveson help?  It doesn't
    look like they have much more control.
    
    Thanks,
    Sharon

    
    	The only suggestion I can make is what we call "free lunging".
    	We take them to the ring, let them loose with a halter on,
    	and stand in the center with a lunge whip. The idea is to keep
    	them moving to run off excess energy. For some reason they will
    	run like lunatics in the ring where they just stand around in the
    	field. 
    
    	The trick to this is [well, several things]: know you can catch
    	them once you've let them go, know they aren't going to jump the
    	fence or any other stupid thing they think up, know they won't
    	run you over in their excitement. Also make sure they are not
    	going to try to bolt from you before you get their lead unhooked. 
    
    	Once she has run around and settles, you should be able to lunge
    	her nicely. This is certainly not a controlled situation and not
    	every horse is safe to do this with, but it works for me.
    
    	Sherry 

As stated in the first reply, this really works!

As long as you have the area, I recommend the free lunging.

Karen

    Ditto on the free-lunging! Done properly, it is FAR safer than using
    a line (assuming you have adequate fencing).  remember, if you have
    the horse on the other end of the line, the horse also has *you* on
    the other end of the line - and we all know who is more powerful.
    
    Read Lyon's book on roundpen training, and there are also several
    similar-type books that can tell you how to free-lunge safely and
    with the horse under your control at all times.  It's a lot of fun,
    and great physical and mental exercise for both of you!