Lungeing

When we take a horse in training the owner should ride first to show us where exactly the problems are. Is it a problem of the horse or his rider? After that we think about a concept of the following training. From the beginning we want the owner or rider to be involved in the plan if possible. Then we get the best results.
No matter if it is a young horse that has to be started or it is a horse with a training problem we start working it on the lunge line to see how it moves naturally without any weight on his back. Now we can see right away what kind of problem this horse has, how it uses his back and how much balancing problems it has.

In the ideal case the horse moves in perfect balance and bend on the circle line, stretches his head down with a swinging back and clear rhythm in all three gaits. It also keeps his balance within the transitions between the gaits and listens to the voice commands immediately and submissive.

Don’t worry, sadly most horses don’t do it in this way. Not even upper level dressage horses!

Even horses that are fairly cooperative under saddle tend to freak out on the lunge line and don’t do exactly what they are supposed to do. Transitions on the forehand, not in rhythm, tensions, turning around, leaping aside, refusing to go on, rearing, bucking, pulling and even direct disobedience is practiced. Fine tuning of the aids how it is supposed to be is not seen very often. This is because lungeing is mostly underestimated. This must be learned like riding too. You can get riding lessons in pretty much every barn that has a riding instructor but to get a lesson in correct lungeing is rare. You just simply do it.

It doesn’t matter if you have miniature horse, a warmblood or a bullfighting horse on the lunge line. The physical rules are the same. They are all horses and we should have the same pretension. Basic knowledge about tack and the use of it is also part of the work.

„Running around on a circle and WORKING on the lunge line are two completely different things.“