| Lunging a horse is often a wasted training opportunity. | | | | have him canter around x number of times, make the |
| People often engage in mindless lunging, having their | | | | horse pay attention to you. By mixing it up you'll keep it |
| horse run round and round to burn off energy. If you're | | | | more interesting for him and get his brain in tune with |
| doing that are you getting the most you can out of this | | | | what you're asking. Change things up and don't get |
| exercise? The answer is no - and here's why. | | | | stuck in the same boring routine. Not only will it |
| Done the right way, lunging a horse can be used to | | | | promote attention, it will make things more fun for your |
| build communication, teach the horse to pay attention, | | | | horse. |
| and prepare him for his future work of being ridden. | | | | 4. Use breathe and stop - You'd be surprised how in |
| Here are six: | | | | tune horses are to your breathing. If you exhale slowly |
| 1. Start off at a walk - Don't just sent your horse | | | | and loudly, this communicates instant relaxation energy. |
| cantering out of there. The goal isn't to burn off energy, | | | | You can use this to slow and stop a horse. Start |
| its to teach him to listen. Begin by having him walk out. | | | | teaching this while circling and it will carry over to riding. |
| There will be time for trotting and cantering later. | | | | It can be used to drop from trot to walk or to come to |
| 2. Change the diameter of the circle - A great way to | | | | a stop. |
| build confidence and teach him to pay attention is to | | | | 5. Don't just change directions - Most people stop their |
| alternately shrink and widen the circle. Send him out at | | | | horse and then immediately send him out the other |
| your usual distance and have him circle around 2-3 | | | | way. This is another missed opportunity for more |
| times, then tighten the circle by pulling in some lead | | | | training that will make it interesting for the horse. |
| rope. Use this as an opportunity for desensitization. | | | | Instead of just changing directions, throw in a back-up. |
| Reel him in so he's at arms length and reach out and | | | | Ask the horse to drop his head to promote relaxation. |
| pat him on his mid-section. Get him so he'll continue | | | | 6. Flex - Flexing is a vital skill for horse safety that also |
| doing his work of calmly walking around without being | | | | teaches a horse to be light in response to the reins. |
| distracted by you touching him. This will make him | | | | Throw in some flexing before sending the horse out |
| safer to ride later on, so he won't come unglued at the | | | | the other direction. |
| slightest stimuli. | | | | Lunging a horse can be a dynamic, attention building |
| 3. Alter your gaits - Don't have a set routine. Alternate | | | | exercise. Click on the link below to watch a video |
| between walk-trot-canter randomly. The idea isn't to | | | | illustrating these techniques. |