Full Answer
What is longing in horse riding?
Longing /ˈlʌndʒɪŋ/ (US English, classical spelling) or lunging (UK English, informal US) is a technique for training horses, where a horse is asked to work at the end of a lunge line and respond to commands from a handler on the ground who holds the line. It is also a critical component of the sport of equestrian vaulting.
What is lunging a horse like?
Lunging isn't just about firing around in a circle or simply letting a horse run in circles around you. Doing either of these can lead to poor obedience and injury. The horse should be as obedient on the lunge line as it is when being led. Not only should lunging be physical exercise, but mental exercise as well.
How to train a horse to longe?
Those who invest this extra time in longeing in the first few months of training will be rewarded throughout the horse’s education. The goal of longeing is to exercise the horse on both reins. The horse is asked to walk with lateral bending while placing its inside hoof under the center of mass.
What is a longe line for horses?
A horse and vaulter on a longe line with handler on the ground. (In vaulting, the handler is called a longeur.) The longe is also used to develop a person's equestrian skills. Longeing has many benefits for both horses and riders.
What does lunge a horse mean?
When you lunge a horse, it moves around you in a circle on the end of a lunge line. Lunging is a useful exercise for both horse and handler. It is a way to let your horse safely burn off extra energy without you riding it and can help when teaching horse obedience.
How do you long line a horse?
2:1511:49LONG LINING 101 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey don't want to be stopped dead still when they're feeling a bit like you're walking behind themMoreThey don't want to be stopped dead still when they're feeling a bit like you're walking behind them you just let them move away gently. And then go to stop when you're in a bit more of a relaxed.
How often should a horse be lunged?
If you are unfamiliar with side reins, I encourage you to seek the help of a professional first. I lunge my horses a couple of times a week for just a few minutes as a warm-up, or for about 15 minutes if I don't have time to ride.
Why do you lunge a horse before riding?
Hence, lunging the horse in a controlled manner before riding helps make them calm and subdue their playfulness. Lunging is an efficient way to introduce young horses to voice commands. You can train horses to perform every gait during lunging.
Is long reining better than lunging?
In most cases long reining over lunging would always be advocated. -Horses are 'into-pressure' animals so as the long line puts pressure on the nose via the cavasson the horse will pull away from it increasing pressure at the atlanto-occipital joint (Poll).
Is Long lining good for horses?
Long-lining enables the contact to be influenced by a person, without the presence of a rider on the horses back. This is beneficial as it allows for an insight into how the horse moves and behaves without the weight of a rider.
Is lunging as good as riding?
Finally, if you want to work on yourself and your riding so that you can improve any horse, you'll definitely have to get on and ride. While lunging helps you develop overall horsemanship skills, there's no substitute for time in the saddle when it comes to being a more effective rider.
Can you lunge a horse too much?
Lunging can cause synovitis in fetlocks and digital tendon sheaths when done excessively (Dressage Today, Dec 6, 2017). Though these injuries when lunging a horse are rare, they still increase the risk of lameness, and should always be considered when developing a training program for a horse.
How long should you canter a horse for?
five minutesA good guideline for a horse who is already in work but needs to up his fitness ahead of an event is to do five minutes of canter, followed by three minutes of walk. Do that twice and end the session.
Why do you run a horse in a circle?
Impulsive horses tend to want to break gait and go faster and faster or they will tend to want to race around within a gait. Doing circles allows these types of horses to learn to relax within any given gait and develop a pure consistent gait.
Should you lunge a horse with a saddle?
Having the saddle on is important because it allows the horse to associate the saddle with being calm and relaxing. The whole point is to teach the horse to relax under saddle and it won't work if you don't put the saddle on every time you lunge the horse.
Does lunging a horse build muscle?
Another thing lunging is great for is building muscle and helping to improve your horse's natural balance. By working consistently on a circle your horse has you balance themselves on the circle and use their muscles to do this. This will slowly encourage the horse to use build muscle tone.
Why do horses lunge?
Lunging horses can be very helpful and healthy for your horses because this activity can increase their fitness and this can be done as an alternative if your horse is not a working horse type. In other words, lameness can be easily prevented if this act is being done on a regular basis. On the other hand, handlers or riders can also benefit from this form of horses’ exercise by learning some skills without fully controlling the horses being trained or being taken care of.
What are the things needed when lunging a horse?
A conditioned horse is needed here firsthand. You always make sure that your horse is not ill and can be able to perform well in the whole exercise or training.
What are some of the tips that can be done to safely lunge your horse?
Always be aware of the fact that lunging horses can be very stressful to your horses’ legs and muscles since it’s something that makes them move a lot. With this, if your horse is just new to lunging, never introduce him to the act really quick but try to do it gradually to avoid too much muscle sores and injuries.
What is a horse trainer?
A trained handler or owner that knows the horses’ behavior. The horse’s trainer will be needing his voice most of the time for cueing the horse or instructing them on what to do.
Why do you need a lunge whip?
A lunge whip is also needed here to help you manage and control your horse.
How to avoid getting dragged by a horse?
To avoid getting dragged by your horse, do not ever loop your hand through the extra line while lunging. It is way better to hold the extra lunge line together in your fist, so your hand will not be roughly coiled or stuck inside the loop.
What happens if there is no connection between the trainer and the horse?
If there is no connection between the trainer and the horse, no foundation is being established. Therefore, a whole lot harder training will be experienced by the two parties.
Why do horses need longeing?
Longeing is used as a training tool for young horses to introduce them to commands, equipment, and to build trust and respect in the trainer. It can also be used to good effect to build strength in ridden horses or for rehabilitation after illness or injury. It can be used to introduce new riders to the movement of a horse without having ...
Why do horses longe?
On horses of any age or level of experience, longeing is used to exercise a horse when it cannot be ridden, or when additional work is needed to develop balance, rhythm, and to improve the horse's gaits. It is also useful to help settle a horse before riding, especially a high-strung horse, a young horse, or a horse that has been confined more than usual. However, longeing for long periods or with the intent to tire a horse out can cause joint strain. It can be used to "blow off steam" or "get the bucks out" before a rider gets on, though proper turnout or liberty work is a better alternative, because a longeing session is training time, not play time.
How long is a whip?
The whip usually has a stock of 6 feet (1.8 m), with a lash of 5–6 feet (1.5–1.8 m) (although some are longer). The whip is light, easy to handle, and well balanced. Although the lash can reach the horse, the length reduces the force that can be applied, so it is used as an encouragement to the horse and as a punishment. Techniques used include movement, brushing the horse with the lash, and in limited circumstances, sound from a whipcrack. It is not safe to use a riding or driving whip for longeing because they are too short to reach the horse without bringing the handler close enough to the horse's hindquarters to risk being kicked by the horse.
What is a longeing cavesson?
A longeing cavesson (alternate spelling caveson) is the classic headgear specialized for longeing , but in modern times is not the most commonly used equipment. It is a type of headstall with one to three rings on the noseband to which the longe line is attached. The most common point of attachment is the center ring at the top of the cavesson, which allows the horse to go both directions without having to stop and change the adjustment of the line. The two side rings are occasionally used for attachment of the longe line, but more often are used for attachment of side reins or long lines.
What is lungeing in equestrian?
Longeing / ˈlʌndʒɪŋ / (US English, classical spelling) or lungeing (UK English, informal US) is a technique for training and exercising horses. It is also a critical component of the sport of equestrian vaulting . The horse is asked to work at the end of a long line ...
How long is a horse's line?
The horse is asked to work at the end of a long line of approximately 25 feet (7.6 m). Longeing is performed on a large circle with the horse traveling around the outside edge of a real or imaginary ring with the handler on the ground in the center, holding the line. The horse is asked to respond to commands from the handler or trainer, usually given by voice, aided by pressure and release of the line and movement of a whip with a long shaft and equally long lash, called a longeing whip or longe whip.
How long is a longe?
The longe line (or longe) is typically about 25 to 30 feet (7.6 to 9.1 m) long, so the longeing circle can have a diameter of up to 60 feet (18 m). The line is usually a flat woven webbing made of nylon, cotton, or similar material.
When Should I Lunge My Horse?
There are a few times that I recommend lunging your horse. These include:
What happens when you lunge a horse?
If you are lunging a horse, you mainly will be standing or walking while your horse travels around you. Because of this, you are able to give your horse a workout without having to be astride him to direct him in his next move.
How Often Should My Horse Be Lunged?
How often you lunge your horse is up to you. Some people like to lunge their horses before every ride while others just do it when they aren’t able to ride for whatever reason.
What Is Lunging?
Lunging is basically a way to give your horse exercise from the ground. Lunging consists of a horse running around in circles around the person directing the lunging session. When lunging, the horse will run circles while the person directing the lunging session will tell the horse which direction to go, how fast to go, and when they should stop. This is a great form of exercise that helps the horse better understand and read your body language while also giving them a good workout without having to carry a rider around.
Why Do People Lunge Their Horses?
People lunge their horses to keep them fit, healthy, active, and calm. They also will do this for all the benefits that I mentioned just above. Lunging is a great way to keep your horse in shape which is the main reason why people do it.
How to strengthen a horse's gait?
Through lunging, you can help to strengthen those weaker sides and gaits in your horse by working them consistently going one way. One way to do this is by having them practice picking up the correct lead for going that specific direction or only focusing on that specific side when lunging to strengthen it more.
What is it called when a horse runs around on a rope?
Have you ever been at a barn, horse facility, or a horse show and wondered why on earth people were having their horses run around and around them on a rope? That is called lunging and it is a very popular and common way to give your horse exercise without you needing to ride them to give them the workout.
What is lunging a horse?
Learn more... Lunging a horse, sometimes called “longeing,” involves leading your horse in a circle around a small enclosure. Not only is this great exercise, but it will also help you and your horse bond through training. Lunging can also help improve your horse’s balance and trot.
How to protect a horse's legs?
Apply polo wraps to the horse if you want to protect its legs. Lunging is a physical workout for your horse. To help protect it from injuries, you may want to wrap a special athletic bandage, known as a polo wrap, around the horse’s ankles. Start about 2/3 of the way up the horse’s leg, then wrap down toward the ankle.
How to use a whip and lunge rein?
Carry the whip and the excess lunge rein in the hand that’s closest to the horse’s backside, and use your free hand to control the rein and take up or loosen the slack. Imagine making a triangle where the horse’s body is the base and the whip and lunge rein are the sides.
How to control a horse without causing it to hurt?
Place a lunge cavesson onto your horse if you have one. A lunge cavesson is a special piece of headgear that allows you to control the horse without causing it discomfort. Place the cavesson so it fits snugly across the horse’s nose without slipping.
Why do horses wear polo wraps?
Wrapping your horse’s ankles in polo wraps can help protect their feet and ankles from injury if it stumbles on the lunge line. It can also prevent injuries caused by an improper gait, which is especially a risk for a green horse.
What happens if you hold your whip too close to your horse?
Tip: If you hold the whip too close to the horse, it will resist slowing down. To the horse, if it keeps going faster, it will be able to get away from the whip.
What can you use to tell a horse what you want?
You can also include a verbal command or a sound like a clicking noise to tell the horse what you want.
Why do horses lunge?
There are many different reasons to lunge horses including: burning off energy before a ride, developing strength, balance, and flexibility without a rider, improve the rhythm or cadence of each gait, and detecting lameness. Lunging takes patience and time to master, but in this case, practice really does make a difference.
What to wear for a horse during lunge?
Exercise boots or polo wraps: These help protect your horse’s legs during the lunge session.
How to hold a whip on a horse?
As you are holding the line and whip, visualize a triangle with you at the top, the whip down one side, the line down the other, and your horse at the bottom. Always keep your lunge whip behind your horse’s mid-line to encourage forward movement.
How long is a lunge line?
Lunge Line: Most lunge lines are roughly 35 feet long and are made from rope or webbing. The webbing tends to be easier to handle because it’s a bit lighter than the rope and lays flat in your hand.
How to get a horse to move forward?
Ask your horse to move forward by saying “walk on” or “walk”. You can use the whip for encouragement if they do not move forward promptly. Be sure to maintain the circle as your horse travels around.
What do you need to wear when riding a horse?
Boots: This is a given for most equestrians, but worth mentioning. Whenever you handle your horse, make sure to wear sturdy boots to protect your feet.
What is lunging a horse?
For years, this has been a method of exercising or training a physically expressive horse without putting the rider at risk, getting “the steam” out before riding or training the dressage horse without distraction from the rider.
How many meters should a horse lunge?
Lunging should always be done on a circle that they are comfortable with. Young horses with no or little balance should be given at least an 18 meter circle. More balanced horses can lunge on a smaller circle.
Why do veterinarians use lunging?
Equine veterinarians use lunging as a tool to observe a horse without the rider. This allows the veterinarians to evaluate the horse’s movement.
Is lunging a horse good for back pain?
Lunging can also be therapeutic to some degree. While lunging a horse without any help from side reins or other systems usually does more harm than good, using a chambon, degogue or other lunging systems can be physical therapy for horses with back pain or tightness. This allows the horse to move freely and attain better movement ...
Is it safe to lunge a horse?
Lunging a Horse – Risks to Consider. Many like to lunge their horses to “let off steam” before riding them. While, in theory, this is a good idea, there is a possibility for a risk to the horse. Running around uncontrollably, jumping and leaping on the lunge line presents a great opportunity for injury. The horse can fall down, get away ...
Can a horse lunge?
Though these injuries when lunging a horse are rare, they still increase the risk of lameness, and should always be considered when developing a training program for a horse.
Is lunging a good tool for horses?
Lunging can be a great tool with training, but it should be done with purpose and with a manner that will benefit the horse, and not put them in risk.
What does lunging do to a horse?
When you lunge a horse, it moves around you in a circle on the end of a lunge line. Lunging is a useful exercise for both horse and handler. It is a way to let your horse safely burn off extra energy without you riding it and can help when teaching horse obedience. When done correctly, lunging can help a horse learn to be more flexible ...
How long should a horse lunge?
Before you try to lunge your horse, make sure you have everything you need. A lunge line is essential and should be about 30 to 35 feet long. Flat webbing is preferable to rope because it's lighter and easier to handle. You will also need a lunge whip and lunging cavesson or sturdy halter (some people find the cavessons too cumbersome). Exercise boots or wraps help protect your horse's legs.
What do you need to lunge a horse?
To lunge your horse, it should be outfitted with a lunging cavesson or a sturdy halter. A cavesson is not a necessity and many horses are trained to lunge without one. Do not lunge with the lunge line attached to a bit or hackamore .
How to keep a horse from dragging on the ground?
Maintain the Circle. As your horse moves off on the circle, you will be holding the lunge line up not dragging on the ground. Keep elbows bent and the whip pointed at the horse's hocks. Remember to maintain the triangle. If you move at all, keep your circle very small.
Why do people lunge their horses?
Many people lunge their horses to burn off energy and provide exercise. Be careful that you don't make your horse fitter than you are. That will lead to it taking longer for your horse to level out. Lunging isn't just about firing around in a circle or simply letting a horse run in circles around you.
How to hold a horse in a triangle?
When your horse is traveling in a circle to the right, the lunge line will be held in the right hand and the whip in your left. Hold the line and the whip so that they are the sides of a triangle and you are the apex of the triangle. Your horse will be the base of the triangle. Both of your arms should be bent at the elbow ...
How to make a horse's circle bigger?
The faster your horse is going, the larger the circle needs to be. You can do this by letting out more line. Lunging on a small circle can be very hard on a horse's legs, so increase the work gradually for the horse to become supple, fit, and balanced without strain.
What is lunging for horses?
Lungeing is a really versatile form of exercise and benefits your horse in a number of ways. Whether you’re looking to loosen him up and give him a leg stretch or want to work on improving his way of going, it offers a means of riderless, weightless exercise where your horse has to do things for himself. Whatever the purpose of your lungeing ...
How to lunge a horse?
Rather than your horse seeing the whip as a threat or becoming desensitised to its presence, your aim is that he responds to it as and when you need to use it. Your arms make a triangle, with the lunge line and whip acting as extensions of them, and your horse’s body as its base.
How to keep a horse from being one sided?
Top tip. Don’t always start on the same rein. Alternating the rein you begin on will help prevent your horse becoming one-sided. It’s also a good idea to allow him to warm up in both directions before asking more of him within your session.
What does it mean when a horse is holding up his line?
The key to this contact is the feeling that your horse is holding up his end of the line and is working in an even rhythm in each pace. Essentially, you want to feel as though there’s a spring at either end of the lunge line – one is you and the other your horse, meaning the middle part of your line is never left to drag down.
How big of a circle should a horse be for lunges?
Once you’ve moved your horse away from you he can be pushed out onto a larger circle. Most lunge lines are long enough to allow a shape of at least 15 metres diameter , which is the minimum size you should aim to work on for the bulk of your session.
What does a bigger circle mean for horses?
Simply put, a bigger circle means less strain on your horse’s joints. You wouldn’t ride your horse on a 10-metre circle for half an hour, so why would you lunge on it?
Why do horses rush on the lunge?
If your horse rushes on the lunge, the key factor is patience. Horses rush for all sorts of reasons, so think about what factors may be unsettling him. Some horses will run away from the lunge whip, so either tuck it backwards under your arm until he relaxes or, if necessary, drop it all together.
Overview
Longeing /ˈlʌndʒɪŋ/ (US English, classical spelling) or lungeing (UK English, informal US) is a technique for training and exercising horses. It is also a critical component of the sport of equestrian vaulting.
The horse is asked to work at the end of a long line of approximately 25 feet (7.6 m). Longeing is performed on a large circle with the horse traveling around the outside edge of a real or imagina…
Pronunciation and spelling
The word is believed to be derived from either the French word allonge, meaning "to lengthen", or the Latin longa ("long"). In both cases, the root word featured spelling with an "o" and emphasizes lengthening and extension, so although always pronounced "lungeing", the traditional spelling of the word in English is "longeing". This spelling has been used by the majority of past dressage masters who wrote in English, and remains in use by traditional horsemanship organizations in t…
Reasons for longeing
Longeing has many benefits for both horses and riders.
For a young or green (inexperienced) horse, longeing is used to teach a horse to respond to voice commands and the trainer's body language, to accustom them to the feel of a saddle and bridle, and to begin their introduction to the feel of reins and bit pressure. In many training stables, a horse is first introduced on the longe to nearly everything it is going to be asked to do under sad…
Equipment for longeing
The longe line (or longe) is typically about 25 to 30 feet (7.6 to 9.1 m) long, so the longeing circle can have a diameter of up to 60 feet (18 m). The line is usually a flat woven webbing made of nylon, cotton, or similar material. In the natural horsemanship tradition, the longe line is usually made of round cotton rope, and is often much shorter, as short as 12–15 feet (3.7–4.6 m). In general, cotton longe lines are less likely to burn the handler’s hands than nylon, but nylon is mor…
Use of the aids
The longe line takes the place of the rider's rein aids. It may be held like a riding rein, with the line running to the horse held between the fourth and fifth finger, or held like a driving rein, with it running between the thumb and pointer finger. The elbow is softly bent, with the arm at an approximately 90-degree angle. The horse and handler should not pull, jerk, or "hang" on the line. Like rein aids while riding, signals are given smoothly and as softly as possible to get the desire…
Longe area
It is safest to longe in an enclosed area. If the horse escapes, it will be easier to catch, and an enclosed area will make him easier to control on the longe. Ideally, a 60 to 70-foot (20–25 m) round pen is used. However, the corner of any enclosed arena or small field may also be used. For safety, it is best if there is no one riding in the longeing area.
The footing should not be slippery, to help prevent slipping and injuries. The ground should be re…
Roundpenning, liberty work and "free longeing"
In the field of natural horsemanship, it is a common practice to work a horse loose in a round pen 40 to 70 feet (12 to 21 m) in diameter. (50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 m) feet is considered standard). This is sometimes called free longeing or work at liberty, because the horse is asked to travel in a circle and obey human commands, only without a longe line attached. The handler uses voice, body language and a lariat or a longe whip to give commands to the horse, eventually teaching it t…
Time limits
Work in small circles is stressful on a horse's legs, so it is best to limit a longeing session to about 20 minutes. Gaits should be changed frequently, and the horse should be worked for equal time in both directions so that both sides of the horse are worked evenly and to keep the work interesting for the horse.