Lunge training


Lunging a horse is much more complicated than just letting it move on a circle if you want to do it correctly and reasonably.
You have to keep in mind, that lunging is a special challenge for the horse's balance and done wrongly, it has a highly negative impact on the horse's musculoskeletal system.

If the human is not able to effectively support the horse while lunging, the horse will bend to the outside of the circle line and fall on its inner shoulder. As a consequence its whole body will lean into an oblique position just like a motor-cycle while taking a bend. Its balance point will then be on its inner shoulder and all the bones, ligaments and sinews will be used heavily. For training aspects there is absolutely no sense in lunging a horse like that.

The horse clearly moves in a lean angle. The left hind leg doesn't move forward but rather sideways. The standing front leg is overloaded especially on the outside.

It is my aim to teach the horse how it can move on a circle line without the appearance of all the negative consequences as stated above. Only then the horse is in the position to strain its body evenly, swing through its entire back, relieve its forehand effectively, and activate its hindquarters.

Correct movement. The front leg stands vertically, and the hind leg swings directly towards the horse's balance point. The neck is bent evenly and in a relaxed position.

This kind of training a horse is an important factor to develop its straightness and supports it to find mental relaxation. I would like to underline that no kind of side reins is used while working with the horse, because I want it to find a correct and healthy stretching position by itself.