Lunge Lesson

[Dee22]

Yay!! Thanks to Jax and her great kindness, I will be having my very first ride on the lunge tonight!! <IMG src="smileys/smiley4.gif" border="0">

I want to put Eja in side reins... can I still have my reins but just tie them in a knot and not touch them?
I've never done this before so if anyone has any tips I'm all ears <IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">&nbsp;I'm just a little excited about this, sounds like fun as long as Miss Eja behaves herself<IMG src="smileys/smiley5.gif" border="0"><IMG src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0">
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[chenders01]

Dee, do not ride Eja in side reins!!&nbsp; Side reins are for lunging (without rider) only.&nbsp; You can ride her in draw reins because if the worst happens and she goes down, her head is not restrained when you let go of the draw reins.&nbsp; With side reins, her head is restrained.&nbsp;
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[Marty_Jones]

I've riden on the lunge with side riens an they were fine. Draw riens however I will not touch with a 30 foot pole<IMG src="smileys/smiley11.gif" border="0">. I did not use my reins as I really didnt need to steer. It was a leg and seat&nbsp; and balance lesson. Have fun and you may need some eptson salts and a hot bath after but its worth it<IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">

[Dee22]

Chenders - I know they say not to ride in side reins, and I never would off the lunge but Eja is a <IMG src="smileys/smiley10.gif" border="0">&nbsp;on the lunge, with and without side reins. I put my 7 year old neice on her for lunge lessons and she is amazing, stays slow, knows all her commands etc.
The point of my lunge lesson is to ride with no reins to help develop my seat, so I can't use draws (she hates them anyways), and I think it'll be a lot easier on both of us if she's round from the side reins. I'm going to be riding her and warming her up before we even put her on the lunge... so I'll see how it goes, if she seems out of sorts, I won't use them<IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">
Epsom Salts! Right! Thanks Marty <IMG src="smileys/smiley14.gif" border="0">&nbsp;Yeah, guess I'll be kinda sore huh <IMG src="smileys/smiley5.gif" border="0">
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[jax]

Nope, no reins for Dee, so no draw reins.&nbsp; And definitely home for a soak in epsom salts <IMG src="smileys/smiley15.gif" border="0">&nbsp; Muhahahaha!!

[chenders01]

Okaaaay, just be careful!
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[Dee22]

I will Chenders, I pwomise<IMG src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0">... really, I'ma chicken, so I won't do anything that makes me feel nervous<IMG src="smileys/smiley14.gif" border="0">
I think I will probably keep my stirrups for the first bit and see how I do, than try without.... Youch! This is gonna be painfull! But man, do I need it!

[Marty_Jones]

I Say NO STIRRUPS!!!! he he he<IMG src="smileys/smiley15.gif" border="0">&nbsp;(make the bath that more rewarding tehe)

[horsecrazy333]

I'm with Marty <br /> <br />Oh and one piece of advice DON'T LAUGH. Remember my post about a lunge lesson. It'll be hard. <br /> <br />Jax, make her post trot no reins no stirrups and canter<img border="0" src="smileys/smiley15.gif" border="0"> God knows I've had it done to me.!<img border="0" src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0">

[Ruth]

I had an instructor who used to make us jump upwards of 2'6" without stirrups or reins.

[Marty_Jones]

mine did that too Ruth. But we had to close our eyes too<IMG src="smileys/smiley5.gif" border="0">

[*rickie*]

hahaha, I had to do that before, lines of bounces and stuff too! It was SOOO much fun! I had a ball! <br /> <br />Ruth....can you see this color????<edited><editID>*rickie*</editID><editDate>38393.2861921296</editDate></edited>

[Dee22]

Well! I had my lunge lesson! It was so much fun!! And boy am I sore <IMG src="smileys/smiley5.gif" border="0">&nbsp;Legs, butt, abs, youch! But I had a great time! I worked on sitting trot the entire time, I used the side reins so had no reins, I started off with my stirrups but found they were bugging me so I took them away too. Eja was the <IMG src="smileys/smiley10.gif" border="0">&nbsp;I thought she'd be, she trucked around for a good 15 minutes, no questions asked
And now I understand about the sitting trot much better than I did before... I did this lean back excersize... You hold the pommel with your outside hand to try and pull yourself a bit deeper in the saddle and place your inside hand on your thigh so that you can keep your shoulders back... than you lean back for about 10 seconds or so and that helps to get your seat bones under you properly... when you sit straight again you keep your seat bones where they were... it was really neat!
And thanks again Jax for lunging me!! <IMG src="smileys/smiley4.gif" border="0">
Ruth - Yes, when I was younger and much braver I took lessons for years at a large eventing barn. We had to do gymnastic lines with no stirrups, no reins and eyes closed to learn balance and to learn to wait for the horse. It was TONS of fun, we used to have a blast!

[Ellie]

Longing with the side reins and rider CAN BE a good idea, just as long as the horse already is used to them, they are used correctly, and the person doing the longing knows exactly what they are doing! If the horse does not know to carry themselves correctly and use their back properly with side reins before the rider is added then they will likely just lean on them, hollow their back and really uncomfortable for both the horse and the rider and nothing will be accomplished. Just remember that it is harder for the horse, so don't do it too long withour giving them a break. <br />I particularly remember one longe lesson with my old coach. I made the mistake of telling him that I wasn't sure that I really understood how to half halt. We spent the next 40 minutes or so, on the longe, with side reins, no stirrups and no regular reins working on my problem. After that lesson I could walk, trot, canter and halt just using my seat! <br />As much as it was initially difficult to do, that lesson was probably the single most valuable lesson I ever had, it was a real lightbulb moment as I only needed to concentrate on myself! <br />I really wish more coaches would take the time for longe lessons with their students. They really can be incredibly valuable teaching tools!

[Dee22]

Wow, that's cool Ellie, that is definatly something I'd like to try with the half halts!!
Yes, Eja is very good on the lunge with the side reins, she knows exactly what to do <IMG src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0">&nbsp;and she was awesome last night!
And my lunging person (Jax) knows exactly what to do too, couldn't think of a better person to be in control of my horse while I'm on her with side reins, no reins and no stirrups! <IMG src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0"><IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">

[chenders01]

Glad to hear that your lunge session went so well, Dee, and that Eja was such a <IMG src="smileys/smiley10.gif" border="0">
It's great that you have Jax to help you out too.
Sooo...when is your next torture session? <IMG src="smileys/smiley15.gif" border="0">
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[horsecrazy333]

Dee sounds like you faired better than I did. <br /> <br />Way to go. It's cool when all of a sudden you can use your seat. I like the exercise you spoke about with the sit trot. I'm going to get my coach to work on that one with me.

[SimsLady]

Glad you had a great lesson Dee!&nbsp; I had the pleasure of doing that often when I was younger under my German coach, she even made us learn how to vault!
I am hoping I can do this with Simon one day!&nbsp; If not then that is ok as well.

[jax]

Glad I could help give you pain <IMG src="http://forums.equestrianconnection.com/smileys/smiley15.gif" border="0">

[chenders01]

Why do I get the feeling, Jax, that you enjoyed this waaaay too much?!?!? <IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">&nbsp;<IMG src="smileys/smiley15.gif" border="0">
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