Lunge Lesson

[Dee22]

Thanks guys!

Chenders - Yes, I'm lucky to have Jax and a couple&nbsp;other friends around the barn to help me out. We all do things for each other when needed, watering hay, blanketing, borrowing stuff <IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">, taking pictures or video taping... it's nice to have some people you can do stuff like that with <IMG src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0">. And Eja was like a pro! But I had a feeling she would be, I give my 7 yr old neice lunge lessons on her (without the side reins) and she acts like a star with her... so I figured it coudln't be much different with me... she's almost 14, she's probably done this kind of stuff many times before LOL.
HC - Yeah, it was a neat thing to do... I found the excersize on a website and thought it was cool, I'll try and find the site and post a&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;link directly to the instructions for you, it really helped me feel what sit trot is *really* supposed to feel like!! Of course I went to the barn and started to tell Jax about this excersize and she already knew it<IMG src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0">&nbsp;LOL.
Sims - I'm sure you'll be able to do it with Simon for sure! Just keep at the lunging and make him a pro <IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">&nbsp;&amp; hopefully you'll be able to do it on him someday<IMG src="smileys/smiley14.gif" border="0">
Jax - Hmmm, so *really* you wanted to do this to make me feel pain hmmm?? It's okay, I'm sure I'll get my revenge! Muahahahahaha!!!

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[jax]

Well, I asked last night if she could feel her seatbones and she couldn't at first...but she can now <IMG src="http://www.addis-welt.de/smilie/smilie/kampf/buttkick.gif" border="0">&nbsp;Even if she is just sitting at a desk.
I just do this so everyone can LEARN.&nbsp; My motives are honest.&nbsp; Honest, I say!! <IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">

[Dee22]

LOL, I beleive that Jax *is* trying to help me.... but yeeesss, she *does* seem to be enjoying my pain a leeetle too much <IMG src="smileys/smiley5.gif" border="0"><IMG src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0"><IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">... that's okay, I'm sure at some point she might ask ME to lunger HER haha, than we'll see who's laughing!! <IMG src="smileys/smiley4.gif" border="0">
HC&nbsp;- Here is the site that I found. I'm sure some people already know about it <IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">&nbsp;But I don't think I've seen it and it's a pretty cool site! I linked you right to the page with all the lunging stuff, just scroll down the page until you see the info about lunging. Have fun! <IMG src="smileys/smiley4.gif" border="0">
<A href="http://www.artofriding.com/articles/sittingtrot.html" target="_blank">http://www.artofriding.com/articles/sittingtrot.html</A>

[Ruth]

If you want to feel real pain try galloping a racehorse after becoming a dressage rider!!!! Ooh those thigh muscles burn for days. Actually I think the worst sore muscles I ever had were from playing outdoor Paintball. <br /> <br />rickie: I haven't looked at any of your green font on the pathetic computer yet. I'll let you know. Right now my boss is on it working, while I make puppies over here. No, I take that back she's doing a crossword puzzle. Gotta like this job! <br /> <br />I sometimes practice half-halts while driving my car. <br /><edited><editID>Ruth</editID><editDate>38394.6404398148</editDate></edited>

[Dee22]

LOL, I wasn't *that* sore <IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">&nbsp;I could just feel the muscles I worked... which I like... but not sore enough to complain... except maybe my shoulders but I always have sore shoulders no matter what LOL.
Practice half halts in your car? How&nbsp;DO you do this? <IMG src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0"><IMG src="smileys/smiley4.gif" border="0">&nbsp;Sounds interesting!

[Piaffing]

Lunging is great for the rider to feel things and not worry about the horse. Lunging with or without a rider and not using sidereins does nothing for the horse. The sidereins puts the horse into a position so that they are using themselves.
FYI - If you are doing your coaching levels you must lunge with sidereins with or wthout a rider.

[Dee22]

Piaffing, yes, it was great not having to worry about what the horse was doing! At first it was a bit difficult to 'let go', my horse got a bit lazy and I tried to add leg but at the same time Jax asked her to move forward and she kind of rushed forward a bit, I had to try and remember not to do anything in regards to controlling the horse and leave that job for Jax.
I had never, ever been on the lunge before so it was very new to me but once I was up there for a few minutes&nbsp;it was quite easy to forget about everything and just relax and enjoy the ride and work on ME!
I was also very impressed with my horse, she did such a great job! She's usually a bit tense but she fully relaxed, went very well in the side reins and just did her thing!
I think I'm definatly going to be doing more&nbsp;of that! I think it will really improve my riding! <IMG src="smileys/smiley4.gif" border="0">&nbsp;

[Ruth]

For half-halts in your car: I only practice the seat movement as it is hard to use your leg without speeding up! I used to tip my pelvis down periodically like you would in a half-halt, more in order to develop my muscles because they were weak.

[queenrider]

I have a friend who was getting a lunge lesson in the indoor from her big Name Trainer.&nbsp; Her horse had on side reins.&nbsp; The horse tripped and could not regain his balance due to the side reins.&nbsp; Both fell.&nbsp; The horse fell on the rider causing her serious injury with a broken ankle.&nbsp; I don't think riders should be lunged with side reins.

[*rickie*]

Just as any peice of equipment, side reins are great tools, when use properly! <br /> <br />I personaly lounge in side reins, and I have also ridden in side reins....... <br /> <br />I think for a person learning *steady contact* they are a great tool to ride in. That way the rider can feel what it's like to have an elastic contact, and try to match it! That's how I learnt anyways, and found it alot easier than trying to have it explained! It's hard to explain a feeling, you really need to feel it to understand it! <br /> <br />And as for being lounged in side reins, I'm a huge fan of it! It's hard to sit on a horse and work on your own position, when you're horse is circling around like a llama! <br /> <br />Dee, I'm really thrilled that you had so much fun. Keep at it, and you'll improve your riding ementially! (sp?)

[Piaffing]

Any horse can trip and fall with or without sidereins at any time. It could have been because of an error on the part of the rider or person lunging. It also might have been the footing.

[chenders01]

Yes, it's true that any horse can trip and fall at any time, but it's more likely that if its head is being restrained by side-reins, it won't be able to recover its balance, like it can if its head is *not* being restrained.
I, personally, would not&nbsp;ever ride a horse with side-reins&nbsp;on, but I guess it's one of those things where you have to make your own decision.&nbsp; It sounds as though Eja is steady enough to handle it.&nbsp; If my horse was a natural clutz who doesn't like to pick up his feet (like my QH was) I wouldn't do it.
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[Dee22]

Weeelll, I agree with both Chenders &amp; Piaffing... on one hand, yes, accidents happen, we really do up our chances of getting hurt every time we step near a horse or get onto a horses back... horses also trip and fall, it happens...
BUT I also understand that there are ways to make riding safer... I would never ride my horse around OFF the lunge line in side reins... I think that is more dangerous than on the lunge line... for my particular horse anyway...
I think it's a matter of knowing your horse... I know my horse, on the lunge she is a pro, with and without side reins. I don't&nbsp;make the side reins so tight that is she were to trip her head would be tied down and&nbsp;therefore unable to regain her balance. I also get someone (jax) with TONS of experience to lunge, she knows my horse, knows me and knows what she's doing... so, maybe some people don't agree with lunging in side reins, it's dangerous... but I make it as safe as possible by knowing my horse, what she's capable of along with everything mentioned above.
There are some people that say cross country is so dangerous, or racing is dangerous, hey, jumping is dangerous, or even just going on a hack is dangerous.... my friends gallop their horses through the fields... that could be dangerous too.... <IMG src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0">
Guess you just have to make whatever you do as safe as possible<IMG src="smileys/smiley14.gif" border="0"> <IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">

I used side reins on the lunge&nbsp;because my horse is fantastic in them. It also helps her to use herself properly making sitting trot more comfortable not only for me but for her too, I'm just learning how to sit the trot *properly*, if she wasn't round for that I would probably have a harder time sitting which might hurt her back... we are both more appreciative of the side reins in the end! <IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">&nbsp;

[jax]

[QUOTE=Dee22]
.... my friends gallop their horses through the fields... that could be dangerous too.... <IMG src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0">
[/QUOTE]
Are you talking to me? <IMG src="smileys/smiley23.gif" border="0">&nbsp;<IMG src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0">
The sidereins are positioned so that there is contact with the bit, but the head is not being moved from a "natural" position (i.e. not pulled&nbsp;in to vertical, but allowed to be up and open).&nbsp; The head can still go up and down if needed for balance.&nbsp; No, it can't be stretched all the way out, but that's about the only restriction.&nbsp; Let's face it, if God forbid your horse is going to trip big enough to send them ass over teakettle, not much is going to save them.&nbsp;

[cadence]

Ellie, Jax, I'm SO with you.&nbsp; Lunge lessons are AMAZING.&nbsp; I can tell a rider who has been working on the lunge and one who hasn't immediately.&nbsp; A lunge rider has learned to develop superior core strength - that horse could haul on those reins and will NOT be able to dislodge a lunge-rider out of their position in the saddle.&nbsp; If a horse is being ridden by a rider who works regularly on the lunge, that horse&nbsp;will have to work darn persistently hard and put some real solid, violent effort into&nbsp;getting that rider out of the saddle because a lunge rider has learned to develop core balance and core strength.&nbsp; You learn to manipulate and control your body in ways you didn't know you could before.&nbsp; Your balance becomes so superior that you no longer need your eyes for anything.&nbsp;&nbsp;A lunge rider learns to feel each muscle of the horse and becomes proficient in knowing exactly what any given leg on the horse is doing at any given point in time, so much so&nbsp;there is no need to look to see what lead they're on, or see which diagonal they're rising on or look to see if the horse is crooked - because you can feel it automatically.&nbsp; It is an amazing difference on your sense of one-ness with your horse.&nbsp;A lunge rider soon learns that every single movement, including halt, is done through your body.&nbsp; Your HANDS ARE JUST DECORATION and perhaps used for&nbsp;a minor adjustment or flexion of the jaw&nbsp;but 98% of all aids should come through your body and you learn the joy of this breakthrough while working on the lunge!!!&nbsp;I have much enthusiasm for lunge work.&nbsp; It's all the difference between becoming an average rider and becoming an elite rider.&nbsp; Everyone has&nbsp;the ability to become an elite rider, but it comes from the practice, due diligence and the blood, sweat and tears with practicing.&nbsp; Lunge work provides all this.&nbsp;
I also agree with lunging in side reins and not draw reins.&nbsp; Your purpose is to be hands-free and draw reins when let go will slip forward and the horse will trip on them leading to iminent disaster.&nbsp; Side reins, if attached properly, will help the horse move correctly on the bit and come through from behind over the back. Side reins on the lunge are safe even with a rider in the&nbsp;saddle because there is a person in control on the ground.&nbsp; The side reins are stable and the rider's legs do the work of bringing the horse on the bit and cause the horse to come through.&nbsp;

[Ruth]

I have a fear of lunge lessons to this day because when I was little and first learning to ride I used to fall off every time they put me on the lunge. It's really stupid but it's there! I do think that lunge lessons are extremely beneficial, but this is such an instinctive fear that it's hard to get over! Also my horse is a complete moron on the lunge.

[Piaffing]

You have to use the right horse to lunge a rider. Not every horse is sutable.

[jax]

Ruth, you need to get a "holy sh*t" handle on your saddle, then grab on and go! <IMG src="smileys/smiley4.gif" border="0">

[Ruth]

I'd probably be OK on a schoolmaster type once I got going. Funny how these things stick with us though.

[Xenasaur]

side reins while mounter are perfectly fine IMO.... I used to do vaultige for years and our horses always had side reins on and we did alot of work in canter...
of course accidents happen... but it takes alot for a horse to actually fall right down, ecspecially just on the loung line doing basic work like that...
And since Eja is a draft cross she most likely has an extremly&nbsp;balanced and solid gait, so im sure the likly hood of her actually falling down while doing some basic work is really unlikely...
Alot of people have this massive misconception that draw reins are bad or something, but really they are like anything else, when used properly and for the right reason, they are a beneficial tool.