Horse Lunging, Part 1: Gearing Up

Before you commence lunging your horse, be certain you have the right equipment. You're going to need a lightweight lunge whip that you can use effortlessly, as well as a properly fitted halter and sturdy lunge line. You'll also want to have splint boots, wraps, and bell boots for your horse. The boots will protect the horse's legs and hooves from injury if she happens to have an over reach. What you don't need is for your horse to injure itself and then remember the experience as being a negative one. Keeping the horse at the proper distance an moving in the desired direction is what the halter and lunge line are for. The lunge whip is a training aid only and not your primary training tool.

If possible, choose a round pen or other flat, enclosed area for lungeing exercises. Remember the goal is to keep control of your horse at all times, so don't try this in an area without fencing.

As you begin the lesson, it's best to pick one direction and stay with it for awhile. Hold the lunge line in teh hand that matches the direction you want her to move, if you want her moving left, hold with your left hand. Use your right hand for excess line and the lunge whip. To get your horse moving to the left, lift your left hand and point in that direction, take a step or two in that direction yourself while waving the whip towards the horse's rear or spanking the round behind him. IF your horse doesn't move out and just keeps watching you, spank the ground behind her a little more firmly with your whip or tap her gently on her hindquarters.

Ok, success, your horse is moving in a circle. You should be moving along with her, making small circles in the middle of the round pen with enough lunge line out to let her move freely. Keep the whip low or rope end low and walk quietly. You're trying to teach her that when you're moving, she should be moving. Keep your body behind his withers to ensure forward movement. Stepping in from of the horse's shoulders may cause him to stop.

If your horse does stop, calmly keep moving and touch the whip or rope end to his hind legs to keep him moving until YOU stop your feet. This behavior will seem quite natural to your horse. It's very similar to a way one horse in a herd will stomp its feet and move off. All the other horses in the herd follow without question. The simply fall in line with the lead horse based on the herd pecking order. Making use of these same natural cues will help your horse understand what you're asking for. It begins with your body language, then verbal cues, then light contact when necessary.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to remain patient and reward every effort by your horse to do the right thing. Each small success should be celebrated to prevent frustration for you and the horse, and to encourage the proper behavior in the future. Lungeing is an important training tool, which is why it is recommended by so many popular horse websites.