Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

RE: [RC] Conditioning horses by Lunging - heidi

The only time I lunge my horse, is to check for soundness, or at NATRC rides
where we lunge for the vet. I NEVER lunge to let them *buck and play, and
never lunge to exercise them. Very hard on the legs in my opinion. (but not
the opinion of others, I'm sure)


I'll agree with you that it puts unnecessary torque on the legs without 
accomplishing much in return.  It is a proven problem with young, growing 
horses--and even though the torque is less damaging to mature bones, I just 
don't see any point in pushing it.

I also agree about the respect issues--on those rare occasions that I do lunge 
my horses, I expect the same sort of respect that I would if I were leading or 
riding them.  Main reason, IMO, to use a lunge line is as an educational tool 
to teach horses to move forward on your body positioning and language--and once 
they "get it" there isn't much more need to use it (except, as you say, as a 
quick visual for soundness, or because some vet wants you to do it as part of a 
judging or exam).

Heidi

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=