I find lunging at rides to be annoying and even hazardous since a ridecamp is not a really suitable place to send a horse round and round in circles. Trying to walk one's horse around a horse who is flying around in a circle is tough sometimes, and the dust created is annoying at best. Having been next to someone at a ride a few years ago who INSISTED on lunging instead or riding the day before, I would NEVER recommend it for several reasons:
it is rude to one's neighbors
unless well schooled in the effort, it can be hazardous
a horse who "needs" to be lunged before riding perhaps is not ready for such an event
I have tended to stay away from horses who "need" to be lunged before riding; had a couple way back when, and I thought that it is a waste of time in that case. For training purposes it is invaluable; but a public event is no place to train.
All of that said, if there is an issue with a horse at a ride, and the rider can FIND somewhere out of the way to do it, lunging done right can be a non-factor; but that should be the exception, not a habit - a habit tells me that the horse is really not suited to either the sport or public exposure. While bugs have to be worked out at a ride early on, a bad actor who continues to be a bad actor for a long while should stay home. I for one wouldn't take a horse to a ride knowing that I had to lunge before I mount; goes for going to a show too.
On Jan 28, 2009, at 11:53 PM, sherman wrote:
I don't lounge before riding, even with my energetic horses, that's all of them. Everything I do while getting them ready for the ride seems to prepare them for listening to me. Especially when I carry a couple Manna Pro Apple Wafers in my pocket or waist pack. Funny how they can smell those (:>) I've finally even gotten Sonny to stand still while I mount, not that he'd take off, but he does have a problem with wiggly feet...no so when he smells those wafers in my pocket. I do sometimes make them do thinking work as soon as I mount... starting with a simple "give" to the reins, backing, side passing, turning on forehand and hind, anything to engage their brain and open up the lines of communication.
Kathy
greetings listers.. newbie question alert :)
just wondering what folks think/do about lunging pre-ride. Whilst
I've had my gazi over a year.. i 've just recently started lunging
him.. not so much to use energy, but so he's generally more
