Hints & Tips

Lungeing made easy

(Unique 3-part training kit and programme available from Our Shop!

Work on the lunge is a key part of schooling, but many owners worry about when and how to use training aids for the best results.

I have been training riders and their horses for over 25 years, and this kit has come about as a result, containing my preferred items of equipment. In most cases, work on the lunge to compliments ridden work, but many riders either do not have the necessary equipment, or buy something unsuitable for their horse. It was easier in the long term to put the items together in a kit, with full instructions on how to fit and use each one over a period of several weeks to enable the horse to build correct muscles gradually. There is no 'quick fix' when it comes to training horses, only sensible work achieves long-term health and fitness.

Why is Lungeing Important?

Getting a horse fit and strong requires strengthening his whole body. In my opinion to prevent damage to muscles and joints it is important to ‘body build’ him in the right sequence. For example forcing the back end to 'come under' before the lumbar muscles are strong enough to cope, can, in some circumstances result in wither and shoulder problems.

In the same way forcing the neck into a ‘round’ outline before the back and neck muscles are correctly developed can cause tension in the mouth and strain the poll.  In both situations some horses show a reluctance to lift the forehand.

The area of the horse to strengthen first is the middle section i.e. his abdominal, lumber and dorsal muscles. Once this part of him is strong and he can support his swinging back with strong stomach muscles (necessary for carrying a rider on his back) the horse will naturally extend his neck forwards and downwards, bringing his hind legs underneath him to keep his balance. As he tucks his pelvis under, so the lumbar muscles become even stronger, and able to support the horse as he takes weight on his hind legs. The reaction of taking weight on the hind legs is for the forehand to lift and become lighter. The horse raises his neck from the withers into an arch with the poll the highest point and his nose on or just in front of the vertical. Only then will he accept a correct contact with the bit with a relaxed jaw.

This work can be done from the saddle, but it far better to develop the muscles primarily on the lunge so the horse is not hindered by the weight of the rider until he is strong enough to do so.

Stage 1.

Strengthening your horse is achieved firstly by allowing the horse to stretch correctly through his back with his nose reaching forward and downward towards the ground. Your horse must be allowed the freedom to use all of his joints and stretch down in a natural way, i.e. as though he was looking for grass.

Encouraging the horse to stretch his neck fully causes it to use its stomach and back muscles, thus strengthening the all important back, lumbar and abdominal muscles. A swinging back is supported from underneath by his abdominal muscles which you can see as a visible line along the lower sides of his belly. Using the Chambon encourages stretching, especially if the horse has over-developed muscles under the neck. Pole work is invaluable in developing strength through the back and stomach muscles, as well as activating the joints. Once the horse is fit enough, pole work in the chambon can be very beneficial.

Stage 2.

Once your horse can stretch on the lunge and is relaxed and supple, the next stage should be to encourage him to work in a rounded outline. In order to do this, he must learn to move with a lifted back that can swing, i.e. appearing to bounce up and down, which should have been developed by stretching work. As a result of working with his hind legs underneath him he should arch his neck forward from his withers, with his poll being the highest point of his neck and his head vertical to the ground. To work ‘on the bit’ under saddle he needs to understand working into a rein contact on the lunge to make sure that he is physically and mentally prepared for ridden work. Plain side reins give the horse a steady contact into which to work. Some horses take advantage of elastic or rubber inserts and can learn to lean on the bit, especially if they are tight through the back and have not learned to stretch down properly first.

Stage 3.  

Once your horse can stretch and work in a rounded outline, his training can be developed further by double-lungeing. This is made easy by using my ‘Feeline’ rather than two separate lunge lines. Double lungeing your horse, firstly with the outside rein over his back, helps you to develop the ‘feel’ for the contact you will need when riding him. You can use the reins as if ‘riding’ your horse from the ground, encouraging him to step into the outside rein, and soften into the inside rein.

With the line around the haunches you can develop a greater ’tucking under’ of the haunches using transitions and half-halts requires for collection and extension, and also to prepare him for jumping. By controlling both reins, you can allow the horse to lift his forehand correctly- a natural reaction to the haunches tucking under and ensure that he carries his neck forward and arches with his poll the highest point. By lengthening the reins you can allow your horse to stretch forwards and down at frequent intervals without restricting him which could cause him to come behind the vertical which would hinder the movement of his back muscles.  A correctly trained horse (whether it is novice or advanced) should be able to collect and stretch happily and easily without appearing tense or stressed according to his level of training.

The Chambon Head Piece

Note that the chambon headpiece fits comfortably under the bridle headpiece with the rings through which the cord passes (to the girth) on a separate strap, avoiding pressure at the base of the ears, which some horses resent. There are a lot of nerves in this sensitive area, so it important that your horse can work comfortably on the lunge. A simple snaffle bit and correctly fitted nose band should be used to allow your horse to relax his jaw and chew quietly at the bit.

Developing a Good Outline

Correct training on the lunge helps your horse to develop a good outline when ridden with his poll the highest point. Every horse, whatever level of training, should be able to stretch forwards and downwards to the ground. An advanced horse should be supple enough to work through his body like a concertina, being able to both stretch and collect easily without resistance to the bit or the rider’s aids. Of course, to achieve this under saddle the rider must be sitting correctly and give clear, precise aids!

Problems such as tension and stiffness in the poll area, and behind the saddle may be caused by injury or poor training. If your horse has a physical problem, then it is best to consult your vet for advice before resuming his training programme.

This is Trevor in his first week of training with poor musculature and weak back muscles.

He is quite thin, but you can see from this photo that his stomach muscles have little tone. His pelvis is tipped away to the rear, and he cannot work with his hind legs under his body. His neck is hanging rather than stretching forwards, and there is a dip in front of his withers. His expression is one of ‘what happens to me now’, which is understandable after months of neglect before he came to us.

Here are pictures of Trevor after six months training both on the lunge (Double lungeing in the Feeline shown here:

He has noticeably changed shape, and appears evenly muscled all over. His haunches are much stronger, and his pelvis in correct alignment, allowing him to work with his hind legs under his body now. His neck is raised from his withers, and his poll is the highest point when he works through his back and he is happily carrying his tail - a sign of correctly working back muscles. He can move freely through his shoulders, and he has an alert and confident expression.

Trevor is shown here at his first novice class. When competing it is important to ride your horse as you do at home, and not try to shorten his neck with the reins, otherwise he will become tense in his back and not engage his hind legs. When competing your horse must ‘work through his back’ and is relaxed into the contact- on the bit as opposed to being against the bit.

......and in 2006 returning to his career as a show jumper as well as competing at medium level dressage.

Jumping training should follow on from schooling on the flat. Dressage plays an important part in jumping training. More advanced dressage movements help with turns into jumps, and knocking seconds off your time in the jump-off. Jumping helps any horse become more supple and athletic in his training - dressage horses should be able to jump and jumping horses should be able to do dressage movements. Trevor loves his jumping now he has his confidence back and trusts his rider.

Darco

Darco is a Fresian stallion that has been lunged using Claire Lilley’s Lunge Kit and trained by his owner with Claire’s help for the last three years.

His full name is Darco van de Zuiderwaard, born 2001 in Holland, pure-bred Friesian with sire Ritse 322 and mother's sire is Peke 268. He was approved for breeding in 2006 with a 7.7 score for conformation and gaits and gained a final score 8,5 on the Stallion Performance Test at the Landgestüt Dillenburg in Germany.

Darcos Pedigree

Dear Claire Lilley,

Your Horse Live 2007 seems a long way away now and I don't know if you will remember me coming along to your stand to say 'thank you' for the first class advice contained in you DVD training programmes. My 6 year old Irish sports horse, Sky, and I couldn't have achieved what we have this year without your easy-to-follow and progressive programmes.

Twelve months ago I thought that the high hopes and ambitions that I had for the two of us had vanished forever. Sky's loving and trainable personality changed overnight. Sky was clearly not happy (that's an understatement)! You couldn't even get into the stable to change rugs without it being a trauma for both of us and grooming was a near impossibility; Sky would bear her teeth and prepare to lash out at even the slightest human attention. She refused to be caught from the field and started to nap out on hacks (twice going as far as rearing in protest). My vet suggested that Sky be put down, believing her problems to be psychological (Apparently she had 'dominance issues'!!! Yes I could see that!!).

I wouldn't give up on her and believed, despite being told otherwise, that Sky's change in behaviour was pain-related even though veterinary examinations seemed to prove otherwise at this stage. A second veterinary opinion suggested pain in the lumbar spine and/or pelvis. Sky was slightly unsound in the canter and the vet decided to send Sky for further exam at Leahurst equine hospital. Tests for a granulosa cell tumour proved negative. However, we were getting closer to the problem when the vet diagnosed strained psoas muscles and a gamma scan confirmed inflammation in the lower spine. It was decided that physiotherapy treatment was the best way forward and my wonderful practitioner, Rachael Greetham, worked wonders on a weekly basis to restore movement and relieve pain

We soon reached the point where Sky could begin work again and I have been using your Lungeing Programme for 8 months, 5 times a week. The impact has been tremendous. Sky's muscle tone has greatly improved and she works correctly through her back. Her top line has improved so much that she has had to have a new extra-wide saddle fitted to accommodate! She is an absolute pleasure to own and, I can happily say, ride again! Yes, I've been back in the saddle for a couple of months and have started to use the Scales of Training DVD which I got at Your Horse Live! Sky loves the variety that your programmes offer and I would advocate them to anyone whatever the stage of training they are at. The work over poles has strengthened Sky's muscles and I can see it in her eyes that she is desperate to jump again!!

This has been a long, slow and painful process for both Sky and myself (not to mention my family and friends) but it is thanks to the support that I have had from knowledgeable professionals that has meant that I would never give up, and most of all that support has come from your training programme (I constantly advocate it to the vet, physio, saddler and farrier!!! And anyone else who comes onto our yard!) Thank you for your part in Sky's rehabilitation, your programme has been invaluable. I can now look forward to the new year. My first challenge, to get out hacking again!

Thank you once again,

Kelly Pope and Sky (in Staffordshire)