PLN
Lunging is one of the most versatile forms of work with a horse. The horse moves on a circle while the handler stands in the centre and directs it using the lunge line, the whip and the voice. It sounds simple, but in practice it is a demanding technique that takes time to master. Lunging done correctly brings enormous benefits, both to the horse and to the rider. Done badly, it can undo many weeks of training.
In this article we draw on "The Principles of Riding, Part III: Lungeing" published by the FN (the German Equestrian Federation), one of the most detailed and respected technical works on the subject.
Key points at a glance
- The lunge line should be around 7-8 m long; the lunging circle at least 12 m in diameter.
- The handler has three aids: the lunge line (contact and restraint), the whip (activation) and the voice (support for both).
- Every lunging session starts with at least 10 minutes of walk without side reins, or on very long side reins.
- A lunging session most often lasts 30-40 minutes, with regular changes of direction and exercises worked on both reins.
- Lunging is done in a snaffle bridle or a cavesson, and – when side reins are used – with a lunging roller and girth.
Contents
- Why lunge a horse?
- Lunging equipment: what you need
- Working with the lunge line, whip and voice
- Lunging step by step
- The most common lunging mistakes
- Lunging with a rider
- Where to lunge
- FAQ
Why lunge a horse?
Lunging serves several purposes at once, and that is exactly why it is so valuable. Above all it allows you to loosen the horse before ridden work, confirm the rhythm and improve the way the back works. For young horses it is an irreplaceable tool for learning basic commands and building trust in people, without the weight of a rider on the back.
But lunging is not only a tool for horses at the start of their career. An advanced horse on the lunge lets the handler observe the movement "from the ground", which is impossible while riding. You see things that simply cannot be noticed from the saddle: how the hindquarters and the back work, what the transitions up and down between gaits really look like.
Lunging also proves useful when a horse cannot be ridden for health reasons. Rubbing under the saddle, back problems, rehabilitation after an injury – these are all situations in which controlled movement on the lunge can be a better solution than ridden work or complete inactivity.
Lunging equipment: what you need
Before you start, check that your equipment is complete. This is not a formality. Working with incomplete or poor quality equipment can end in injury, both for the horse and for you.
The handler's equipment
The lunge line should be about 7-8 m long and made of a material that lies well in the hand and gives a secure grip. A lunge line that is too short limits the size of the circle; one that is too long is hard to control and can trail on the ground.
The lunging whip should have a total length of around 7-8 m. It has to be long enough to reach the horse while you work from the centre of the circle, but not so heavy that it tires your arm after a few minutes.
Gloves are compulsory, not optional. If the horse reacts suddenly, the lunge line can seriously injure your hand. Never lunge without gloves.
The horse's equipment
Lunging is done in a snaffle bridle with the reins removed, or twisted and secured at the neck so the horse cannot accidentally step on them. A cavesson can be used instead of a bridle.
The lunging roller is a key piece of equipment. It has rings at different heights that allow side reins to be attached. The rings must sit evenly on both sides so the side reins can be fastened correctly.
Optionally you can fit boots on the horse's legs to protect against possible injury during work on the circle.
Side reins and other auxiliary reins
This subject deserves separate discussion, because the choice of auxiliary reins has a serious influence on the results of the work.
Plain or triangular side reins are the safest option, especially for horses in basic training. According to the FN guidelines these usually give the best results in corrective work.
The chambon is a rubber-based system, fairly rigid in its action. For that reason the FN manual explicitly advises against it for lunging. It can produce results, but the risk of misuse and incorrect application is too great.
The gogue is a more advanced tool that requires considerable experience. It should not be used before the basics have been mastered.
The handler must understand what each auxiliary rein is meant to achieve. An auxiliary rein is a tool in the hands of someone who understands how it works. Used by someone without that knowledge, it can do more harm than good.
Working with the lunge line, whip and voice
The handler's three aids are the lunge line, the whip and the voice. Each has a different function and all three have to work together.
The lunge line
The hand holding the lunge line should be slightly in front of the horse's mouth. The forearm stays with the elbow close to the body, the hand is held vertically with the thumb uppermost, without twisting the wrist. This way the forearm, the back of the hand, the lunge line and the horse's mouth form a straight line.
The handler gives and takes on the lunge line using a relaxed wrist or, when necessary, the whole arm from shoulder to hand. In this way it is possible to act on the horse's mouth and apply half-halts.
The lunge line should never hang slack, but nor should you pull on it. A horse that constantly leans outwards is often reacting to the handler pulling from their side, with the horse answering by leaning even harder. Correct work on the lunge means taking and giving, not constant tension.
The whip
The whip has an activating effect. Touching the hock produces a greater bend of the hind leg; touching the shoulder or the belly sends the horse outwards.
Cracking the whip is just as bad as silence. Loud use of the whip either worries the horse or dulls it, and makes precise placement impossible. The whip must act gently and accurately, directed at a specific spot.
A whip lying on the ground is a hazard. If the handler bends down for it and the horse reacts suddenly, it can strike them on the head with a hoof. Keep the whip under your arm during any handling of the horse when you are not actively using it.
The voice
The voice is a supporting aid, used together with the lunge line and whip. It does not replace the other aids but complements them.
The "demanding", activating voice has a higher pitch and is shorter and slightly sharper. The "restraining", calming voice has a lower pitch and is drawn out.
The volume should be judged so that the commands are heard, as far as possible, only by the horse being lunged. Loud, insistent shouts and constantly repeated commands disturb other riders and horses, and the horse you are working with becomes deaf to them.
The handler stands in the middle of the circle and as a rule stays there. Constantly moving around disrupts the work and makes it impossible to maintain an even contact.
Lunging step by step
Before you start
Check the surface. It should be firm, not slippery and level. The circle should be at least 12 m in diameter, because a smaller one puts excessive strain on the horse's legs, particularly in canter.
If you lunge in an indoor school or an outdoor arena, make sure the working area is enclosed and the doors are shut. You cannot predict every reaction a horse may have.
The loosening phase
Every session starts with a loosening phase. The horse should walk for at least 10 minutes without side reins or on very long ones. The lunge line should be let out slowly and the horse must move off in a calm walk, not jump forward.
The working phase
After the loosening phase the side reins are shortened so that in trot and canter the line of the horse's forehead and nose is slightly in front of the vertical. Fastening them too tightly at the start forces the horse into an artificial outline, which almost always leads to a stiff back.
The work should be varied: transitions between gaits, changes of tempo within a gait, changes of direction. Lunging too long on one rein dulls the horse and stiffens it rather than loosening it.
Change direction every 5-10 minutes. Total working time: most often 30-40 minutes, with exercises on both reins.
The cooling-down phase
Every session ends with a cooling-down phase in which the horse can stretch forward and down on loosened side reins, walking on both reins.
How to recognise relaxation
A chewing mouth and a swinging back and tail are the signals worth waiting for. Do not push the work on if you cannot see them.
The most common lunging mistakes
The horse escapes outwards and pulls on the lunge line
The most common cause is a handler who resists the horse's pressure by pulling from their own side. That pulling encourages the horse to escape even further outwards. The correct action is taking and giving, not constant tension.
Before correcting position and bend, establishing rhythm and relaxation always comes first.
Contact that is too strong
If the horse leans outwards too hard, the connection between lunge line and mouth becomes too strong. Rhythm, relaxation and an even contact cannot be achieved with the horse held in a fixed position.
The horse falls in
The first thing to check is whether the side reins are correctly fastened. The inside side rein must not be too short. During loosening work both side reins should be the same length.
The horse rushes
Forward movement must not show itself as speed, but as hind legs stepping promptly under the point of balance. Rushing is a common misinterpretation of the activating aids.
The lazy, sluggish horse
Incorrect use of the activating aids dulls a lazy horse even further. The handler must use the whip consistently and fairly. Calm is the key here. First eliminate causes such as incorrect feeding or overwork.
Too much at once
Lunging will not remove problems that appear under saddle in a very short time. Alongside skilled lunging, the most helpful things are calm, patience and time. Work in small steps and confirm every piece of progress.
Lunging with a rider
Lunging is also used to improve the rider's seat. Work on the lunge, riding in light seat, riding without stirrups and balance exercises are all possible when the horse is settled enough for lunge work and the handler is able to lunge a horse with a rider on board.
Calm horses that are easy to sit on are used for this purpose. Before the exercises begin, the horse must be sufficiently loosened.
Where to lunge
The ideal place is an indoor school or a fenced lunging ring. If you work in an outdoor arena, make sure the working area is fenced. In every case the surface must not be slippery; it has to be elastic, springy and well levelled.
A lunging circle used for vaulting should be at least 20 m in diameter for the safety of the vaulters.
A few words to finish
Lunging is only as valuable as the skill and knowledge of the person doing it. Technically correct work on the lunge takes time, practice and, ideally, a good mentor. It is worth learning under the eye of an experienced trainer who can read the situation and point out mistakes before they become habits.
Before you start lunging, make sure you have the right equipment and that you understand what every piece of it does, and why.
FAQ
How long should a lunging session last?
Most often 30-40 minutes in total, with a change of direction every 5-10 minutes and exercises on both reins. Lunging too long on one rein dulls the horse and can cause stiffness.
Does the horse need to be warmed up before lunging?
Yes. Every lunging session starts with a loosening phase: at least 10 minutes of walk without side reins or on very long side reins.
Which side reins should I choose for lunging?
Plain or triangular side reins usually give the best results, particularly in corrective work. The chambon is not recommended for lunging because of its rigid action and the risk of misuse. Every auxiliary rein requires an understanding of how it works.
Why does my horse escape outwards while lunging?
It often stems from the handler's own reaction: they pull on the lunge line and the horse answers by leaning even harder. The correct action is taking and giving, not constant tension.
What size lunging circle do I need?
At least 12 m in diameter. A smaller circle puts excessive strain on the horse's legs. Vaulting requires at least 20 m.
Can lunging replace riding?
No. Lunging complements ridden work; it does not replace it. The purpose of regularly lunging an advanced horse is to support its training, not to substitute for it. As ridden training progresses, the share of lunging gradually decreases.
