29/04/2026
At Pony Club activities and events, lungeing is often part of how riders prepare their horses to work.
With that in mind, the Pony Club Australia Horse Welfare Policy asks coaches and officials to monitor for horses being lunged for more than 20 minutes.
As a guide, that looks like:
โข 5 minutes warm-up
โข 10 minutes work
โข 5 minutes cool-down
This isnโt about being restrictive. Itโs about understanding what lungeing actually asks of the horse.
Horses did not evolve to move continuously in circles. In a natural setting, their movement is variedโฆ straight lines, changes of direction, changes of pace.
On the lunge, every stride places load through the same side of the body. The inside limbs and joints absorb repeated forces, while the outside limbs stabilise and push. Over time, that asymmetrical loading adds up.
Thatโs before you factor in surface, speed, balance, and the horseโs level of training.
Research has shown that in an average round pen, a horse may cover around 5km in just 20 minutes of lunging, all on a constant curve.
Thatโs a significant amount of repetitive circular work, particularly if itโs happening before the horse has even started its ridden work.
Thereโs also a training consideration.
Fatigue affects coordination, balance, and the horseโs ability to respond clearly to aids. A horse that is tired, physically or mentally, is more likely to lose quality of movement, struggle to concentrate, or show signs of discomfort.
๐ด What this means in practice
Lungeing has a place. It can help a horse settle, stretch, or prepare to work.
But it should be short, purposeful and planned, not something done continuously beforehand or used as a default.
More is not better here. In many cases, itโs the opposite.
A horse thatโs already fatigued before it begins is not being set up to perform well, or feel comfortable doing so.
