09/12/2025
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ
Tonightโs post is about lunging, and more specifically, what Iโm seeing people do with a lunge rope lately. This isnโt a call out, itโs an essential conversation. Especially for younger Pony Club members or young riders who are trying to learn and are being shown very mixed messages.
Lunging isnโt about exhausting a pony, horse or donkey. Itโs not about strapping things on to make their head look a certain way.
And itโs definitely not about jumping for fun on a circle.
Lunging is controlled schooling from the ground.
The goal is balance, rhythm, relaxation, and correct bend the same basics you ride for, just without a rider. How a horse learns use their body correctly and build up muscle.
๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐๐
1. ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ, ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐.
2. ๐๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ .
3. ๐๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ.
All of these interfere with the horseโs mouth in ways most people donโt actually think through.
Some people justify setups by saying itโs the only way to control a horse while lunging. Thatโs simply not true. These methods donโt teach the horse they force it risk injury. If youโre struggling to control a horse on the lunge, the solution isnโt twisting ropes or clipping to the bit. Itโs going back to basics, groundwork, proper voice, correct body position, and reschooling the horse on how to move forward, bend, and respond calmly. Real control comes from education, not shortcuts.
When you pull a line through the bit, youโre not turning the horseโs body, youโre dragging the bit across the tongue and bars. Over the poll adds pressure behind the ears, which encourages the horse to tilt, brace, or lean rather than bend correctly. Looping it back creates a sliding, inconsistent pressure that changes every stride. The signals arenโt clear or consistent, and the horse doesnโt learn balance, it just learns to cope.
This is why Pony Club rules were so strict about lunging. When I was young, you had to lunge correctly, with the right equipment, or you didnโt lunge at all. That was drilled in again and again, and the same standard followed me at Kildalton College (equine college) where the instructors were strict on it, itโs BHS standard ( while BHS isnโt great on some things, this is one that is). It wasnโt about being picky, it was about understanding what lunging is for.
Which brings me to the big questionโฆโฆ..why donโt people use proper lunging equipment anymore? Why has the lunging cavesson practically disappeared?
Because a cavesson was designed for this exact job.
It sits securely on the nose, doesnโt twist, and gives a clear, even turning aid.
The ring on top allows you to influence the whole body evenly, encouraging correct bend through the spine instead of pulling the head.
The horse can chew, relax, and stretch, all things we want.
A headcollar or rope halter can be okay for lunging if itโs fitted correctly. The key is that it must sit securely, stay in place, and give clear, consistent signals. Used properly, it wonโt twist or interfere with the horseโs mouth, and it can still allow for safe, effective lunging when a cavesson isnโt available.
Then we add the bloody gadgets, side reins, pessoas, bungees often without understanding them and most people shoudnt be allowed near them! Fitted too short or used incorrectly, they restrict natural movement, load joints, and can injure the horseโs muscles.
Poor lunging setup doesnโt just confuse the horse it causes damage over timeโฆ
๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ: twisting or leaning under pressure can create stiffness and tension.
๐ฆ๐ต๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐บ๐๐๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐: restricted or uneven movement leads to tight, overworked muscles, sometimes even spasms.
๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐พ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐: if the horse leans or braces, the propulsive muscles arenโt used correctly, leading to uneven development or strain.
๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐๐: circles already load the inside legs; gadgets and head misalignment amplify that pressure, risking soreness or long-term injury.
Iโll admit Iโve been guilty of late lunging horses (not my own) in headcollars when the proper tools werenโt available. I refuse to lunge on the bit, because the risks far outweigh any control you think youโre gaining.
Lunging isnโt about forcing an outline.
Itโs about rhythm, balance, and relaxation.
If you canโt achieve that with a cavesson, a lunge line, and your voice, adding ropes and gadgets wonโt fix iT, it will only add tension and risk.
This isnโt about being old school ( one traditional thing Iโd keep)
Itโs about not unlearning good horsemanship just because shortcuts became popular.
