Frequently Asked Questions About Lunging

1. Why do you lunge off of the horse's nose instead of the bit or halter?

Having your lunge line attach to the center of the horse's nasal bone via the academic cavesson gives you a direct connection to their spine, which promotes correct axial rotation and lateral bending. When we lunge under the chin, like on a halter, pressure on the lunge line pulls the lower jaw in, counter-rotating the neck, and creating tension in the horse's spine and throwing the shoulders out of balance. Lunging off of the bit isn't respectful to the horse's mouth. If they express themselves on the lunge, they're likely to experience sharp pressure on the tongue. We want to preserve the tongue and train it to lick, chew, and swallow in response to the hand to unlock the myofasical and neurological chains connecting the horse from head to hind leg. There are numerous other rein aids on the bit that can be muddled by lunging off of the bit, and we can accidentally train a horse to be dull in the mouth or evasive and fearful of contact. Lunging off the nose is simple, kind, and logical.

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2. Should I lunge my horse to get the energy out before riding?

No. We want to work with our horses with relaxed, yet alert energy. If we are afraid of the horse's energy, we are not ready for that horse. However, a horse having "too much energy" is often a way of describing a horse that is anxious, stressed, confused, or in pain. If a horse is in one of those states, I agree we shouldn't hop right on and ride, but rather take the time to diagnose the issue and better support the horse so that we can work on the ground and under saddle with that relaxed, yet alert energy. Lunging is an important part of a horse's education, so I do often lunge before riding, but never to the point of fatigue or boredom.

3. Aren't all those circles bad for the horse's stifles?

Horses are not made to circle, and certainly not to go on endless redundant circles, as people often do when lunging or schooling. But lunging doesn't have to be just circles. We can do circles, straight lines, serpentines, figure 8s, and any other figure you can think of. This way, we can work on the horse's balance, straightness, and suppleness. We can improve our communication and develop self awareness about our own body position and timing. When a horse needs support in their balance, it's easy to "reel" the horse in to work in hand, and then send them back out to lunge again. So, lunging should support the whole horse in mind and body when done correctly!

Lunging is a fantastic modality to see your horse's entire body move and evaluate self-carriage. It’s also a way to teach your horse the aids, including voice and breath aids, which are extremely helpful when riding. I personally cannot imagine starting horses under saddle without a good foundation of lunging.

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