Riding the lunge is an integral part of training for beginning riding enthusiasts. The exercise develops proper habits and helps to feel the movements of the horse. Check why it is still worth engaging in this form of training and what you can learn during it.
Normally, one of the first riding lessons involves riding on a lunge. These sessions sometimes last several hours, as they are an important part of learning the movements of getting on a horse. A lunge ride takes place in such a way that the instructor holds the horse on a specially prepared, long rope and maintains its riding course. During this time, the rider sits on the horse and learns to adopt the correct posture. During this time, the rider does not have to control the animal and can fully concentrate on himself. The training program does not allow the rider to skip lunge lessons, because during this type of activity the young rider learns the most important riding habits. It may seem that the classes become tedious and tiresome with time, however they are the key element of learning to ride and the basis for causing the horse to ride on his own.
Even a trained, athletic horse needs regular lunge work. Well-conducted ground work helps remove…
Published by KJW Favourite Ewa Manoryk Sunday, May 13, 2018
This stage of training focuses on developing all the necessary riding habits in the rider. The riding instructor focuses on calmly getting the animal into steady motion and working on the rider’s posture. The young rider has the opportunity to feel the horse, learn how to follow its movements, control it and catch the correct contact.
While riding on the lunge it is possible to learn, among other things, different types of tack, angulation in trot, sitting out the exercise trot, holding the reins, catching the stirrups and moving without them. An important part of learning is also practicing correct posture, i.e. focusing on keeping a straight back, heels down, elbows to the body, and making calm movements with the hands.
Riding a lunge teaches balance, improves motor coordination, and helps develop a stable posture when the horse is trotting. All of the knowledge gained during lungeing helps build your confidence while getting on the horse and makes it easier to move on to the next stages of riding training.
Training is also an important part of the training of more experienced riders. Increased body awareness and knowledge of the horse’s rhythm helps to improve skills. Experience gained during the ride allows even better concentration on the animal’s movements and catching individual mistakes of the rider. This allows you to work on them and try to eliminate them eventually. Refining details can involve details that are not noticeable at first glance and that only the horse can sense, such as the fact that the rider sits more firmly on one ischium while riding.
For riders riding at an advanced level, lungeing is as much a part of training as it is for adept riders. With regular sessions, the rider has a chance to focus on the detailed aspects of riding and effectively improve their style. Riding on the lunge is also useful when getting to know a new animal and catching a harmony of movements with it.
Learning to ride a horse never ends, even for the most experienced riders. Riding on the lunge is not a tedious form of training, but an opportunity to refine the details of your riding and improve your harmony with the horse.
Together with a riding instructor while riding on the lunge, you can learn a lot, broaden your skills and gain more confidence while riding. During the class, the rider works on coordination of movements, balance while riding, focuses on maintaining correct posture and trains overall riding technique.
Featured photo: Freepik
