Lunging
Lunging is letting a horse run on a circular path while being led on a leash - the so-called lunge .
When lunging, the lunge guide stands in the middle of the lunge circle and holds the lunge in his hand, which points in the direction of the horse's running. A lunging whip is usually held with the other hand. In lunging, as in other disciplines ( riding , driving , western riding and vaulting), a performance badge can be acquired, the German lunging badge .
Lunge for horse training
Lunging is often used in the training of young horses. When already trained animal it becomes a gymnastic training, to relax the muscles used or even after longer downtimes to the horse back condition to work without burdening it with the weight of the rider. Regular hand changes are important so that the horse is not stressed on one side, as well as a circle with a diameter of at least 12 meters.
Working with the double lunge is also the first step in training driving horses. In doing so, the horse first learns to tolerate the touch of the legs by the outer lunge, so that it does not get frightened when it comes into contact with the strands when it is first tensed.
In the second step, you can change the double length work over time so that you gradually follow the horse until you follow the horse on the long rein and leave the circular path ("work on the long rein"). In this way you can get your horse used to accepting help from an instructor behind him. It learns to accept the help given by voice and leash. In the saddle you also have a seat and legs available for action. When lunging, the horse does not have to be “steered” because the path is predetermined by the circular path. “Driving from the ground” is therefore an important training stage before the horse is clamped in front of a tire or a wooden beam for the first time.
Lunge for riding training
Lungeing is also used for equestrian training. The riding student receives riding lessons ( "lunge lessons" ) on the horse lungeed by the riding instructor. In this way, he can initially concentrate exclusively on learning how to sit correctly , without having to coordinate the assistance given to the horse.
Vaulting
In the sport of vaulting , the horse is lunged, while the vaulters exercise on the horse. The circle on which the horse runs on the lunge has a diameter of 18 meters (tournament size).
Lunge guide
The length of the lunge limits the distance the horse can take to the lunge guide. With the lunge he can act on the horse's head by parrying (pulling). In addition, he affects the horse with his voice and the lunging whip. The lunge always runs from the bridle to the lunge guide.
Lunging competition
Lunging competitions are usually held as part of tournaments . Longeing demonstrates trust and obedience. The horse's balance is also checked.
equipment
Lunge
A lunge is a line that is around 8 meters long and usually consists of a nylon or cotton belt. At one end there is a hook or a leather loop with a buckle with which the lunge is attached to the bridle , at the other end there is usually a wrist strap.
The lunge always runs from the bridle to the lunge guide. If necessary, it can be deflected from the bridle using a lunging strap that is strapped to the horse's back instead of a saddle. This deflection makes it possible to influence the horse's posture additionally via rings attached to the lunging belt at different heights.
Double lunge
In addition to the simple lunge, there is the double lunge 16 to 20 meters long, which is attached to the bridle like a rein. It is generally used with a lunging belt, as the lunge must be attached to the side of the horse facing away from the lunge guide at the level of the saddle to prevent the lunge from slipping on this side up to the head. The use of the double lunge allows a more pronounced effect on the posture and movement of the horse and thus a particularly effective training. This principle requires appropriate experience from the lunge guide.
Instead of a double lunge, you can also use two longs, but this usually limits the size of the lunge circle somewhat, as the second lunge must be led around the horse.
Auxiliary reins
To correct lunging be Reins used auszubinden the horse during lunging. The aim is to give the horse support, so that the animal can "swing over the back" when released , so that the back muscles become more active. When lunging, the horse should also work with the abdominal muscles by tensing and loosening them. This is important for building muscle throughout the core. As training aids are: Dreieckszügel or Vienna reins , Lauffer reins , side reins , Gogue or Chambon . Each auxiliary reins has a different mode of action that must always be taken into account. The gogue is widely used for osteopathic lunging . In vaulting, the auxiliary reins help the horse balance the movements of the vaulters.
Lunging belt
The lunging belt is a leather or nylon belt that is attached behind the withers around the horse's trunk and enables the auxiliary reins to be buckled. For this purpose, metal rings are attached to the belt at different heights. The lunging belt can also be replaced by a saddle or a vaulting belt .
Lunging whip
The typical lunging whip consists of a stick and a punch made of nylon or leather, which are long enough to touch the horse. The whip used in vaulting usually has a stick length of about 3 meters (e.g. telescopic stick), the whip is about 5 meters long.
bridle
For lunging one can bridle with noseband are used, the horse reins are taken off or tied under the neck of the horse. The bitless cavesson is also particularly suitable for lunging .
See also
swell
- Driving and Riding Guidelines, Volume 6. Lunging. Ed .: German Equestrian Association . 6th edition. FNverlag of the German Equestrian Association, Warendorf, 1998.
- Guidelines for Driving and Riding, Volume 1. Basic training for rider and horse. Ed .: German Equestrian Association. 27th edition. FNverlag of the German Equestrian Association, Warendorf, 2002.
- Dagmar Schmidt: Lunging - sensible and correct. 2nd edition, Franckh-Kosmos-Verlags-GmbH & Co., Stuttgart, 2002.
- Rainer Hilbt: Lunge horses properly. BLV Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Munich, 2000.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Welsh examination regulations , Welsh e. V.