PONY Magazine - February 2022

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Feb 2022 £3.99 Issue 886

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Learn to

e g n u l

Add to your groundwork repertoire with Meg Elphick’s guide to lungeing

W

hile there’s nothing better than a fun ride on your fave pony, it’s important to make sure his routine’s varied – and there might be days where time or weather doesn’t allow you a big session in the school or hours of hacking. So, lungeing can be a great way to do something different with your pony and work on all the things you do under saddle, but without the weight of a rider.

did you know?

Kit list To lunge your pony safely, you’ll need a...

• bridle with the reins removed, or cavesson • lunge line • helmet, gloves and sturdy boots • lunge whip • safe, enclosed area, such as an arena or round pen

Baby Ari isn’t comfortable wearing a cavesson yet, but I’ll switch to one as soon as he is – it gives you much more control while lungeing.

Where to start?and starting by using your voice.

Whatever your reason for having a go at lungeing, it’s really important that you do so safely. Even if you’re pony’s wellbehaved when you ride, if he’s not often lunged then he might find it a bit exciting! Before you get started, lead him around the arena and practise stopping

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Remember to stay next to his shoulder and hold the lunge line roughly a hand’s width from the clip that attaches it to his bridle or cavesson. Once you know he’ll stop when you ask and move on as soon as you want him to, you’re ready to try lungeing him.

Round and round

The first thing to think about is you and your pony’s positioning. Imagine a triangle, with you at the point and your pony as the base – your lunge line and whip are the two sides of the triangle. This will make sure you’re positioned roughly at your pony’s shoulder, which keeps you Lunge whip safe should he kick out as well Handler Lunge line as making sure you don’t get ahead of him, which will make him want to slow down or stop.

TOP TIP

It’s a really good idea to ask your instructor to lunge your pony first so you can watch and see how your pony will behave. They’ll be able to give you advice when you’re getting started, too.

Imagine a triangle, with you at the point and your pony as the base

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Filled in F

al issue for illers can be a re d some riders! an some ponies – them carefully So, introducing y to setting at home is the ke ilding success and bu yourself up for ride u yo lp he ll h wi confidence, whic g ds. Plus, boostin more clear roun es nc fe dence over your pony’s confi e in or m u yo t him trus is sure to make o. to , rk s wo other areas of hi

TOP TIP

Pop a neckstrap on your pony so you can hold it, rather than pulling on his mouth, if you lose your balance.

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Give him lots of reassurance

Let him take his time to look at it

Move past it

The first step is putting out a filler in the arena and riding around it so your pony can have a good look at it. Start by warming up your pony as you usually would, keeping a good distance from the filler but letting him see it from far away to start with.

Once you’re warmed up, ride a large circle with the filler at its centre in walk, bending your pony around your inside leg but keeping an outside rein contact so he does n’t fall out through his shoulder to move away from it.

Slowly spiral the circle down, using your voice to encourage him if you need to. He can look at the filler, but try to keep his feet moving and him focused on what you’re asking.

Finally, spiral the circle back out and have a go in trot and canter, and on both reins so your pony sees the filler on both sides.

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