Best lunge line?

[OldBayHunter]

Long time stalker, first time poster!

I have a 24 yr old gelding who is a chronic lunge line destroyer. We’ve been through 3 in the last 2 months. The real solution is to move him to a larger pasture (he lives 24/7 in a 1/3 acre paddock) so that he can gallop and play on his own. That’s in play, but we’re at a large, commercial barn and we have to wait our turn for an appropriate spot to open up.

In the mean time, I need to find some sort of lungs line solution. He’s shredded two cotton lines and the snap on our nylon one is just holding on. I hate to put a chain on him to lunge because the whole point of us lunging is for him to get to play. I haven’t quite figured out how he’s destroying lunge lines, as he’s not so rowdy that he’s dragging me around the ring. Just lots (and lots) of galloping/bucking/tomfoolery. The lunge lines all live in my trunk and aren’t exposed to anything detrimental (besides the horse).

Any thoughts on something sturdy enough to contain my guy? I’m shelling out $35 every 2-3 weeks at the local tack shop and I’m getting tired of it!

[SonnysMom]

I would be tempted to go with something like the natural horsemanship people use such as yacht rope.
https://horseropeconnection.com/horsemans-training-lead-22ft-yacht-braid/

This is more expensive but set up so that if the snap breaks you can replace just the snap easily.
http://www.sunsethalters.com/yacht-braid-leads-and-lunge-lines.html

You can make you own. I would bet there are YouTube videos on how to do the splicing etc…

https://www.knotandrope.com/

[IPEsq]

You can get the yacht rope with a sturdy, swivel clip. Kind of heavy though to whack them in the jaw if they are really leaping around. But sturdy and replaceable if necessary.

Honestly, I would put your horse to work on the longe line and teach him to cut out all the bucking and racing around. Engage his brain and save your lines! 1/3 acre is enough space to get some bucks out on his own.

Having had some terrible longers, it really is a detriment when say you have to rehab a horse or longe for the vet, etc. when you have one that thinks the attaching of a longe line is only for being crazy and be chased around.

[goodmorning]

Have to echo the 1/3 acre is enough to play and he needs to work on the lunge line. The only time I allow Tom foolery on the LL is at away shows lacking turnout, or perhaps mid winter when there’s ice and turnout has been cancelled.

I’ve had the same lunge line for years, and it’s had plenty of feral & baby horses at the end of it…I would order one from Dover. Perhaps your local supplier has shotty quality?

[LookmaNohands]

I lunge in a regular halter with a chain over the nose that I attach the lunge line to. Works really well.

Unless, of course, you bought the LL second hand and didn’t realize it was dry rotted. That didn’t turn out very well the first time or the second time after having it “repaired.”

LOL.

[merrygoround]

He would get more, better and safer exercise were he to longed correctly.

For years I used a linen tubular longe line, till I made the mistake of loaning it to someone, I now use a longe line made by an English company named Aerborn.

Back to my first sentence . A bridle, a cavesson,side reins, and surcingle, will go along way to giving him safer muscle building/keeping exercise.

[Ainsley688]

I was just going to make a post about good quality lunge lines! I just have an ancient one that’s starting to shred, and HATE the cheap one I bought last year. It wasn’t a good quality, heavier duty one that’s going to last! I would love some brand suggestions!

[Scribbler]

Letting the horse play on the longe line is bad for training, dangerous for the horse, bad for the footing, and a menace to anyone sharing your ring. Can’t you round pen him in his sizable turnout to get out the wiggles?