So I’ve been bringing along a little project pony, and she’s been doing great with mixing a lunging/groundwork day into her schedule. We have a small indoor that’s perfect for this.
I was wondering if y’all had any favorite lunge/ground exercises you like to do? Particularly with a youngster who is just starting on small fences under saddle. I like to mix things up and not just have her go in the same boring circle all the time, and she seems to enjoy it as well.
We’ve done poles, raised poles, jumps, free jumps, some follow the leader, and a few desensitization things. Occasionally, we just go for a walk around the farm lol. Any other suggestions for things I can do with her both on and off the lunge?
Can you longe her square, trot down the rail until you can’t keep up with her and then straight across the arena and up the other rail? You can do this and loop down the arena and back up.
Also all the lateral in hand work will be useful for her to carry herself even if you aren’t making a dressage horse. Turn on the forehand to shoulder in on a circle to shoulder in on a straight line to leg yield to half pass and pirouette all at walk. Excelleht for ab muscles and topline.
And trail riding.
I also like messing around with liberty if you have the space for it. It’s cool when a horse latches on and does a 20 meter circle around you w t c and halt with no longe line just voice and arm signals. Some of them pick this up right away others will always wander out of your force field.
I also like teaching whoa and stand while I was walking away and around the horse, go a distance and whistle to come. They pick up on this fast too. It’s useful to have whoa as a voice command though it files out the window under real stress and whistle to come in the field. Clicker treats cab help. Standing to wait for a command is usefulm
I like the liberty work because it builds communication and there is no way to compel the horse, they are with you out of curiosity and interest and enjoyment
Bert deNemethy’s book would be helpful. The Pessoa rig, when well fitted, works well. Joey Darby was quite skillful with long reigning but that is not easy to do well and I don’t recall a book that would be helpful.
and whistle to come in the field. Clicker treats cab help. Standing to wait for a command is usefulm