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Expert
Posts: 2685
   
| So I made a post beginning of this week about my mare making the best run of her life Sunday. Due to my work schedule this was after being lunged in the arena (loose- not tight circles) sat-thurs and rode fri & sat before the race. I have done the same this week with a barrel race Sat. I work 8-8 mon-thurs. I am pooped by the time I get done with chores and it's usually 10 or so by the time I'm done. I just don't have it to ride. My schedule should change once we hire someone but at the moment this is what I've got.
How many of you pony/ lunge one to keep them in shape? |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| I pony some, don't lunge horses at all.
If I have time to lunge, I have time to ride.
I will pony one one day the next day I will pony the one I rode previously |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| What Cheryl said. I hate lungeing a horse much less use it instead of riding. Bores me to tears and if some reason if my horse thinks we are going to the round pen to lunge, he stops. He would much rather be ridden. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| I don't hate lunging my horses. I lunge them in the arena and the gelding bucks and plays so I don't think they hate it either. They get to roll in the sand and such. Its not so much about the time (I mean yes I like to get in bed before midnight) but it is much easier for me to halter 2 horses and grab a lunge whip. I don't have to chase mine, I just stand in the middle and turn. To each their own- I guess its just that this is the first time I have ever competed on a horse without riding at least 4 days a week. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| cheryl makofka - 2015-03-12 6:27 PM I pony some, don't lunge horses at all. If I have time to lunge, I have time to ride. I will pony one one day the next day I will pony the one I rode previously
Same here, I ride one and pony the other 2 and rotate who gets saddled. |
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  Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | I do not lunge my horses but use ponying for conditioning quite a bit. |
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 Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7617
Location: Dubach, LA | Don't feel bad. Free lunging is okay. I have an 80 foot round pen and my vet has actually told me that it's easier on my senior horse. It's my best option because he will pony but not be ponied. He's sorta an A**. But he's my A**, and I love him. At least you are excerising your horse. Lots of people don't do that!
Edited by CanCan 2015-03-12 8:05 PM
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8552
Location: sunny california | if need to exersize my lazy gelding all I have to do is lock him out of the barn for a few minutes he has a tantrum and runs around like crazy |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| RoaniePonie11 - 2015-03-12 7:28 PM
I don't hate lunging my horses. I lunge them in the arena and the gelding bucks and plays so I don't think they hate it either. They get to roll in the sand and such. Its not so much about the time (I mean yes I like to get in bed before midnight) but it is much easier for me to halter 2 horses and grab a lunge whip. I don't have to chase mine, I just stand in the middle and turn. To each their own- I guess its just that this is the first time I have ever competed on a horse without riding at least 4 days a week.
Unless saddled, lunging doesn't do the same job, not working the same muscles, not the same weight bearing exercise, therefore a horse strictly lunging as you are doing doesn't build up the fast, and slow twitch muscles, doesn't build up the top line, doesn't build up the wind capacity doesn't contribute as much to bone density.
I also believe I read somewhere it is actually harder on the joints continuous circles.
Ground also plays into tendons, ligaments, and joints.
If lunging was superior over riding, everyone would do it |
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 Unknown Drip
Posts: 5624
Location: Back in MT BABY!!! | I might lunge a colt to see if he's going to buck but not to condition them. I do however pony most every day. Like someone said I swap them as to who gets ponied. That being said if all you have time for is to lunge then it's better then nothing at all |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | I don't really care what you do to keep one in shape, but I do feel that it is important to ride one a bit outside of a barrel race. I had two horses come in a couple of years ago who were both blown sky high. before coming to me, they went on the Eurociser all week and were only ridden at the barrel races. Their warm up was pretty short even then. They pretty much got it in their heads that if you were on their back, it meant that it was time to run. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | If what you are doing is working, keep doing it... |
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 Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | I say do what you gotta do. I usually ride one and pony one and swap the next day. But some days I will just longe them if I don't have time or drive to ride. Some exercise is better than no exercise |
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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | You're not giving up riding your horse forever.. I think you're fine. Do what you have to do, atleast you are lunging and not just going to the races with no excersise! Mine gets lunged 3-4 times a week because my apartment is 2 hours away from my barn and when i'm home on the weekends im still 30 minutes away, so I only get to ride 2-3 times a week right now, or I go to a barrel race.
Plus if she had her best run.. Maybe this is the routine she likes? I would ride her the 2nd day after she ran then lunge the rest of the week if this really makes her run better. |
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 Board Detective
Posts: 3885
Location: Millen Ga | cheryl makofka - 2015-03-12 9:18 PM RoaniePonie11 - 2015-03-12 7:28 PM I don't hate lunging my horses. I lunge them in the arena and the gelding bucks and plays so I don't think they hate it either. They get to roll in the sand and such. Its not so much about the time (I mean yes I like to get in bed before midnight) but it is much easier for me to halter 2 horses and grab a lunge whip. I don't have to chase mine, I just stand in the middle and turn. To each their own- I guess its just that this is the first time I have ever competed on a horse without riding at least 4 days a week. Unless saddled, lunging doesn't do the same job, not working the same muscles, not the same weight bearing exercise, therefore a horse strictly lunging as you are doing doesn't build up the fast, and slow twitch muscles, doesn't build up the top line, doesn't build up the wind capacity doesn't contribute as much to bone density. I also believe I read somewhere it is actually harder on the joints continuous circles. Ground also plays into tendons, ligaments, and joints. If lunging was superior over riding, everyone would do it
Curious- those of you that pony- do you pony saddled? If not, then isnt what you said about lunging true of ponying? |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Tanya - 2015-03-13 7:27 AM cheryl makofka - 2015-03-12 9:18 PM RoaniePonie11 - 2015-03-12 7:28 PM I don't hate lunging my horses. I lunge them in the arena and the gelding bucks and plays so I don't think they hate it either. They get to roll in the sand and such. Its not so much about the time (I mean yes I like to get in bed before midnight) but it is much easier for me to halter 2 horses and grab a lunge whip. I don't have to chase mine, I just stand in the middle and turn. To each their own- I guess its just that this is the first time I have ever competed on a horse without riding at least 4 days a week. Unless saddled, lunging doesn't do the same job, not working the same muscles, not the same weight bearing exercise, therefore a horse strictly lunging as you are doing doesn't build up the fast, and slow twitch muscles, doesn't build up the top line, doesn't build up the wind capacity doesn't contribute as much to bone density. I also believe I read somewhere it is actually harder on the joints continuous circles. Ground also plays into tendons, ligaments, and joints. If lunging was superior over riding, everyone would do it
I only saddle the one I am riding. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 628
Location: Missouri | I only pony my good mare. She gets too hot when I decide to try and ride her and then we just end up getting into it. Best to just pony her with my back up horse and keep it simple. |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | I haven't ever lunged anything for exercise, but I will if I want t o get them out somewhere when we are on the road.
I do pony horses to keep them in shape. I have a couple I pony and a couple I pony off of. One mare is a pill to ride in the pasture so she gets ponied because I get bored riding in the arena. When you are trying to minimize your time, and maximize your effectiveness ponying one is key.
You said you still rode acouple days before the race. Keep doing that routine and see what your horse likes. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Location: Lost in the swamps | It's better than nothing at all. I know people that don't ever ride or even exercise their poor horses during the week and
go to a barrel race and expect them to keep up and do amazing! Smh!  |
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 No Fear
Posts: 5089
Location: TN | I bought a bareback pad to use when I am in a time crunch. It's so simple for the days you have to work....throw it on, get on and ride....it is great exercise for me as well to ride bareback so it's a win, win.....saddle is used the rest of the time.... |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | SaraJean - 2015-03-12 7:35 PM I do not lunge my horses but use ponying for conditioning quite a bit.
^^^^^^This. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | This sounds good in theory, but I would think that would mess with your horses brain a little? Just that you work with them on a line every day... then the one day you get in saddle you ask her for a run. So would she then associate being ridden with barrel racing period VS listening to the rider and being multifaceted. Just trying to give you some more to think about.
I know there are some horses out there that you really cant ride during the week and just have to pony them or lunge them to keep them in shape. If it works, it works! Everyone has their own way of doing things!
I also don't mind lunging if I have a round pen, both of my horses do better free lunging and me communicating with my body over trying to control them on a line and a whip. |
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Regular
Posts: 57
| Not everyone may a agree but you have to work your horses the best you can with the time that you have. Because of my work schedule and three horses to work I do alot lunging more then anything. I try to lunge 4-5 times a week and ride each horse one day a week outside of barrelraces. My horses work good, are in good shape, and do not get injuried. Like I said not everyone may agree, but you have to do want works best for you. I do not ponie because my horses will not ponie. One is a kicker the other is to scared he is going to be kicked. The third one is good but with the other two how they are it just does not work out. |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | I free lunge a lot over 3 acres. More or less, I stand with the whip and they run, buck, play and snort. If they want to trot, they trot, lope, they lope, run full out, have fun. No, it isn't the same as riding, and collection and you can't pinpoint the muscles you want worked. BUT, I don't always have time. And I disagree with if I have time to lunge, then I have time to ride. Everyone's in a different situation. Also, when my daughter is home from school for half days, spring breaks, winter breaks and the hardest, summer break; It's even harder. She's only 6, and needs entertainment and supervision.
Lunging is better than nothing in my opinion. I do it. And it works for me. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 806
Location: Arkansas | I think she said that she did ride her horse on Fri/Sat and ran him on Sunday.. So, she isn't giving up riding entirely.
I would think that depending on what you did with your horse when you were lounging him could contribute to having a good run depending upon what your horses needs were prior to. You could have improved his listening to you, reaching up underneath himself, using his backend to turn and push off, etcs and sometimes for myself it allows me to "see" how my horse moves in order for me to understand better his need from me with my body position, legs or hands. |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | The biggest drawback I see in not riding is that you lose some of YOUR edge as a rider if you're not riding as much.
As far as the horse, free lunging in a big pen or a field is one of the best ways to condition one, IMO. If you don't make it about going around in circles & let them play and encourage it, and let them go in different directions, they'll work MUCH harder. I free lunge 3-4 horses at the same time in one of our fields that's about 5 acres. They get to racing each other and and playing and run a whole lot harder than they ever do when I'm riding. They get a much better workout that way & they enjoy it. Of course, they've all been round penned to death and they're turned out together so they all get along and I can move them wherever I need to.
One of the Arab halter trainers I worked for would turn two at a time out in the big indoor arena and would do the same thing. His horses were in phenomenal shape. That's where I got the idea to free lunge mine in the pasture. |
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Location: In my own little world | I have one that I lunge alot. He doesn't need pattern work so he doesn't go to the arena much. I can really get him into an extended trot on the lunge line. He gets in great shape. I also ride him but on days I am short on time he is the one that gets the reprieve from riding. He does a lot of bucking and playing when he is lunged. Do what you have to do to make it work. Everyone's circumstances are different. I don't pony because the one is meaner than heck to the other one and it turns into a ruckus so that doesn't work for me. |
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Veteran
Posts: 220
Location: Conroe, TX 77304 | I pony my mare and always have and sometimes I lunge her. She is a pill and it is impossible to ride outside of a run and get any kind of good exercise for her. That is just the way she is and has been all of her life, she is now 24 and I have been doing that since she was 6. If you try to ride her outside of her run, it is not real beneficial exercise. It has worked for us and she has won lots of money for me and gone to big races and placed. It is the kind of exercise she gets - that is the point. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Tanya - 2015-03-13 7:27 AM cheryl makofka - 2015-03-12 9:18 PM RoaniePonie11 - 2015-03-12 7:28 PM I don't hate lunging my horses. I lunge them in the arena and the gelding bucks and plays so I don't think they hate it either. They get to roll in the sand and such. Its not so much about the time (I mean yes I like to get in bed before midnight) but it is much easier for me to halter 2 horses and grab a lunge whip. I don't have to chase mine, I just stand in the middle and turn. To each their own- I guess its just that this is the first time I have ever competed on a horse without riding at least 4 days a week. Unless saddled, lunging doesn't do the same job, not working the same muscles, not the same weight bearing exercise, therefore a horse strictly lunging as you are doing doesn't build up the fast, and slow twitch muscles, doesn't build up the top line, doesn't build up the wind capacity doesn't contribute as much to bone density. I also believe I read somewhere it is actually harder on the joints continuous circles. Ground also plays into tendons, ligaments, and joints. If lunging was superior over riding, everyone would do it
I like to pony Joker because he's rough to ride and can be a monster - running off, stopping suddenly etc. He is my monster, I created him and I'll live with him since he's 22 and I'm just glad he can still run. However, I do try to ride him once every 10 days, or at least saddle him before I pony him. I want his back to be conditioned to carry the saddle so I don't always pony him "naked" (or as he prefers, covered in Back on Track stuff LOL).
Matt lunges his pretty frequently but it's not something I do. Partly because I don't like doing so many small circles, and partly because I don't have a good spot to do it. I ride mine out through the hay fields and can go 1/4 mile in a straight line or do big loops around one section of the field.
I have 5 right now to ride so I will ride Chance & pony one of the others, then ride Cliff or Streak & pony another horse, and squeeze in a quick training session with Elvis alone. I rotate riding Cliff & Streak since either of them will pony or be ponied, but Chance is always ridden because you can't pony him. I have been known to work four at once by ponying 3 off of Chance.....gotta have a really long lead rope for at least one horse that way. It can quickly turn into a circus with horses trading sides and passing each other, so I don't work 4 at once very often....only in an emergency LOL. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Tanya - 2015-03-13 7:27 AM
cheryl makofka - 2015-03-12 9:18 PM RoaniePonie11 - 2015-03-12 7:28 PM I don't hate lunging my horses. I lunge them in the arena and the gelding bucks and plays so I don't think they hate it either. They get to roll in the sand and such. Its not so much about the time (I mean yes I like to get in bed before midnight) but it is much easier for me to halter 2 horses and grab a lunge whip. I don't have to chase mine, I just stand in the middle and turn. To each their own- I guess its just that this is the first time I have ever competed on a horse without riding at least 4 days a week. Unless saddled, lunging doesn't do the same job, not working the same muscles, not the same weight bearing exercise, therefore a horse strictly lunging as you are doing doesn't build up the fast, and slow twitch muscles, doesn't build up the top line, doesn't build up the wind capacity doesn't contribute as much to bone density. I also believe I read somewhere it is actually harder on the joints continuous circles. Ground also plays into tendons, ligaments, and joints. If lunging was superior over riding, everyone would do it
Sometimes I pony saddled, sometimes not.
The part you missed is the next day I ride the other horse, and pony the one I rode.
Even ponying with a saddle they don't get the same workout as the horse being rode, as the horse I am riding I will extend and collect at all different speeds, I pick the leads, I will counter bend, move their entire body around.
Even when exercising, it is still a training session.
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Honestly, during the week I'll lunge my good mare for 15 minutes or so before I get on her. Trot 5 minutes both directions, then a bit of loping. This is the most broke, gently horse I own. I do it for pure conditioning and warm up. Then I go saddle, and spend about fifteen minutes doing something interesting like work poles or slow working a barrel. I never work the pattern on her faster than a trot. Then I spend the next 15-30 minutes just walking her out. Then I go to the trailer, pull her saddle and then spend five minutes or so just walking around looking at stuff. I spend lots of bonding time, and when I do ride, it's no pressure, not hard work, and she just thrives on it. I do pony her quite a bit.
Getting ready to run, I saddle, do wraps, and spend 30 minutes mostly walking around. I will spend about 10 of those trotting and loping, but always split that with walking.
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Given your circumstances, do what you have to do.
I would try to incorporate more riding into your schedule as your work allows. It's easy to tell you what you should and shouldn't be doing when you've got all the time in the world to do it.
I've gotten pretty good at saddling fast so I could ride with limited time.. which means I don't always get to condition her mane and tail and scrub every last bit of her off.. but on the days where it's either, 20 minute ride or nothing, she will have some knots in her mane.. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | I like to do groundwork and lunging but it's important not to do that EVERY day. If it were me and my horse preparing for a competition season, no more than 1 or 2 sessions a week would be all ground work. I often lunge my horse for a few minutes before I get on just to make sure I get all the kinks worked out, especially if he hasn't been ridden in a few days. His living situatiuation doesn't allow him to run and buck and play unless I turn him out in an arena for a few minutes.
If you can lunge for 20 minutes, then you can ride for 20 minutes. It really isn't THAT much more time to throw a saddle on and get to work. |
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Badonkadonk
Posts: 4189
Location: Mississippi | I had one a few years ago that I lunged during the week. She was a fire breathing dragon and it was just easier to lunge her. She only got saddled if we went to a barrel race. She was a blast to run but horrible to ride. Exclusively lunging is not an ideal everyday workout IMO but sometimes if it's what you have to do then it's what you have to do. |
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 Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | I don't lunge because I get bored with it. I have one mare that loves to be ponied so I do that with her, I've ponied Her quite a bit this spring and she seems to be in pretty good shape, not as good as the horse I've been riding though.
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 I don't want to screw up!
Posts: 3881
Location: North Dakota -> Colorado | I pony my main horse off of my goat horse, we do lots of long trotting. It doesn't seem to bother her any. |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | I see people driving their truck down the road with the horse trotting along side of it. this works too. Some track horse would get really fit doing this. I say Lunge away better that not at all. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| I work mine in the round pen and sometimes ride them in the round pen. It has been so wet here lately that the round pen is jus a little less muddy than everywhere else. Some times you have to do what you have to do.
Will add that I make sure they have leg protection. Bell boots and splint boots or SMB's
Edited by streakysox 2015-03-17 10:50 PM
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What do you think about running a horse that you pony/lunge during the week