Success Story | Lisa Kittler » Lunging Course
On the spur of the moment I joined my first lunging clinic with Babette. It was so exciting and emotional. What I saw was a completely different way of working with horses.
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Why use a cavesson at all?
Using a cavesson lets you achieve the poll position required for healthy work. Through bending at the poll and correct positioning of the head you can start working on the horse’s lateral bend.
In my experience, this is much less effective with other bitless bridles (like a halter). The cavesson has the advantage that you can work with the horse at a high gymnastic level without affecting the mouth.
How to fit the cavesson?
Here is how to fit a cavesson correctly. Put the cavesson on the horse and adjust first for correct length...
Evaluating the Basic Gaits
Before we start looking at the details of a specific horse’s way of moving, we need to take a look at the basic gaits – walk, trot, and canter. In order to be able to evaluate the basic gaits, one must know what they normally look like – in general, but also in the individual horse. Every gait in every horse looks a bit different due to the respective breed, conformation, age, training level, and many other reasons.
The first thing to do is to look at how the horse moves naturally without trying to manipulate the gait. This way you get to know its unique way of moving and you get a feel for the special challenges of this individual horse. This short introduction into the evaluation of the basic gaits will help you.
Flexion at the Poll
In order to bend along the whole spine the horse needs a flexible poll which can bend to the inside.
Shoulders in Balance
Every horse has a natural crookedness and is therefore never fully balanced. This crookedness causes the horse to lean into the circle on one hand and move in a tilted position. Through targeted training we help our horses develop balanced shoulders.
Moving on a Circle | How to Lunge Correctly?
A good way of moving is an essential precondition for the horse to develop the necessary strength for carrying a rider. That is true for a young horse as well as a mature animal.
In order to be successful, we need to understand the difficulties our horse faces when we start training it. In the wild a horse essentially moves only in straight lines. He may turn abruptly or change direction, but he never moves continuously on a curve or even a circle.
Why liberty work is useful? | Motivated & Healthy Horses
I love liberty work with horses.
I feel deeply touched and get goosebumps when a horse follows me in an open field, full of opportunities to run away.
Advantages of a cavesson with metal fitting
Teresa explains why we recommend a cavesson with metal fitting for lunge work.
Horses Cervical Spine | A Source of many Problems
Many horses have difficulties with letting go, activating back muscles, bending correctly or moving supple.
It is the base of the cervical spine that often causes these issues.
Signs of a Supple Horse | Horse Training
The most important requirement for a good and correct movement pattern is suppleness. Horses that are tense, nervous or afraid will always move in a rather bad manner.
Note:
We define suppleness in the horse when he is physically and mentally relaxed and enjoys the work.
A supple horse lets his neck stretch forward down calmly from the withers as we can see here with Losti. The under-neck muscles, marked in orange, need to be relaxed:
Why too much Speed causes Problems? | Lunging FAQ
The activation of the hind end is a very important building block that should be incorporated into our training early on.
Why Forward Down Posture is Healthy? | Horse Training
We differentiate between three positions: forward down, working frame and collection. Suppleness is most important at first, so we usually shift between forward down and a working frame during lunging. Advanced horses can be worked in collection on the lunge but should often get the opportunity to stretch and relax.
Problems During Leading in Position | Lunging FAQ
What do I do if the correct head and body position falls apart once I increase the distance to the horse? I have been working on leading in position as per your lunging course for some time now and it seems to be going well. However, every time I increase the distance to my horse and lose the contact to the cavesson, she loses the correct leading in position. Should I disregard it and continue leading with the cavesson?
How Long & Often should you Lunge? | Horse Training
Today I address two basic questions in my Lunging Course:• How long should a training session be? • How often should you work on the lunge?
Success Story | Franziska & Alaska » Lunging Course
I have always liked lunging my horses and have tried to make it as varied as possible for them. It was a lucky coincidence that I heard about Babette and her Course in Lunging around 4 years ago.
How do you get your Horse used to the Cavesson?
Some horses need to get used to the tightly fitting cavesson. It is really important to take the time to familiarize the horse with the cavesson. Please don’t rush into this project by putting on the new cavesson tightly and immediately getting to work.
Success Story | Deborah Wildegger » Lunging Course
Garpur was born in 2007 and came to me in 2013. Many Icelandic horses have the fairly high body tension necessary for tölt and pace, and so we often had a problem with relaxation
Testimonial | Carla Bauchmueller » Lunging Course
Written bei Carla.
I am the student this weekend. I am deepening my knowledge of a work that I have studied and practiced for 20 years but as always, there is always more to learn. 🙂
Success Story | Anne & Pia » Lunging Course
The Lunging Course for a Frantic Horse.
When ridden in the indoor or outside Pia got hot – that is, fast. Her only way out of not understanding was flight. Even after the lesson was finished and she was supposed to relax in walk, she got faster and faster. Then she started trotting, ever faster, until she ended up galloping. Without a tight rein, she could not be kept at the walk. The decision was made to sell her.
How can you Train Horses with Health Problems?
I would generally advise that you discuss any form of training of a horse with health problems with the vet in charge of treatment and with every illness that affects the horse’s ability to move with a physiotherapist as well.
How to Lunge your older Horse? | Healthy Training
This section should however give you a helping hand in deciding. Do, however, consult your vet or other specialist as well.
Success Story | Ann-Sophie » Lunging Course
It was so touching to feel Paul’s eagerness and joy when we got the first steps of travers on the lunge.
Paul is an 18-year-old Haflinger gelding who came to me in 2016. He was still very green then, and easily stressed. He was generally anxious and did not trust people.
We got along well on the ground and in the saddle. Especially by training lateral movements he found better body awareness and confidence, and so he felt safer. His pronounced crookedness got better, and he began to trust people in general, but especially also the rider.
Horse-Oriented Training | How to be a Good Trainer?
A horse that is in a position to understand what people what and that experiences positive consequences when it does what one wants of it is as a rule happy and willing to work with us.
Success Story | Alina & Moonlight » Lunging Course
Let’s start at the beginning: Moonlight was born in Denmark. When she was five years old she was sent to Germany to be sold by a professional horse dealer. She did not like to be handled and was very shy. They tried to break her in, more or less.