Free Lounging

» jecris1 - Free longing the horse

I was mildly disturbed by the stance that you took against free "lounging" horses. I consider this type of training round pen work. I have used this type of training on all of my horses, from thoroughbreds to BLM Mustangs. While I can see your definition of danger incorporated into this scene, I feel I must comment: Each horse owner must KNOW the horse they are working with, its history and what its personality traits are. There must be solid ground work first put into place. There is much to be said for this type of training, but as any horse owner knows, safety is one's first concern. Taking a mare with a history of spooking into the round pen could be constituted as dangerous, and other training methods should be considered first. But I would not necessarily bash this type of training for overall effectiveness. It definitely has its place in the horse world.

-- posted by jecris1

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» pcelley - Free Lungeing

Thank you for your posts concerning this topic. This type of discussion helps everyone learn more.

My face is glowing red in embarrassment at the spelling of "lounging." Webster doesn't know horses very well
The most common spelling is lungeing.

As I stated in the article, I have had success with this type of training before. I still do "round pen work" but I now work with the safety of a lunge line attached to a lungeing cavesson or halter.

Thank you all for reading,
Patricia Celley

-- posted by pcelley

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» tblazer - Free Lungeing

Dear Patricia,

An interesting idea for a story, but you missed one of the main points of round pen work: Communication. A horse that is spooking really isn't tuned into you in the round pen. She needs to be more concerned with you and what you are doing than anything going on outside the pen. That is why you ask for directional changes often and as well as different gaits--not to exercise the animal but to get them tuned in to you.

Actually, I'd prefer to take my chances with a horse loose in a pen than one who spooks on a lunge line. I've had more than one fractious horse wrap the line around his butt and legs, only to become more agitated. (BTW, your pen must be at least a 50' and preferably a 60' diameter or you risk putting undue stress on your horse's legs, let alone jeopardizing your own safety)

Body language plays a great role in round pen work. Your horse learns to read your body position, which will eventually show him how to position his own body. Never in my years of free lungeing a horse has one ever gotten near enough to 1) run me over or 2) kick me. If one did, I could safely assume I put myself in harms way and let go of my control over his body.

Your friend does have an excellent point, however. When turning a horse loose, make sure that you are not standing between the horse and freedom and ALWAYS bend the horse's head around to you to take off his halter. That way, you can step back to safety before he has a chance to straighten out and cut loose with some rodeo antics.

Most horses don't mean to hurt us. We just need to learn to get out of the way.

Happy trails,

Bonnie Ebsen Jackson

-- posted by tblazer

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