A  FEW TIPS ON LUNGING  THE VAULTING HORSE                                          

 

Before attempting to lunge a horse with vaulters on board you must be a reasonably competent and confident lunger. Start with a well trained horse then get as much practice as possible working with different horses.

 

You should understand the different gaits of the horse.

Description and sequence of footfalls is as follows :

 

  • Walk: 4 time gait with three legs on the ground at any one moment.

             Left hind, left fore, followed by right hind then right fore.

  • Trot: 2 time diagonal gait.

             Left hind and right fore together followed by right hind and left fore together.

  • Canter: 3 time gait + moment of suspension.

On left rein: Right hind, followed by left hind and right fore together, followed by left         fore (leading leg).

 

LUNGING EQUIPMENT

 

The horse can be lunged off the bridle or well fitting cavesson. Side reins should be used while vaulters are on board. It is useful to have reins that can be quickly altered from canter length to walk length. Specially designed vaulting roller and sausage padding. Vaulting pad for the horse’s back. Extending vaulting whip with leather thong. The whip must be able to touch the horse’s back legs without the lunger moving!

Protective boots or bandages for the horse may be worn.

 

TECHNIQUE

 

Basic principles of lunging apply but there are a few differences that are important.

  • The vaulter must be able to trust the lunger and the horse.
  • Therefore you must develop a mutual trust with the horse.
  • Rhythm, balance and instant obedience are of utmost importance.
  • The vaulting circle for competition is a minimum of  15 metres diam. The lunger must stay in the centre of the circle. To achieve this, on the left rein dig your left heel into the ground and pivot round it. Vice-versa for the right rein.
  • The horse should be taught to walk quietly away from the lunger and to keep a steady contact with the lunge-line which should peel off the top of your hand and not twist.
  • Establishing a good, active rhythm with suppleness through the back is top priority.
  • The horse should learn specific whip signals eg. Carried low for walk, hip height for trot, and vertical for canter. Make your signals clear and meaningful. He needs to distinguish his commands from instructions  to vaulters.
  • To slow down, the whip may be taken under the lunge line and lifted up in front of the horse
  • To stop it should be taken over behind your head and cast in front of him like a fishing line.

 

The vaulting whip is quite heavy so accustom yourself to it gradually, carry it on your hip. Practice flicking beer cans off a wall with it etc. Never lay it on the ground  as it is easily broken if stood on. Either carry it under your arm or give it to a vaulter.

Eventually the horse should be able to make the transitions WALK to CANTER and vice versa with ease.

Watch out for four time canter. This is highly frowned upon in competition.

Establish a mutual trust with your horse so that vaulters can trust you both

 

 

BEV Ltd. Resource pack 2005                          Coaching doc. 5  A few tips on Lungeing