How to Lunge in a Round Pen

Lunging your horse is a good way to exercise it if it is laid up from an injury and needs controlled exercise, if it is not yet started under saddle, if you want to teach your horse something specific or if you want to check out your horse's frame of mind before you get into the saddle. Always lunge your horse in an enclosed area in case you lose your grip on the lunge line. The enclosed area does not have to be a round pen, but a round pen helps to keep the horse focused on you in the center.

Things You'll Need

  • Halter
  • Lunge line
  • Lunge whip or flag
  • Lead rope
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Attach an approximately 30-foot lunge line to the halter on your horse, either at the ring under the lower chin or the ring on the side nearest you, depending on the direction in which you plan to start.

    • 2

      Walk with your horse to the middle of the round pen.

    • 3

      Give your horse some slack in the lunge line, and ask it to walk in the direction you prefer. Keep giving slack in the line until the horse is near the round pen fence.

    • 4

      Hold the lunge line in the same hand as the direction you want your horse to move. Hold your lunge whip or flag in the opposite hand, making a triangle in which the whip or flag, horse, and lunge line create the three sides.

    • 5

      Encourage the horse to move faster by using the slightest cue that is effective; start with simply extending the line ahead of the horse like you were leading it from afar. If this does not cause your horse to move faster within the gait or to the next gait, make a clucking sound or scuff your feet. Shake your flag or lightly snap your whip in the air as a last resort.

    • 6

      Move calmly in a smaller circle around the middle of the pen as your horse goes around at the outer edge. You need to move faster as the horse moves faster, but you should be able to stay at a walk in the center.

    • 7

      Slow your horse down by slowing your own body down. If the horse stays at the same speed, pull back slightly on the lunge line but not enough to pull the horse in toward you.

    • 8

      Ask the horse to come to a complete stop. Turn the horse in the other direction. Clip the lunge line to the other side if you are using the cheek rings on your halter rather than the chin ring. Move your lunge whip or flag to the opposite hand, and do a similar exercise regimen to the one you did in the first direction.

    • 9

      Cool your horse down at a walk before taking the horse out of the round pen.