How to Improve Your Fit with Lunging

Lunging classes allow you to fully focus on landing and not think about where and how the horse is running. But good lunging practice is impossible without a knowledgeable helper and a reliable horse. If you have both, then you are well equipped to start working on your fit. Targeted exercises for balance, strength and feel of the horse can speed up this process and you will feel progress faster.

Try these exercises:

Horizontal leg swings

First, try this exercise during a stop: lift one leg to the side and away from the saddle so that the thigh and calf remain free and relaxed. Hold the leg in this state for about 5 seconds, then relax the leg and repeat again. The lift should come from the hip, and you should feel like your hip muscles are working, not your knees and hips.

You can do this one leg at a time at first before moving on to both legs at the same time. The exercise can be performed at the walk, trot and canter.

Knees

Similar to the previous exercise, similarly it can be performed in different gaits and in the same sequence.

While stopping, bend your knee and then lift it as high as you can from your hip. You can pull your knees up to the saddle pommel. The trick is that your back should remain straight and you should not lean forward.

This will help to deepen your seat and relax your leg muscles so you can get that deep, long-legged seat of top riders! This exercise should be done without holding on to the saddle as this will tilt your upper body forward. If you still need to hold on, run a strap between the d-rings of your saddle so you have something to hold on to and not change position in the saddle.

Side crunches

“Hands to the side, imagine that you are an airplane!” this is the same phrase that everyone who started riding a couple of decades ago is familiar with. This exercise helps improve balance and confidence. This is an easy way to get a more independent (loose) position, you stop grabbing the reins to keep your balance.

To begin, spread your arms out to the side at shoulder level, just like the wings of an airplane. At walk, trot and canter, twist the body in and out of the circle. Do it smoothly and gradually. It will be easier for you to curl one way than the other, pay attention to this. You will also find that it is easier to hold one hand horizontally than the other.

Twisting to the toes

Another good old classic. The toe touch exercise is more difficult than it might seem at first glance!

Bend from the hip so that the chin goes towards the horse’s neck. Stretch your right hand to the toe of your left foot, then sit down and repeat the exercise. Don’t cheat by sticking your feet forward towards your horse’s shoulder.

The purpose of this exercise is to keep the foot in the correct position and stay in the center of the saddle – a very common mistake is for the rider to tilt their whole body towards the leg they are touching, pretending that one stirrup is longer than the other. This exercise will strengthen your balance and torso muscles, make your upper body more independent of your leg, and help you catch the moment when your leg begins to sway.

Get rid of stirrups!

It’s absolutely true, working without stirrups is one of the surest ways to improve your ride and fit. However, this is quite difficult to do on a young, unpredictable and stressful horse. It’s also much easier to do this exercise when you don’t have to worry about where your horse is running, what contact you have now, and the overall picture of the movement.

Of course, safety must be paramount in any exercise like this!

Riding without stirrups at the walk, trot or canter is an easy way to start lunging. However, if you are not completely sure of yourself yet, or if you want to alternate riding without stirrups with riding with stirrups, then simply do not throw them over the horse’s neck.

Remove all aids

Of course, it is recommended that this be done only on a reliable and safe horse.

Riders often fail to realize how much we rely on reins, stirrups, and even sight. For example, letting go of the reins on the lunge completely makes the rider feel helpless and insecure. And that is why we must do it!

Start by letting go of the reins and stirrups completely, and then try to ride all the gaits with your eyes closed. You will feel disoriented, but try to feel the horse, his movements, steps, as well as your hips and seat. Once you feel more confident, you can start doing all of the above exercises without stirrups and with your eyes closed. Your fit, balance and overall feel will thank you!

But remember, safety always comes first!

Source: fei.org