What role does lunging play in training the dressage horse?
Rosalind: At different stages in the training, lunging is extremely helpful. For youngsters, it helps them to find their balance and learn their basic paces. It also helps them to learn a basic acceptance of the bit. For the more advanced it can help to develop stronger back muscles, and begin to develop collection. Trip: It is the most essential beginning a horse can have. Correctly done, it helps to teach him rhythm and balance; it lays the groundwork for your aids by educating him to your voice commands and tone of voice (which you will use when you are riding him). Lunging can supplement your riding time – by helping to warm him up, by giving him a break from the school work, by duplicating many of the lessons he has learned from your riding or by preparing him for those lessons. Most importantly, it develops a personal relationship between the two of you–he can see you and you can see him, something that cannot be done from the back of the saddle! Michelle: Lunging is important i
