Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Longeing Age

From: Heather

Hi Jessica;

Oh, my, an actual question having to do with my very own fillies!!! I posted this to equine-l and recieved many good replies, but am interested to know what you think. I was planning on training my yearling fillies to lunge when they turn one (have now revamped it to at least one and a half, if not two, in favor of ground driving and free lunging), but only for a limited amount of time and to teach them voice commands and for excercise. I don't have a round pen, so will be using a lunge line. I have trained many horses to lunge so am not worried about that part, but know there are concerns about lunging young horses. If I am careful and don't make them do it for long amounts of time, will it be ok? They will be on full time turn out, only coming in once a day for grain. They both already know the signals for walk, trot and are really good with the word whoa. What do you think? Thanks!!

Heather, Lady & Kali (what, you're finally asking about us?)

Hi Heather! I agree, wait until they are two. Working on a circle is too stressful for young legs, and can cause permanent damage. When they are ready, put boots on all four legs (young horses, especially on a circle, find it all too easy to hit themselves), use a longeing cavesson and a longeline that's at least 35' long (no sidereins!) and ask them for walk, trot, and whoa. (Since they already know the words, that will be easy!). If they do it for ten minutes (five each direction) every other day for a few months, they should be fine.

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