A Guide to Horse Lunging Kit and Aids

Lunging can be a very beneficial tool as part of your horse’s training. Learn more about the kit you need to lunge your horse. We will also cover different aids for lunging and how they can influence your horse’s way of going or build muscle.

In this blog:

1. What are the benefits of lunging?
2. Basic lunging set up
3. Lunging aids
4. Training systems

What are the Benefits of Lunging?

• Quick way to exercise your horse especially during the winter when you’re short on time or daylight
• Good way to relax and warm up horses that may be a bit fresh before riding
• Helps to develop communication between you and your horse
• Allows you to see your horse’s way of going
• Can improve balance, suppleness and rhythm
• Useful as part of backing and training young horses 

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Basic Lunging Set Up

To lunge your horse, you’ll need a few key pieces of kit. As the handler, you should wear your riding hat, sturdy footwear and gloves. There’s nothing worse than the lunge line burning through your bare fingers as you try to hang onto an excitable horse!

For your horse, you’ll need a bridle or a lunge cavesson. A bridle can offer more control but it is easier to change the rein with a cavesson as it has a central ring so you don’t need to swap the lunge line over. Some lunging aids are also more compatible with a cavesson but see what suits your horse best.

You can lunge your horse in a saddle, just make sure the stirrups are fastened so as not to bang around. Another option is a lunge roller. This has rings so that you can use different lunge aids with it.

Finally, you’ll need a lunge line and whip. Personal preference comes into play when selecting these. We like the Zilco Deluxe Lunge Line as it is thickly padded and has a swivel clip to prevent tangling – a very useful feature!

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Lunging Aids

While the basic kit mentioned above is great for exercising your horse on the lunge, you might want to use some extra aids to help develop your horse’s way of going. Assess what you are trying to achieve before choosing an aid. Do you want your horse to work in a lower, long frame? Engage their hindquarters more? Build more topline?

Side Reins

These attach from the bit or cavesson to the lunge roller or girth. Side reins can help to encourage flexion, softness and taking the contact forward. Look for side reins with a rubber or elasticated section, like the Ideal Leather Side Reins, as this mimics the feeling of a rein contact.

Side reins have different effects depending on how they are positioned. To encourage a rounder frame and stretching, position them long and low. For a shorter, more collected frame use them higher and shorter.

It’s best to start with them loose as you warm up but you can change the positioning throughout your lunging session to adjust your horse’s frame. 

De Gogue Lunging Aid 

The de Gogue is made up of cord that runs through the bit rings to the headpiece and back to the chest piece. It works by applying pressure to the mouth and poll when the head carriage is too high. The de Gouge can be beneficial to horses that tend to go a bit hollow as it encourages a rounder frame. 

It is a useful aid to strengthen the hindquarters, encourage a lower frame and develop suppleness across the horse’s back. 

Chambon Lunging Aid

Similar to the de Gogue, the Chambon works by applying pressure to the mouth and poll when the horse lifts their head too high. Once the head is lowered, the pressure is released so the horse learns to maintain a desired head carriage.

The difference between the Chambon and the de Gogue is that the Chambon clips onto the bit, whereas the straps on the de Gogue pass through the bit rings. The de Gogue can also be used for ridden work but the Chambon is typically used just for lunging.

By working in a longer, lower outline in the Chambon, the horse will develop the muscles across their back, neck and hindquarters. This builds strength and suppleness. 

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Training Systems

A number of training systems are also available which use adjustable ropes and pulleys. It is important to build up use slowly and follow the fitting instructions from the manufacturer. These can be positioned in different ways as your horse’s training develops. 

Lunging is hard work for horses so keep your sessions short and sweet at the beginning. Lunging aids are only effective if they are properly fitted. Too loose and they won’t do anything, too tight and they can cause undesired effects. If you’re unsure how to fit something, speak to your riding instructor or another expert for advice.

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