A Path to Connection & Relaxation Using Holistic Horsemanship in your Horse Training
When we think of lunging a horse, many of us envision an image of the horse moving quickly in endless circles, a strategy to "run the energy out" or tire them out before a ride.
Traditionally, lunging has been a way to "exercise" the horse, but this approach misses two essential elements: connection and relaxation.
When lunging fosters a deeper relationship, promotes relaxation, and enhances biomechanics, it transcends a mere workout, offering a wealth of benefits that many may not be aware of.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how to lunge with the intention of connection, relaxation, and healthy biomechanics, shifting away from the outdated idea of simply expending energy.
Beyond "Running the Energy Out"
Historically, many riders and trainers have been using lunging practices to "burn off" a horse's energy before working under saddle.
The idea behind these lunging practices was to expend the horse’s energy to settle, focus, and ride safely.
The problem with this practice is twofold. We aren't creating relaxation, which is how we develop correct, healthy biomechanics, nor are we creating a horse that feels safe enough to connect to us in the work.
Science proves that horses need to release endorphins and dopamine, called the “feel-good” hormones, to be calm during movement.
They can only do this if they are relaxed and feel safe.
Unfortunately, lunging is often used to tire the horse, leading to an overly excitable or even frustrated horse.
This only creates stress, which releases adrenaline throughout the horse’s body. When a horse releases adrenaline, it instinctively goes into self-preservation. This is how we develop behavioral problems with our horses.
Instead of using lunging to tire or submit our horses, we should use lunging as an opportunity to build connections, cultivate relaxation, and improve movement.
When we approach lunging as an opportunity to develop healthy movement, relaxation, and connection, we set ourselves and our horses up for success in everything we do together.
Connection is Built on Trust and Communication
Before expecting a horse to move in a relaxed and biomechanically correct way, we must establish a connection through leadership (trust) and clear communication.
Horses are incredibly attuned to their environment, including how we show up when we work with them. To build great rapport, trust, and confidence in us as leaders and partners, we need to be aware of the mindset and energy our thoughts and feelings create.
This underscores your pivotal role in setting the tone for how you and your horse interact, empowering you to think and embody how to lead by example. If you want your horse to relax, you need to be relaxed and create relaxation in everything you do.
I understand that this may be harder than it sounds. Most of us are not aware of how much tension we hold in our bodies. I see this all the time when I work in person with my students. Whether they are walking the lunge with their horse, holding the whip steady as it drives their horse, or using energy as a cue, they are tight and tense.
Like any relaxation method, from yoga to pilates to meditation, it takes time and practice to create relaxation in our bodies and our horses.
In addition to working on our level of relaxation, our horses need a lot of help too. Most horses have experienced a lot of stress during lunging, which has made them nervous, reactive, and disconnected. This is why most people give up. They don't know where or how to begin changing their lunging practices so their horse is happy, healthy, relaxed, and connected.
If this sounds familiar, keep reading. This blog will explain how you can turn your lunging into a positive experience for both you and your horse.
If you're looking for pointers or ways to enhance your lunging and make it better, this blog will explain how. (Be sure to subscribe to get the rest of the series!)
The Importance of Rhythm: Encouraging Relaxation
A key principle of lunging for connection is getting the horse into a smooth, consistent rhythm.
Rhythm naturally releases the endorphins needed to make horses feel safe so they can relax. When relaxed in movement, horses naturally engage their core muscles, build strength, and develop balance.
We begin creating relaxation in the lunge during a walk—not just any walk, but a big, stretchy, relaxed walk. This is how you begin developing correct and healthy biomechanics, work through potential issues, and identify biomechanical challenges.
During the walk, you should encourage your horse to stretch its neck and relax its back. This is called the longitudinal stretch and it is very important to topline development, self-carriage, suppleness, and collection.
The more the horse stretches, the more it strengthens and develops balance. Strength and balance lead to self-carriage and collection.
If your horse is overly tense or speeding up, gently slow them down using your voice, tools, and breath.
Breathwork is powerful and calms not only your mind but also your horse’s nervous system. Breathing also produces oxygen in our bodies (both horses and people), which is how relaxation is created.
If your horse is constantly stressed during the lunge, you will need to rewire its nervous system so it can relax, connect, and enjoy the work.
This process takes time. You will need to learn how to work slowly and correctly.
One of the most important areas of rewiring the nervous system is “dwell time.”
Dwell time refers to quiet time, being still. After a short period of walking, call your horse in to stand quietly with you. Ensure you breathe and relax, creating a quiet, relaxed energy space for connection.
Dwell time can be anywhere from five to thirty minutes or longer. Sometimes, it takes days or weeks before a horse will (can) completely relax during dwell time. It all depends on how much trauma and tension the horse has been holding and for how long.
As the horse becomes more relaxed during the walk, it will release mental and physical tension (stress). This can also happen during dwell time.
Examples will be blowing out, shaking of the head and neck, licking, chewing, and yawning.
These are signs that your horse is releasing tension, becoming relaxed, and beginning to connect in the work. The more dwell sessions you offer while working, the easier it will be for your horse to release tension and relax during the walk.
You will want to work on your free and stretchy walk for weeks, including the slow, medium, and fast walk transitions.
Only when your horse is relaxed at the walk and able to do this for weeks at a time do you ask for the trot. This is where most people go wrong. They get bored with the walk or think their horse’s walk is good enough and ask for the trot too soon.
You’ll know if what you’re doing works for your horse if they move into the trot easily, are in self-regulation and rhythm, and stay connected to you.
Self-regulation means your horse controls its emotions and body and is in a state of calm, relaxation, and connection during the lunge.
Asking for the trot...
Like the walk, your horse must lengthen its stride, stretch, be rhythmic, and be relaxed at the trot.
Make sure to breathe, count the two-beat rhythm of the trot, and allow your horse to settle into the rhythm. This, too, can take time as your horse’s muscles will be tight. Some horses will panic, too, because they are unbalanced, dysregulated, and triggered.
If this happens, use the walk instructions for your trot work and give it time. Stay focused on how you show up for your horse. If you worry, you create tension, which in turn stresses your horse.
Stay tuned for part II, exploring the many benefits of healthy, correct biomechanics.
Want to learn how to lunge your horse using Caroline's method?
Join us for the Art of Lunging Clinic - Pilates for You and Your Horse; Developing Connection, Relaxation and Healthy Biomechanics.
You can learn how to create this incredible connection and lunge your horse correctly in Caroline's 2-Day Lunging Clinic (below), held at her Florida facility, February 15-16. With only 4 participants - you are SURE to see an incredible difference in your lunging experience... and it will last you a LIFETIME! Learn more here!
Hurry - at the time of this post, there are only TWO spots left!
Can't make it in person?
No problem! You can also learn The Art of Lunging step-by step in Caroline's Dream Riding Partnership Progam. It is included, as well as the Spirituality of Horsemanship and so much more!
Want to try the Holistic Horsemanship Mini-Series? Regularly $179.99, you can try this series for just $29.99 for a limited time! It's a great way to get an introduction to holistic horsemanship and how my programs work! Please click here for details:
Are you ready to start your beautiful journey NOW?
If you are ready to dive in and follow my holistic horsemanship roadmap (complete step-by-step curriculum), where you learn how to develop you and your horse holistically, from the inside out, ground to riding, rehab to recovery, beginner to pro, please click here: https://www.taoofhorsemanship.com/horse-riding-holistic-program.
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