CDA Presents USDF Dressage Development Lungeing Seminar

By Mary Moon

“Lungeing can complement training programs for horses and riders. We’re here to help you learn how to choose appropriate equipment and use safe techniques for lungeing for correct dressage training based on classical principles according to the Pyramid of Training,” co-clinicians Ann Guptill and Vicki Hammers-O’Neil told almost seventy auditors and participants at a USDF Dressage Development Seminar organized by the Connecticut Dressage Association (CDA) on April 20-21, 2024, at Fox Ledge Farm (East Haddam, Connecticut). This year, Dressage Development Seminars will be held in Nebraska as well as Connecticut.

The farm is the home base of operations of Guptill, a professional dressage rider, trainer and instructor. She is best known for her partnership with Maple Magnum and participation in the Pan American Games. Hammers-O’Neil operates VHO Dressage and provides freelance training, coaching and clinics. Both are USDF Certified Instructors (Training-Fourth Level) and active members of the USDF Instructor Certification Faculty. 

The purpose of the USDF Instructor/Trainer Development Program is to educate amateurs and professionals who wish to further their education in correct dressage based on classical principles according to the Pyramid of Training. In 2023, the Program was updated to make education more accessible to the general membership of USDF as well as professionals and those seeking to become certified instructors.

The Program includes a broad range of educational opportunities and materials for riders and enthusiasts of all levels and interests. There are updated curriculums for Dressage Development Seminars on three topics: Lungeing, Riding and Teaching.

The curriculum for the Dressage Seminars was developed by the program’s Faculty members, and was co-chaired by Sarah Geikie, a USEF ‘S’ and FEI L3 judge, and Lilo Fore, a USEF ‘S’ and retired FEI L4 judge. Geikie explained, “Education in correct dressage based on classical principles according to the Pyramid of Training is the Committee’s goal for the Development Seminars. These Dressage Development Seminars teach the whats, whys and hows of dressage training behind good performance.” 

The first day of each USDF Dressage Development Seminar is open to any auditor, from juniors, young riders, adult amateurs and professionals to enthusiasts. The presentations, videos, demonstrations, Q ’n’ A sessions and discussions are intended for anyone who is interested in learning more about classical dressage. 

The second day is limited to eight participants and provides hands-on experience and individualized coaching to develop skills useful for professional instructors and trainers. Geikie explained, “There are no auditors on the second day so that participants will feel comfortable and not hesitate to ask questions as they might in front of an audience.”  

Why Lunge a Horse?

The Seminar focused on equipment and techniques for safely lungeing horses in a manner consistent with classical dressage training. 

Guptill and Hammers-O’Neil told auditors that there are different reasons for lungeing a horse. When lungeing, the horse moves in a circle around a lunger who holds the free end of a lunge line that is attached to the horse’s tack. The lunger may allow the horse to play and choose his gait to release energy and tension before he is ridden. 

There are other techniques for lungeing for other purposes. 

Hammers-O’Neil explained that lungeing a young horse can help him learn to balance himself, respond to aids when moving on a circle and develop a trusting relationship with their trainer. Lungeing is also useful for allowing green horses to get used to wearing tack and prepare them for carrying a rider. 

She added that lungeing is a prudent way to evaluate a new or unfamiliar horse and assess their level of training, willingness and mental stability.  Hammers-O’Neil recommended lungeing as part of program to re-train a horse, particularly one with prior experience on the track or as a hunter, jumper or other non-dressage discipline. While they may be mature, horses from other disciples may need to develop specific muscles for dressage, and lungeing can encourage this development. Lungeing can also be used to exercise a horse when the rider is unavailable. However, Hammers-O’Neil cautioned that lungeing can be strenuous and may not be appropriate when a horse is recovering from a leg injury.  

Classical Dressage

Next, Hammers-O’Neil and Guptill led the auditors in a review of the Pyramid of Training that is the framework used to train a horse in classical dressage. This is a well-defined sequence or hierarchy of six related elements: rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness and collection. These six elements are used for training a horse, improving his rideability and gaits, assessing his progress and judging dressage competitions. 

For example, two horses might both have correct four-beat walk, two-beat trot, etc., but one may have a better rhythm because his gaits have a steadier tempo. The horse with better rhythm probably also has more suppleness (less physical and mental tension) and a little better (steadier, more correct) contact with the reins because he has made more progress in his dressage training and has better balance, strength and harmony with his rider. This horse is better prepared or more ready for his rider to ask for more impulsion. More impulsion will make it possible for the rider to improve the straightness of the horse and then develop collection.      

Guptill and Hammers-O’Neil and Guptill recommended applying this approach to ridden dressage to lungeing. The lunger can observe whether the horse’s gaits have correct rhythm and steady tempo, the muscles in the back are supple and swinging, and the horse stretches forward and downward into correct contact with the side reins as appropriate to the horse’s athleticism and level of training. Lungeing can be used to develop and improve these elements of the Training Scale or Pyramid.      

Lungeing Equipment

Guptill reviewed safety precautions, starting with appropriate attire of the lunger: a helmet with chin strap fastened, durable gloves and sturdy footwear (boots, not clogs!) are nonnegotiable. 

Equipment for the horse depends upon the individual animal. For most horses, bell boots and exercise boots or polo wraps can prevent loss of a front shoe and protect their legs. 

Guptill strongly recommended using a breakable cotton (not nylon) web lunge line with a sturdy clip on one end and nothing on the other end. She presented several options for clipping the lunge line to a snaffle bridle or a sturdy, well-fitted padded cavesson.

Leather side reins are preferred, and options for elastic rubber inserts were discussed. The side reins can be attached to a padded surcingle or the girth of a saddle (with stirrups secured to prevent them from hitting the sides of the horse) and clipped to the rings of the horse’s snaffle bit. 

Guptill explained, “Correct elastic contact is important in dressage riding and lungeing. Skillful lungeing with correctly adjusted side reins can be used to develop correct (“back-to-front”) contact with the snaffle bit. It’s important to correctly adjust the height of the side reins attached to the surcingle or girth. This can affect how the horse accepts contact.” Hammers-O’Neil added, “Be careful not to make the side reins too short, which can result in a position where he is overbent or short in the neck.”     

The lunge whip plus lash should be long enough to reach the horse when lungeing but short enough to be handled safely by the lunger. Guptill emphasized the importance of safe techniques for carrying and using the whip: wrapping the lash around the whip when not in use, holding the whip low with tip downward, not stepping or tripping on the lash and never “cracking” the whip. She warned against dropping the whip or placing it on the ground because bending over and picking it up could startle the horse.   

Preparing to Lunge

Guptill demonstrated the safe routine that she uses every time she lunges a horse. After she tacked up the horse with saddle and bridle, she attached the side reins to the sides of the surcingle or girth and fastened the clips to the top of the surcingle or a balance strap in front of the saddle. 

Next, she put the reins over the horse’s head, twisted them together under the horse’s head and fed the throatlatch through the reins to secure them. This was to prevent the horse from accidentally stepping on loose reins. She buckled the snaffle reins through the balance strap attached to D-rings near the pommel of the saddle and secured the stirrups to prevent them from hitting the sides of the horse.

Then she attached the lunge line to the cavesson. Guptill reminded auditors to never wrap the lunge line around their hand or any other part of their body. She folded the line “like a fire hose” (back and forth in a stack of folds). 

To lead the horse, she kept the folded part of the lunge line in her left hand and the whip (with the lash wrapped around it and tip pointed down) tucked under her left armpit. 

Guptill quietly led the horse around the ring and allowed him to look around and become acclimatized to the environment. She familiarized the horse to the whip by quietly stroking his neck and then his hind quarters with it. 

Finally, she first clipped the side rein to the ring of the snaffle bit on the outside of the lungeing circle and then the side rein on the inside of the circle. (She unfastened the side reins in the opposite order.) She insisted that the horse stand still respectfully on the circle (not turn and face her) while she stepped back to the center of the circle. 

Guptill “bridged” the lunge line to securely hold it with both hands. Her “leading” hand (her left hand when lunging in a counterclockwise circle) held the lunge line as though it were a snaffle rein. That is, the lunge line entered the bottom of her left fist and exited between her first finger and thumb. The rest of the lunge line was in a stack of folds held in her right hand. There was a little slack in the line between her two hands. 

Then she started lungeing the horse, first in the counterclockwise direction and then the clockwise direction. Guptill recommended clipping the lunge line to the central ring over the middle of the horse’s nose because it was not necessary to unclip and move it when changing direction. 

Lungeing Horses According to the Training Pyramid  

When Guptill started to lunge a horse, she allowed him to warm up on a large circle in both directions with the side reins long enough to allow him to relax and stretch his neck forward and downward. She controlled the size of the circle and gaits appropriate to the horse. 

For aids, Guptill primarily used her body language and voice, noting that horses are very sensitive to intonation. She spoke with a rising or falling voice to ask the horse to move with more or less energy, respectfully. She recommended beginning each command by saying the horse’s name to gain his attention, using only a few words (walk, trot, canter, whoa), not “chatting,” but always praising a horse when appropriate.

While lungeing, Guptill held the whip in the direction of the horse’s hindquarters when the horse was moving with the right amount of energy, staying on the perimeter of the circle and attentive. She moved the lash behind the horse’s hindquarters to urge him to move more energetically.

In general, Guptill controlled the tension in the lunge line such that there was a slight amount of slack in the line. The weight of the soft, heavy cotton mesh line contributed to the steady contact.  

If a horse started to run, buck or play on the lunge line, Guptill used her voice and briefly increased and then relaxed tension on the lunge line to get the horse’s attention and regain control. She started with small aids and gradually increased them as appropriate. She did not pull or jerk the lunge line. 

Guptill emphasized that she wanted the horse to “relax into his work” by using the smallest and briefest aids that were appropriate and not unduly drilling the horse. 

After the horse warmed up, moved rhythmically and was attentive, Guptill shortened the side reins to encourage the horse to accept contact. The length of the side reins depended on the individual animal and their level of dressage training. 

Likewise, she chose the size of the circle, gaits and transitions to gradually encourage the horse to develop its bend, balance, confidence, freedom of movement and relaxation during the lungeing session.

When Guptill worked a horse, she used a half-halt as a “call to attention” before she asked a horse for a transition. She often asked for one or two transitions each time the horse made a 17-20 meter circle (instead of going around and around in the same gait). She explained that horses have relatively short spans of attention, and they tire when lungeing. During warm-up and work, Guptill adjusted the size of the circle and chose gaits and exercises that were appropriate for the level of training of the horse.    

Guptill recommended changing the direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) every 5-7 minutes and lungeing for no more than a total of 20-30 minutes on circles of diameter 17-20 meters.

As each horse was lunged with these techniques, his balance, suppleness and range of motion improved, and his gaits showed cadence. 

Afterward, Guptill unclipped the side reins from the bit and attached them to the surcingle or balance strap. She praised her horse and let him walk to relax and cool off. Each horse was relaxed physically and mentally.

Lungeing Riders to Improve Seat and Position

According to Hammers-O’Neil and Guptill, any rider can benefit from being lunged because they can focus on improving their seat, position and aids. As a rider polishes their position, their seat, legs and hands become more independent and the rider can more easily move with their horse. Another benefit is the development of better “feel” of their mount and communication with their horse. 

When lungeing a student, the trainer can assess their position, alignment and balance and guide them through exercises to improve and develop greater self-awareness. 

In addition to all the safety considerations for lungeing a horse without a rider, the saddle must fit both horse and rider and the rider must feel comfortable.  

Hammers-O’Neil and Guptill recommended lungeing the horse to warm up before allowing the rider to mount. Likewise, they felt it was important for the rider to warm up prior to mounting, first by walking or skipping, then lightly stretching their neck, back, arms, legs and hips.

Guptill demonstrated lungeing several riders. She explained that after the rider mounts, the trainer should check the rider’s alignment (side view of posture) and symmetry (left-right balance viewed from behind) and ask them about any injuries and other factors to consider. She encouraged each rider to breathe deeply, as some people tend to hold their breath when riding. 

Then Guptill lunged each rider while guiding them through exercises such as stretching one arm and hand over their head, reaching behind them to grasp the cantle of the saddle with one hand and riding with one or no hands on the reins. Each rider gradually improved their balance and position.     

To Learn More

Illustrations, more details and examples of equipment and techniques for lungeing horses and riders can be found in the USDF Lungeing Manual, books published by The United States Pony Clubs and the German Equestrian Federation, and additional materials and videos available on the USDF University website. Even better, make plans to attend a USDF Dressage Development Seminar!

USDF GMOs, owners of farms and others interested in holding USDF Dressage Development Seminars are encouraged to contact USDF for information and The Dressage Foundation to apply for possible funding.