Video Series – Jumping on the Lunge with Ellen Terray, Part 4

Teaching a horse to jump on the Lunge 

So far, in our Ellen Terray video series, we have looked at the work you can do from the ground up. From basic movements to free schooling over jumps, the series has offered invaluable advice for even the most experienced of owners.

In this, part 4, we conclude with a lunge jump video. The lunge lesson is slightly different from the traditional approach, with the emphasis of the lesson being to teach the horse to always jump whatever is in front of the him, out of any position.

About Ellen

Ellen Terray is a professional trainer from Malmesbury in Wiltshire. She specialises in producing horses of all ages and abilities for dressage and eventing and uses a system that combines her classical training with aspects of natural horsemanship to produce well mannered, happy athletes.  More information about Ellen can be found here: https://ellenterray.wordpress.com/

Video

Benefits:

• Fun and entertaining for both horse and human.
• In a fun, no pressure way lunging over fences teaches the horse a very important lesson to always jump whatever is in front of him and out of any position.
• It also introduces them to jumping a skinny narrow fence.
• Teaches them an essential lesson to think for themselves.
• Develops power and agility.
• Can be used very successfully for a cross-country schooling.
• Helps tremendously in improving the relationship between horse and rider and building the bond.

Training equipment:

• Lightweight lunge line.
• Extra long riding whip or shortish lunging whip.
• All around protective boots on horse.
• Halter (if using a lunging cavesson make sure it’s not fitted too low as that can discourage horses to go forward).How:

How to:

1. Standing in front of the horse ask it to step back a few steps by shaking the lunge line towards it. Then ask horse to come back to you. Give your horse moments of break as a praise. Repeat until easy.

2. Ask horse to back away from you and then move on circle in direction your arm shows. Call it back after a couple of circles than repeat all in other direction. Change direction frequently. Let horse to choose it’s own pace. Play like this until you see that horse clearly watches and listens for your aids.

3. Do the same but over the pole, cavaletti, small filler, log etc.This exercise is fun but physically and mentally demanding for the horse so make sure to keep sessions short and build the difficulty very gradually over days and weeks. It can be done at any pace but the slower the better – slow trot or walk are best.

With special thanks to Ellen Terray and her team.