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Communicating with

your horse:

Lunging








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Lunging is the first step to opening up the lines of communication
with your horse.





Setting up Communication
Valerie Netto


From walking a straight line to fluid lead changes communication is the key. The horse, whether young and being ridden for the first time or older and out of shape or with problems must have an idea of what is being asked of them in order to make an attempt at any command. Much like a computer a horse must be programmed first and then ridden in a like manner to be accurate. Therefore you must see that training is a two-fold deal. Both the horse and the rider must have the same knowledge.


Lunging is the first step to opening up the lines of communication with your horse. Lunging teaches many things in a way that is easily understood. Lunging is the first step in creating correct movement in a horse. Conformation will always play an important part in movement, but proper training will teach a horse to carry a rider in a controlled, safe manner.

Lunging sets up pecking order by effectively controlling the horse's space.

Lunging teaches obedience and patience by learning body and voice commands. The horse learns to wait for them rather than running helter-skelter around in a circle. This will make the same commands while mounted easier to understand.


Lunging teaches circles. Circles encourage a horse naturally to use his legs correctly, pick up his feet and place them well. (Circles while mounted will be our next step.).

Lunging conditions the body. Like any other athlete, a horse must have strength and endurance, even for recreational riding. Lack of condition causes soreness and strains, the weight of a rider especially an unbalanced rider compounds the problem. A sore horse will be cranky at best and dangerous at worst.



Lunging teaches a horse to give to the bit. First by not learning to lean on the halter, and then with the aid of a rhythm collector or similar device will come off of the bit by himself without human error.

Lunging is a fine way to evaluate a horse's way of going. Checking disposition and soundness in a pre-purchase situation or for daily use to spot soreness and attitude, which in turn will allow you to adjust your training program for the day to suite your horses needs.

Please note that as, with any training, lunging must be done correctly to be effective


Valerie Netto "Confidence Through Understanding" TM
Valerie says, “ I have been with horses 38 of my 45 years. I have been training professionally for 10 years. Within two years I began to see the “BIG” picture, and turned to training people. People can be a little more difficult than horses, but people are where the leadership starts. Horses will follow a solid, confident leader, whereas people tend to hurry; looking for someone or something to make the horse right for them! (We are not tailoring suits here!). I hold up a mirror and say “SURPRISE!” We can only blame the ‘canvas and the brush’ so far before we have to take responsibility for the brush strokes used to create our ‘masterpiece’. I consider what I do a lifestyle, not a method. I never stop learning and I don’t compromise my values. I thank my students for my success and would love to help you achieve success with YOUR horse!
Contact: Valerie Netto
5270 Bonnie Lou Lane
El Dorado, California 95623
Phone: 530-344-0771
Email: vnetto@directcon.net


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