Lunging, Long Reining and Training Aids

Question 1

What is lunging?

Answer 1

Exercise the horse without the weight of the rider

During locomotion on a circular path, a centripetal force is directed towards the centre of the circle, causing the horse to lean inwards (Clayton and Sha, 2006; Pfau et al. 2012)

Alters movement symmetry (Rhodin et al., 2016)
Can mimic or highlight lameness
Moving on a circular path also induces greater asymmetry in the dorsoventral movements of the back within each stride (Greve et al., 2017)
Induce greater flexion, extension and lateral movements of the back (Greve et al., 2017)
Hind limb movements patterns similar to inside hind limb lameness (Greve et al., 2017)

Question 2

What does lunging do?

Answer 2

Improve lateral flexibility

Improve balance, co-ordination and proprioception

Greater recruitment of abductor and adductor muscles to maintain balance

Inside of circle: recruitment of hypaxial, epaxial and abdominal muscles

Outside of circle: stretching of equivalent muscles

Circles place torque on distal limb joints

Asymmetrical forces placed on the limbs

The smaller the circle, the larger the forces

Large circles, or using the whole arena, in early rehabilitation

Question 3

Why do we lunge with two lunge lines?

Answer 3

Using two lunge lines improves control of the head, neck, shoulders and hind quarters

Question 4

Why do we use the long side of an arena when we lunge?

Answer 4

Using the long sides of the arena, can reduce the time spent on a turn.

Question 5

Why do we long rein?

Answer 5

Better control of the head and neck, shoulder and hind quarter position
Easier to work on straight lines
Reduces adverse effects of moving on a circle
Only used in rehabilitation if the horse and owner are competent at long reining

Question 6

What are the training aids?

Answer 6

Chambon
De Gogue
Bungee
Side Reins
Cotton training aid
Draw reins 
Running reins

Pessoa/ Equiami
Theraband/ Equiband System
Jingle bracelets
Weighted boots

Question 7

What is the bow and string theory?

Answer 7

Many training aids work on the bow and string theory
Abdominal muscle contraction causes flexion of the thoracolumbar spine
Lowering of the head and neck
Improved engagement of the hind quarters
Improved dynamic stabilisation of the spine

Question 8

What is a pessoa/equiami?

Answer 8

A system of ropes and pulleys that run along the side of the horse
Connects to the bit
A rope runs behind the hind limbs
Used during lunging
Sensory facilitation aid
Sensory cue causes a neuromuscular response, to cause appropriate change in trunk or limb movement

Question 9

What does correct use of a Pessoa/Equiami do?

Answer 9

Lower the head and neck carriage
Spinal flexion
Core activation
Stretching of paraspinal muscles
Hind limb engagement
Transfer of weight onto the hind limbs
Suppleness of the back
Improved balance

Question 10

What is the action of the Pessoa/Equiami?

Answer 10

The Pessoa and Equiami work on negative reinforcement.

Tension on the bit is reduced as soon as the horse lowers the head and neck, flexes the spine and shortens the frame.

Question 11

What happens if a Pessoa/Equiami is incorrectly used?

Answer 11

Fitted too tightly
Restrict forward movement
Stiff neck
Head behind the vertical
Loading the forehand
Fitted too loosely
The quarters will not engage
Hanging ropes can be dangerous
Pressure placed on the mouth at each stride, has been suggested to cause desensitisation of the mouth, possibly impacting the interpretation of ridden rein signals

Question 12

What are theraband/equiband systems?

Answer 12

Resistance bands
Bands come in varying levels of resistance
Tactile stimulation encourages…
-muscle activation
-altered movement patterns
-improved proprioception

Question 13

What is the equiband system?

Answer 13

Abdominal band
Core muscle activation
Hind quarter band
-Lumbosacral flexion
-Hind quarter engagement
-Symmetrical hind limb movement

Can be used in both lunging and ridden work (on the flat and over jumps).

Question 14

What doess the cotton training aid do?

Answer 14

Encourages lower, rounder neck positions

Encourages the horse to lift through the back and withers, thereby improving back flexion and core engagement

Question 15

What does a bungee do?

Answer 15

Encourages lower head and neck carriage
Encourages rounder outline
Works via negative reinforcement, by reducing poll pressure as the horse lowers their head

Question 16

What does a champion do?

Answer 16

Encourages lower head and neck carriage
Encourage to stretch forwards and downwards
Works on negative reinforcement
Poll pressure reduced as they lower the neck
Significantly increases dorsoventral hind limb activity at trot, and hind limb propulsion at walk (P<0.05) (Biau et al., 2002)

Question 17

What does the de gogue do?

Answer 17

Similar to the Chambon
Encourages lower head and neck carriage
Encourages rounder outline

Question 18

What do side reins do?

Answer 18

Encourage lower, rounder and straighter head and neck carriage
If too tight, they can be very restrictive
Fixed length, rubber rings or elastic portion

Question 19

What are draw/ running reins and what do they do?

Answer 19

Controlling head and neck position
Encouraging rounder and more consistent outline
Acceptance of a contact
Can be used for lunging or ridden work
Sometimes used to fix horses head and neck position
Need an experienced rider with good hands
Adds leverage
Rarely used in rehabilitation but you need to be aware of their use.

Question 20

What is neuromuscular facilitation?

Answer 20

therapeutic technique that helps initiate a proprioceptive response. Techniques used to facilitate total body response or selective postural/ segmental responses

Question 21

What is tactile stimulation?

Answer 21

deliberate elicitation of any range of sensations perceived through the sense of touch.

Question 22

What is proprioception?

Answer 22

Ability of body to transmit position sense, interpret information and respond consciously or unconsciously to stimulation through appropriate execution of posture and movement. Protect area from injury.

Question 23

What are proprioceptors?

Answer 23

neurosensory role that relates to motor skills, allowing proficient movement that is consistent, accurate and precise.

Question 24

What do Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation do?

Answer 24

Facilitate or inhibit muscular contraction

Promote or hasten response of neuromuscular mechanisms

Question 25

What are jingle bracelets and what do they do?

Answer 25

Work via proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
Immediate exaggerated response to application
Increased height of hoof flight arc
Through increased joint flexion
Resultant increase in muscle activation
Response diminishes over time (Clayton et al., 2008)
Quicker habituation when applied to the forelimbs
Spinal reflex
Stimulation of pastern area causes contraction of the cranial tibial muscles
Same reflex as tripping mechanism
Flexes the hock, raising limb to clear anticipated obstacle

Question 26

What are weighted boots?

Answer 26

Increased height of hoof flight arc, through increased joint
Unlike jingle bracelets, the hip is also affected
Used to address toe drags and restricted hind limb flexion/ stride length
Although, like the jingle bracelets, weight boots provide tactile stimulation, they work via a different mechanism.
Increased inertia at lift off
Require increased muscle activity to lift and protract the limb
Increased forward momentum during the swing phase
Retraction muscles therefore have to work harder to slow protraction and initiate retraction prior to ground contact
Therefore having a great impact on strength

Question 27

What are the benefits of training aids?

Answer 27

Training aids can be very useful in rehabilitation.
Restoring functional movement patterns
Improving muscle strength
Improving core strength
Improving head and neck carriage
Improving balance, co-ordination and proprioception

Question 28

What factors do you consider when using training aids?

Answer 28

Other factors to consider…
Age
General health and condition
Cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health
Injury type/ severity
Stage of healing

Question 29

What do the training horses do?

Answer 29

The horse is being asked to move in a different way, and engage different muscles.
It is therefore very important to progressively incorporate training aids, warm-up and cool-down, and have regular breaks.
They are also not a long term fix, and their use gradually reduced as the horse is better able to maintain the correct posture.