[sabriel67]

The other day, I lunged Scottie without a lunge line. He was much more responsive, and seemed to enjoy himself a lot more than when I use a lunge line. He changed gaits easily, and switched directions without complaint; he even walked to the center of the ring when I asked him. Would it be okay to continue to lunge him like this? Or do you guys think that he might start to act up after awhile? How do you lunge?

[minihorses4ever]

If he perfers it, why not? I would, though, lunge him on the line every once in a while, to remind him of it.

My gelding works better on the line. He always has. I feel I have more control that way too.

[PaulaQHMax]

I use both ways, off the line I feel we connect better when he is on the line if he has done it off the line.

[sabriel67]

Thanks. Its kind of amazing to me how much better he works off the line; I feel like I have much more control now. (Isn't that weird?) I'll definately still lunge him with the line every once an awhile.

[Chaz]

I do both, if yr horse works well without then I think it’s a good idea

[gotta a horse]

I do it both ways. Like your horse, mine prefers to be off the lunge line, but I do both just incase we are somewhere, and she's full of beans.

[Bruce Wiley]

A person may start off with the horse being to heavy on the line at first.
Hopely the horse changed, where there is less fight on the line and only needs light curing from the handler and responds correctly to every request.
This light curing, handling of the line should tranfer to your reins.
You want your horse to stay light, soft to rein pressure and have an quick correct respond to the request.
You want to be able to guide your horse using light reins curing from your reins, hands.
I do believe in using the lunge line at the start to set this up in the horse 's mind.
It aids in gaining control of their movement, directions.
The release teaches the horses to yield, quickly to the pressure.
All of the learning speed up in the horse's mind, plus convinces the horse that this is my idea and not their.

I do lunge free style later in the horse's training where other techniques, verbal and more body language is introduce to the horse.
Some people may do it differently or have their way, but beware that some horses are only doing, going thru the motions.
In the horse's mind, he's not convince that this is your idea.
The line won't allow him to think this way.

Mostly your free style isn't hurting anything but why not mix it up and lunge line him sometimes.
I hope this helps.

[lvmypnt]

We do it both ways as well. Della thinks its play time when she is off of the line so we only use the line with her for now. Mia does really well off line and not so good on line so we free lunge her.

I think it all just depends on the horse.

[AppalosaCowGirl]

IF i try to Free lunge Lilly she bends down as far as she can go and ducks under the fence..
Even though she really is to big now.. once when she was MUCH smaller she learned it and now she Has to be lunged with a line.

(I have the funds to put board on the under part so there is just board on the top.)

[Super Step]

I personally prefere to free lunge. I find the horse pays more attention to me, my body language.
Everyone has to do what works for them.