What Is The Best Lunge Line For Horses On The Market?

Lunging is a fantastic exercise for your horse. It helps them to move on the ground in a natural bend, which can improve muscle tone and fitness, and it can also help to get rid of any “itchy feet” if you do it before a hack, meaning that you can enjoy a calmer, more relaxed ride. It’s also a great way to engage your horse’s brain and make sure he is thinking, and paying attention to you.

Lunging can also help you to see any issues your horse may be having, as it is done from the ground so you can get a good look at how he is moving and check for any issues. Lunge lines can also be used for long reining, which is a great exercise to train young horses, or get a horse ready to learn how to pull a cart.

Best Lunge Line For Horses Reviews

Obviously, a good lunge line is very important. But where do you find such a thing? You can pick up any old lunge line at a tack sale, or maybe you have one lying around in the tack room somewhere – but wouldn’t it be nice to have a brand new shiny one? We have reviewed three of the best lunge lines out there, to take the hard work out of finding one!

Image	Lunging Lines	Price
	Hamilton 1 Single Thick Nylon Lounge Line A great lunge line, and value for money.	CHECK PRICE
	TOP PICK: Cotton Lunge Line With Rubber Stop A soft, natural product, both in look and construction.	CHECK PRICE
	Southwestern Flat Cotton Web Lunge Line Gentle on the hands and on the pocket + a swivelling snap.	CHECK PRICE

1. Hamilton 1 Single Thick Nylon Horse Lounge Line Review

This is a highly durable lunge line, great for the horse who likes to take an unexpected tug on the rope as it will withstand just about any amount of abuse. It is very heavy duty, and should last you for years and years.

Pros

• Box stitching ensures a long life – There is nothing worse than having a good product give up you because of faulty stitching. This one uses an especially strong stitch to make sure that this doesn’t happen.
• Made by a household brand – Hamilton are well known and recognised as makers of good quality products, so you know you’re buying a lunge line that will last.
• Comes in a range of colors – For those who want to match their tack, this is a great option as you can choose the main color of your lunge line.
• Useful handle on the end of the line – It is helpful to have a fail-safe that means you can keep hold of your horse if he decides to take off, trailing the rest of the 26 feet behind him!

Cons

• Can cause rope burn – Wearing gloves while using this line is a must; because of its nylon construction, one sharp tug running through your hand could be very painful.

Recommendation

A great lunge line, for a small price, this one will perform the job well and will last you for years to come.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

2. Cotton Lunge Line 35’ With Rubber Stop Review

This is a soft, well made piece of equipment that can revolutionise your lunging techniques. If you have been put off by hard lines in the past, you can restore your faith in lunging with this lovely rope.

Pros

• 35 feet long gives you a lot of room to play with – You can choose whether you want to lunge on a long or short line; starting shorter is best but with this one you have the freedom to let your horse out the full distance.
• Cotton construction is hard wearing – The fabric rope is very strong, and won’t hurt your hands as much as a nylon rope can.
• Natural color – If you have a horse who baulks at bright colors you will be looking for something which is easy on the eye. This rope will practically blend in with the scenery!
• Rubber stop at the end of the rope – It is very helpful to have something at the end of the rope to catch your horse if he takes off, and this rubber stop will be kind to your hands as well as effective

Cons

• Can feel too long – Especially if you are used to keeping your horse on a short line, there may be enough of this rope to tangle up.

Recommendation

For those who want a natural product, both in look and construction, this is the lunge line for you.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

3. Southwestern Equine 35’ Flat Cotton Web Lunge Line With Bolt Snap And Rubber Stop Review

This lunge line combines the best of all the worlds – it is made from soft yet durable cotton, comes in fantastic colors, and has a useful rubber stop and swivel clip. What more could you ask for?

Pros

• Snap and swivel clip – The fact that the clip moves around to follow your horse’s movements is a fantastic plus, as it means he won’t be troubled by a clip pulling on his halter when he moves.
• Cotton construction for comfort and strength – Cotton is a very strong material, and it has the added bonus of being kind to your hands.
• Rubber stop at the end of the line – If your horses does decide to tank off, there is no chance that he will be able to whisk the line out of your hands with this useful addition.
• Comes in fantastic colors – You can choose what shade you want your lunge line to be, which is great for those of us who want matchy tack.

Cons

• Can be a little too long – There are very few downsides to this lunge line, but one complaint might be that having too much extra rope can get tangled if you like to keep your horse in a smaller circle.

Recommendation

This rope is gentle on the hands and on the pocket, and will help your horse have a more enjoyable experience too, thanks to the swivelling snap.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the typical lunge line?

A lunge line may measure between 25 and 35 feet.

Don’t start right out with your horse in a large circle. Work with a shorter length of rope and a smaller circle to begin with until you become completely confident in your lunge line handling technique.

Longer lunge line can be used by more skilled handlers. A longer line gives the horse the opportunity to work in a larger circle which is easier on his joints, ligaments and tendons.

What are lunge lines made of?

Lunge lines are available in pure nylon, pure cotton webbing and also a combination of these two materials. Modern lunge lines are available in a wide variety of colors to match all of your horse’s tack.

Which is better, cotton or nylon?

Cotton is softer and easier to handle. It has less tendency to slip, twist will become tangled. If you and/or your horse are new to lunging, choose a cotton lunge line.

Where should you stand while you are lunging your horse?

To lunge a horse, you stand at the center of an imaginary circle (or one physically delineated by a round pen). Your horse will move in this circle around you as directed by you.

Which direction should you start lunging your horse?

Even though it is human nature to want to start in a clockwise direction, it’s actually better to start your horse lunging counterclockwise. This is because this puts you on the left side of the horse, and that causes him to use the stronger side of his brain to begin the activity. This is why we typically mount and dismount on the left side.

How long should lunging take?

Lunging is actually hard work, so you shouldn’t impose lengthy sessions on your horse. Generally speaking, 5 or 10 minutes on each side is enough to improve your horse’s fitness and calm him as needed.

How often should you lunge a horse?

Just as with people, varied workouts have better success than doing the same exercises over and over again. For this reason, you shouldn’t lunge your horse more often than every other day and for no longer than 20 to 30 minutes.

What do you need to lunge a horse?

The equipment you’ll need for your horse includes a lunging cavesson or bridle, a lunge whip and the lunge line. For yourself, you’ll need sturdy boots that give you good traction, gloves to protect your hands and a hat to shade your eyes from the sun and perhaps to signal your horse.

Why should horses be lunged?

Lunging is a good alternative for days when your horse cannot exercise outside if you happen to have a covered arena. If you’re not able to ride one day, a lunging session can give your horse good exercise. It’s also a good way to train your horse while not in the saddle.

For example, if your horse has not been saddled before, working on lunge line with saddle will help him get used to it without risk to you. The same is true if you are changing tack and want to let your horse get used to a new set.

What’s the best place for lunging?

You can lunge your horse in an open field, an open round pen or covered arena. No matter where you lunge him or her, you should be sure that you have a good, even, slip-free surface. Good materials for the surface of your lunging area are:

• Sand
• Rubber
• Carpet fiber

How should you position yourself for lunging?

If you are positioned correctly, you will be standing in the center of the lunging circle. Your stance will form a “slice of pie” between you and your horse. One side of the slice will be your whip. The other side will be the lunge line, and your horse will make up the outside rim of the slice.

What order should you lunge in?

As with any exercise routine, you want to warm up, exercise both sides equally and then cool down. Work with your horse slowly for the first 10 minutes of your lunge session. Work each side equally for the next 10 to 15 minutes of the session. Spend the last 10 minutes allowing your horse to walk quietly around you or take him for a stroll.

What should your horse learn from lunging?

One of the main things horses can learn from lunging is communication. If you are correctly positioned, your horse can see your body language clearly the entire time and can learn to respond appropriately.

Additionally, you should use voice commands to supplement your body language and whip signals. Always use the same commands and the same tone to mean the same thing. This will build your working vocabulary with your horse.

How do you use the lunge whip?

The whip is only for signaling, not for hitting. You simply raise it and lower it to let your horse know your intentions. You should keep it pointed toward your horse’s shoulder to keep the horse at the end of the lunge line. This will help prevent having the line drop and become tangled.

Is it dangerous for the lunge line to drop?

It can be very dangerous for your lunge line to drop and your horse to become entangled in it. For this reason, you should practice handling the line a great deal before you ever begin lunging your horse. Should be able to change it from hand-to-hand easily and work on being able to hold taut.

What is a lunge line?

A lunge line is a single, very long rein that is used to communicate with your horse while lunging. A skilled handler will be able to provide the same subtle communication through this single-line as a skilled rider does through bridle reins.

Can I lunge my horse in his saddle?

If you do lunge your horse under saddle, you should remove the stirrups or run them up to the top position to prevent them flapping and banging against your horses sides.

Why do some horses lunge in leg wraps or boots?

Boots and leg wraps help protect your horse from injury caused by one hoof hitting the opposing leg. It’s always wise to provide your horse with this protection.

Conclusion

Lunging is a great training exercise for your horse, and can help you to see any issues he may have. Lunging can be done in a round pen, a ménage, or even out in the field – it’s a very versatile activity. So you will need a versatile rope, and to make sure you’ve found the best one you can. You may well have just done that!