JustDressageIt wrote:
I have a few options:
1) Keep Denny where he is or at a barn nearby and work him throughout this time lunging/long lining on the days my knee can handle it (hopefully every other day?)
2) Lease him out
3) Move him up to my friend's place an hour and a half away and keep him there for the cost of feed

I don't know what to do. Most days it hurts to walk or do stairs. Minimal lunging is fine, but even that activity (pathetic, hey?) lands me on the couch for a few hours at least with an ice pack.
Opinions?


Part 2: If I keep Denny nearby so I can work him, I need some exercises and goals. Right now I'm lunging him either in full tack or just a surcingle and bridle with Vienna-style bungee side reins on. What I don't like about that setup is the lack of bend, so I thought of a design where a bungee runs from one ring on the surcingle, through a lunge converter thing, to the other side of the surcingle. That way he would get even pressure on the bit, and would have movement side to side and up and down.
Someone posted a video once of a bungee contraption that ran from one bit ring, through the legs, over the wither, through the legs again and to the opposite bit ring, and I was thinking of rigging something like that up too. *Even with bungee this device may not have enough give to release when a horse needs a break. Please be super careful. Vienna reins have more give and more room if the horse needs a break.

What are your favorite lunging tools? Vienna reins with saddle or surcingle.
What do you like to do on the lunge? Responsiveness to queues, after warm up ask for smaller circles ensuring inside hind is reaching under, after a nice bend and energy is established some Medium trot down the long side Spirals in and out.

What other non-mounted, minimal movement things can I do with my horse? Liberty, clicker training, equine massage, love the leasor idea!

Thank you in advance!!


Please do not hinder your healing by continueing to stress your knees.