Lungeing Rollers

What should I look for in a lunge roller for my horse?

It is not only the saddle that needs to fit perfectly, the lunge roller must also fit the horse's back. If it were to cause pressure peaks behind the withers, this could lead to muscle atrophy - the opposite of correct horse training.
When trying on the lunge roller, make sure that it does not press on or against the withers. Some lunge roller designs have thick padding on the side of the withers or the spine. Especially in the beginning, the material can still be very stiff and hard, and then the withers are squeezed between them. If the roller is now tightened, it can become very uncomfortable for the horse. The "bridge" between these pads should be sufficiently flexible so that the roller can adapt better to the shape of the horse's back.
Whether you buy a nylon lunge roller or a leather lunge roller is basically irrelevant. Both should fit correctly on the horse's back and not slip. A leather roller is not necessarily more stable than a nylon lunge roller, it can even be stiffer and be just as uncomfortable for the horse as one that slips.
When buying a lunge roller, make sure that there are enough rings along the side so that you have flexibility in the buckling possibilities of auxiliary reins.
At Kramer Equestrian you can buy lunge rollers from SHOWMASTER. Flexible lunge rollers made of nylon offer the best possible fit to the horse's body. For horses that have sensitive skin, we offer teddy fleece lunge rollers.

How does the lunge roller fit correctly?

Unlike a saddle, a lunge roller is placed behind the withers. This puts it farther behind where a girth would normally be. This means that it does not restrict the shoulder movements. When you put it on, you will notice that the lunge roller slides into the correct position almost by itself.
Under the lunge roller you can place either a lunge roller pad or a folded saddle pad with the opening facing forwards. This is less for padding and more to protect the material from sweat. A correctly fitted lunge roller does not need any padding.
If the lunge roller slips forward and presses on the elbows, you can use the lunge roller on top of a saddle. This is especially advantageous if there is a lot of pull on the auxiliary reins, which could cause the lunge roller to slip.

Which lunge roller is suitable for my horse?

As with a saddle, you have to try and see which lunge roller fits your horse. Lunge rollers are available in different types of padding and material. The most important factor in the decision is the fit and the correct position of the roller. Nylon lunge rollers are very supple and can therefore fit different types of horses. With some horses it can happen that they slip. However, this can also happen with a lunge roller made of leather. It is important to find the appropriate lunge roller for your horse by trial and error.
If you want to train your horse with double lunge reins, lunge rollers with protruding rings are recommended. They keep the lunge reins at a distance and prevent them from getting caught on the girth or the pad.

What are the many rings on the lunge roller for?

If you lunge your horse with a cavesson, you will not use auxiliary reins. However, if you want to use them, you need to be able to buckle them in. For this purpose there are several rings on the lunge roller, usually two lower and two or three upper ones. Another single ring is located in the middle of the belly. Side reins can be buckled into the lower rings on the sides, while the upper rings can also be used to buckle in lauffer reins. For running side reins, the ring on the underside of the belly is used in addition to the side rings. What height of rings is useful depends in each case on the training goal and level of training of the horse.

Which lunge roller is suitable for double lunge reins?

With double lunge reins, groundwork with the horse can be taken to the next level. It brings variety and can be seen as a precursor to carriage driving. When working with the double lunge reins, it is important to have many attachment rings on the lunge roller so that the reins can be attached at different heights. The rings should allow the double lunge reins to also give way when it yields, so that there is no permanent pull on the bit. Most lunge roller designs have flexible rings that can be flipped back and forth.
Ideally, the lunge roller has two or more rings, which makes it even easier to guide the lunge reins.