Lungeing

Lungeing – Safe, Skilled & Structured

Lungeing is an important horsemanship skill that benefits both horse and rider when done correctly.

NZPCA is committed to teaching safe, consistent techniques that support horse welfare, rider development, and clear progression through the certificate pathway.​​​​​​​

Why Lungeing Matters

For Riders

• Builds confidence, coordination, while learning to recognise and understand smooth, balanced rhythms and transitions.

• Improves understanding of horse movement from the ground.

• Creates a pathway towards higher-level horse management skills.

• Quickly notice if the horse is lame, favouring a leg, or moving unevenly and recognise when something doesn’t feel or look quite right.

• Visually see if the horse 'carries' itself without the riders using the reins.  This might be important if the rider is too 'handie' while riding and cannot figure out why?

For Horses

• Improves balance, rhythm, and suppleness.

• Helps with fitness, rehabilitation, and schooling without a rider’s weight.

• Identifies and corrects movement or behavioural issues.

• Should not be cantered on a lunge unless horse is balanced and at the level of being able to canter on a smaller circle.
  

For Clubs & Coaches

• Reduces safety risks.

• Provides clear teaching steps for B and H level riders.

• Ensures consistent criteria and resources for training and assessment.

B Lungeing - Education, Not Examination

We’re enhancing education and support for B level lungeing to improve safety, confidence, and horse welfare.

• B level lungeing training is now included in the B Horse Management Record of Training Card and is also available on the NZPCA App.

• It provides a stepping stone towards the more advanced lungeing required for the H Certificate.

• Resources and clinics are available to support both coaches and riders.

This is purely educational, not an extra barrier.  There is no exam for B Lungeing.

Whether you’re a coach or rider, these resources focus on safe, effective lungeing with clear goals and horse welfare at the heart of every session.

B Lungeing is now part of the B Horse Management Certificate Record of Training, meaning it must be taught, demonstrated, and signed off as part of the normal learning process.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Where Lungeing Fits in the NZPCA Syllabus

​​​​​​​B Certificate Overview

• Understand why and when lungeing is used
• Know correct equipment (cavesson, lungeing line, whip, gloves, boots)
• Recognise a safe lungeing area
• Demonstrate basic lungeing at walk & trot under supervision
• Show correct warm-up & cool-down
• Safely change the rein

​​​​​​​H Certificate Overview

• Tack up and lunge efficiently
• Assess the horse’s way of going from the ground
• Demonstrate advanced lungeing techniques for schooling and fitness
• Fit and adjust auxiliary aids (side reins, Pessoa, etc.)
• Lunge for fitness and schooling
• Maintain rhythm, balance & safe transitions

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Resources to Support Learning

To help riders and coaches:

• NZPCA B Lungeing Resource Book

• B Horse Management Record of Training Card with Lungeing section

​​​​​​​👉 Visit the NZPCA eShop to purchase these resources.

Prefer digital?

The Record of Training is FREE on the NZPCA App, making it easy to track your progress anytime. 

👉 Download the NZPCA App to track your progress anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions