Check that all your tack fits properly. The girth doesn’t need to be too tight. The stirrups must be tied up or removed. Remove the martingale if your horse wears one. Now, deal with the reins. You can either unbuckle them where they split and then slip them through the D-ring on the saddle, or you could do the following: unfasten the throatlash on the bridle; hold the reins behind the horse’s jaw and twist them 5 or 6 times then run the throatlash through the loop you made; fasten the throatlash again. This locks the reins in place. If you are lunging only in a caveson or collar, disregard this paragraph.

If you are using side-reins, forget them for now. Make sure you have your gloves on. You can lunge your horse anywhere but it would be better if there are not many distractions around. A round pen is ideal but a rectangular arena will do. Beware of lunging a young, spirited horse in an open area; he could get excited and run away

If you are carrying a whip and about to lunge on the left rein, hold the lunge line in your left hand. Excess slack and the whip will go in your right hand; and vice versa for the right rein.

To get your horse going, it is best to lead him onto a small circle first. Gently walk your horse on a 5 meter circle then slowly step away from him to the center of the circle. If he turns in, lead him back to the circle. If he stops and looks at you, urge him to keep going by using your voice or the lunge whip. Once he is established on the small circle, give him some slack and encourage him onto a bigger circle. Let him walk freely for about 5 minutes before you begin his workout.