Why does Monty Roberts think single line lunging is bad horsmanship?

[fizz]

I seem to remember Jillshep (who did the demos with Monty for some time) explaining that Monty says you can always see if a horse has been lunged in that it hold its head and neck to the outside on a circle I believe it is that they learn to balance off the lunge line ??. Dont hold me to that but it was something along those lines    We need jill to come in here and clarify.

[issywizz]

Well if he did hes daft as any green horse will hold itself like that when you free school. 

[ChrissieW]

Maybe because he can't patent/copyright the word "lunging".......

I've never understood why careering a horse round a smaller than 20m round pen is considered more beneficial than a horse being lunged well, but no one ever seems to be able to actually explain that when I've raised it before elsewhere!

[Nessie]

Well if he did hes daft as any green horse will hold itself like that when you free school. 

Exactly!

[Cabruze]

In MRs most recent newsletter, he states as follows:

*Let me first say that I have repeated at virtually every public gathering that single line lunging is the second worst piece of horsemanship on earth, in my opinion.  In addition I have a full chapter on the negatives of single line lunging in my book From My Hands to Yours*

Has anyone read this and if so, why does he consider lunging so bad?

Because he has no idea how to?     It is true that probably more people do harm than good with lungeing though.  Crooked horses, tearing round ...... 

[EmmaB]

I got told the same thing by my local RA when I'd had her come to help me with groundwork with my young horse.  She told me "Monty says" he's seen video of the Cadre Noir lunging terribly, the horse leaning in, with their heads pulled too much to the inside.  I tried to explain not everyone lunges in this way 
 
She told me she did not agree with me lunging my horse (he wasn't fully backed at the time so riding on the lunge was the only safe option) and I should only lunge him with double lines then go straight to riding him loose (er rather you than me!).  Well he totally freaked out having 2 lines on, it was too much for him, so I stopped.  She didn't agree with me on this one, even after I was having excellent results with my horse calm, not leaning in, not having his head pulled to the inside on a single line... 

I have a huge amount of respect for a lot of the work RA's and the IH do, but what I don't agree with is their inflexible approach to backing horses...the only right way is what Monty says and everyone else is wrong, including in her option a senior rider from the Portuguese School
Right I'll get off my soapbox now!

[margarita]

Just because you dont agree with him doesnt mean you have the right to call him daft ! I have met him and have total respect for him................ I may not agree with  people but show a little respect 

[ukica]

I think we all respect him and who called him daft?  It is for that very reason that i asked the question because i want to know the reasoning behind his opinion which i greatly value having seen what he has achieved with horses.  I am personally very interested in his work and would love to be lucky enough to meet him. 

[Mandeigh]

I much prefer to have my horse working correctly on the lunge than fleeing around a round pen on the forehand, bent all wrong and chasing it around till its a dripping mess. 

I would agree, he obviously is clueless about lunging 

[ukica]

I very much doubt that Monty is clueless about anything to do with horses.  He has his opinions like everyone else.

[issywizz]

I can call him daft if I choose to thanks. 

[ukica]

IW....now you are acting like a *10 year old* 

[lmevans]

I think MR dislikes single line lunging because he doesn't understand how to do it properly and has little background history with the technique. It's not something they do with rapidly backed and working western horses, which is afterall where he came from.

Issywizz is right, a totally green (unhandled even) horse will move its head and neck to the outside on a tight bend to balance its body. They have to be taught, or given time to learn, how to carry themselves better in order to shift their weight backwards and more centrally, off the forehand, and then they can lunge well in balance and with correct bend. What I do find interesting in MR's flat dismissal of lunging is that most of the horses I've seen working in a round pen travel in the same way... hollow, on forehand, rushed, bent to the outside. And those on long lines are often still very much on the forehand. It's a very very different technique to correct applied long reining, as generally favoured by classicists.

As for respect, it has to be earned. If someone feels that the work and comments made by someone display a lack of basic knowledge and expereience, then they ever right to call them daft. Nobody is demanding that you agree or do the same, but everyone has the right to their opinion, especially if it a reasoned and educated opinion based on experience and careful thought.

[catkin]

Having had to 'pick up the pieces' with a young horse who was subjected to the tight-reined-wizzing-about-on-a-circle that is sometimes confused with lunging, which has actually mentally scarred her for life, I can understand anyone's reservations on the technique. (I was lucky enough to have been taught longreining by an old nagsman so I could at least go some way to sorting the problem).
We can respect many different trainers - but only some of their techniques will work in our own particular circumstances - this is where our own thoughtfulness, ethics and decision-making come in (yes doing the best for them whilst training horses is hard work!)
Name calling does nothing to help move the debate on. I would like to know the wider context of the quote,

[cirocco]

Im not keen on the man, met him once I thought he was rather ignorant, but I know loads of people think hes brilliant. I suppose its just about what level your at in your ridden / schooling life.

I was brought up in an area where everything was long reined, so lunging never came into my life until much much later. Ive not lunged at all, so I cant say nowt about it.