Oh, and one more thing about lunging:) I never ask for a lope or a gallop on the lunge line. I don't ask for a walk either. They trot. Trotting is the hardest gait for them to maintain. Walking is showing laziness which I can't allow, and loping or galloping is letting them pick the speed which is not allowable, IMO. I'm in control not them.
IMO, if you ask for the lope, or let them lope, you run the risk of them speeding up and doing their own thing, and it is very hard to get them to slow down to a nice speed on a lunge line, so I just never let it get started.
Lunging is about control, not exercise, not to wear them out. JMO:) And I know most people think my philosiphy is a little fanatical, but my horses are all very well behaved, and worse came to worse, I really believe that a beginner could ride any of my three.
Becky
I like to do all three gaits, and also good woahs, on the lunge. I also like to introduce them to trotting poles and cavaletti on the lunge. I have them do everything on the lunge that I expect under saddle.
I change direction and gaits frequently, but I don't lunge a long ~time~ either, if they are doing well. It's really not good for their joints, or for Bay's feet, to do a lot of continuous circling.