Am I wrong?

[My_breadbagel]

Lunged youngster tonight. He has a history of spinning to refuse work and I was trying to get him cantering for the first time on the lunge. He was doing great but would try his luck at running out/ spinning so I would snap the whip. Then, when he moved forward, I’d lower it to the ground and praise him. My mum was screaming “Trot” while I was trying to do this, as apparently she knows more than me despite knowing nothing about horses. She’s now telling me I’m too brutal with him, saying I was cracking it too much and I’m feeling really terrible that I’m a bad person. I’m trying my best, I really am, and after he did the canter well I released and got him to cool off and have a brush and cuddle with me- he was fine. He also seemed to be enjoying the work for the most part. My mum is constantly kicking up a fuss and I can’t wait to leave home. I’m just trying my best, I really am. I don’t want her input at all but she’s just being horrid. Now she won’t speak to me because I told her to shut up. I just want to give up. I really do.

 

[Equi]

I don’t personally like cracking a whip unless it’s an aggressive animal coming towards you, it won’t help with the speeding off or spinning. a horse doesn’t know English and needs to learn it before they can be voice controlled, so your mum may have been trying to do that ?

do add voice control into your routine and maybe seek the help of someone more experienced in lunging so you don’t end up making your horse think every lunge is supposed to be a spinning whip cracking type of event. They just sound a bit confused.

 

[Griffin]

Could you get an instructor you both trust to come out and lunge your horse? That way, you could both watch and hopefully be on the same page.

In terms of your relationship, you have had a disagreement and you both need a bit of time to get over it. Things often seem better after a good sleep.

 

[MinKo]

1) horses do not need or want cuddles! 2) if it's your horse why is your mum who you say doesn't know anything trying to get involved. 3) if it's your mum's horse leave her to it to save any arguments

 

[My_breadbagel]

Could you get an instructor you both trust to come out and lunge your horse? That way, you could both watch and hopefully be on the same page.

In terms of your relationship, you have had a disagreement and you both need a bit of time to get over it. Things often seem better after a good sleep.

he fabulous walk trot, taught him myself, and once he runs into canter he’s perfect and balanced, it’s just getting into it. He only goes to run out as we pass the gate, hence why I cracked the whip as he tried his luck. The reminder worked and he passed it well, so I was pretty happy with him and ended there.

 

[My_breadbagel]

I don’t personally like cracking a whip unless it’s an aggressive animal coming towards you, it won’t help with the speeding off or spinning. a horse doesn’t know English and needs to learn it before they can be voice controlled, so your mum may have been trying to do that ?

do add voice control into your routine and maybe seek the help of someone more experienced in lunging so you don’t end up making your horse think every lunge is supposed to be a spinning whip cracking type of event. They just sound a bit confused.

he is voice trained and I was coupling it with the word “canter”

It would go “canter” (fast trot) “canter” (wiggles the whip) (still speedy trot) “canter” (crack) (quick transition) then lower the whip to the ground, praise, get him back to trot and so forth. Before I was smacking my dressage whip against my boot but I’m not favouring my lunge whip- sounds almost the same, but more practical. He was stopping at the gate only, which is why I figured best to keep him moving at a brisk pace so it doesn’t become a habit I’ll then have to break years down the line. He’s already 6 and mature, but unbroken.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Who’s paying for the horse?

 

[Shilasdair]

Cracking a whip is always a sign of someone who doesn't know what they are doing lunging.
You need to learn how to lunge properly - in the correct equipment (bridle with reins secured, cavesson, side reins, roller, and lunge line). The horse should have been taught to lunge by firstly learning the commands 'whoa', 'stand', 'walk' 'trot' 'canter' and 'steady', some of which are easy in every day handling. You start off with a walker leading the horse next to him, then gradually have them come in on the lunge line until they are standing with you.
The whip is meant to replace the leg aids - by pointing at his hind legs, and perhaps flicking the hock where you would use more leg to go forwards, or towards the roller if you would use your leg to push the horse out on the circle, and into the contact on the lunge line.
You need to know the correct length side reins to allow your horse to work comfortably in walk and canter (a lot of forward/back head movement) as well as trot (less movement).
If your horse is struggling to pick up the canter, try using a pole, or slowing the trot. The more you crack the whip and they run forwards out of fear, the more on their forehand they fall, and the harder it is to get a good transition.
To sum up - I think you need to pay an instructor to teach both you and your mum to lunge properly.

 

[bonny]

All sounds a bit of a mess, what’s the history with the horse, why isn’t he broken at 6 ?