Encouraging using hindquarters in lunge

[Stinkbomb]

I lunge Inky as i obviously cant ride him!!

I have one problem in that i cant get him to use his hindquarters properly. When i ask him to extend he either breaks into canter (and not a long canter more like a rocking horse one ) or wont extend. He really doesnt seem to have any impulsion behind him. I can only explain it that he looks like he is hitting a brick wall all the time!! He is fit so its not this.

Any ideas on how i can get him to use himself properly??

 

[La Fiaba]

Do you 'leg yield' on the lunge? (ie. make circle smaller then push him out) works wonders with getting them using their back end properly

 

[Kokopelli]

I like doing a little circle in the corner of the school then when they work nicely let them out but almost run with them up the side of the school staying fairly close so you have more control.

I find when I lunge my boy I tend to have a shorter lunge line but walk with him so I have more control with him. When I let him out on a normal distance he just doesn't pay attention or breaks to canter.

 

[buntybaby]

Hi

Things like pole work in both walk and trot are good. Am doing lots with my girl as she has the same issue and its really helping her to flex her hocks and use herself!
Also gadgets like a pessoa, although i have since discovered that tying a tail bandage to one side of a roller round the backend and then tied to the other side of the roller works just as well!!
Both things combined together are also very good!!
Hope that helps!!

 

[Stinkbomb]

buntybaby -do you just mean ties to the roller and not attached to the bit or anything else?? Might try that. I cant get a pessoa small enough for my chap

Kokopelli - you mean i have to run!!! good idea though

La fabia - no ive never thought of that but will give it a go!!

 

[celia]

Lots of transitions are good to get the hindlegs working too. If you go down to walk for 3 or 4 strides then straight back into trot and repeat several times you'll hopefully find he starts to anticipate and you get a half-halt type effect. You need to make sure the upwards transitions are nice and forwards. I find it a really useful exercise to help improve the trot.

 

[buntybaby]

buntybaby -do you just mean ties to the roller and not attached to the bit or anything else?? Might try that. I cant get a pessoa small enough for my chap

Yeah just tied to each side of the roller so acts like the sheepskin bit of a pessoa!! Works really well and you can tie it fairly tight as its elastic although not too tight obviously!!

 

[Stinkbomb]

Thanks everyone. Will give ALL your suggestions a go!!!