green horse lunging problems

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missallym

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I have just bought a 7 yr old cob x hanovarian. He is very green in the school and doesnt like work and tries to get out of it.
hes had this teeth and saddle done, and he passed the vetting. I have had him 3 weeks, so it is still very early days yet, and I know it is going to take time.
When i lunge him, he turns in. he will go round on walk for me, but will keep turning in and stopping, so i just push him back out and make him carry on. The problem is, he wont trot. as soon as I ask, he may do one or two strides if at all, then stop and look at me.
Granted he probably doesnt know what I am asking yet.. so I tried to trot him in hand, alongside a straight fence.
first attempt, he did a couple of half trot strides, then walked. second attempt, he walked and was like a blackpool donkey. Third attempt, he squeeled, and took off down the arena to the gate.
I went to him, got him back on his lunge line and made him walk a few circles. each time we got close to the gate, he stopped and turned to me, as he wanted to go back in. I made him carry on until he did one full circle without stopping at the gate, then we went in. To make him learn that we stop when I say so, not him.
Any tips or advice how to make him trot, without either walking and refusing to trot, or taking off at full gallop leaving me standing there.
I have patience, and I do not lose my temper and shout or hit him. I know i cant expect miracles in the first three weeks, and hope this is something I can learn him quite quickly. Hes not a nasty horse, and has a lovely temperment. Just green.
 
It's really hard to describe, but you need to forget his front end and keep behind the line where his girth would be. Then be quick on your feet a few times and keep behind that line even when he turns - keep sending his bum forward and keep yourself in a position to be able to do that. It will only take a couple of times for him to realise that is what you want - it sounds to me as though he just doesn't understand.
 
Cortez said:
I think you would do best to find an instructor who can show you (and horse) how to do it. Lunging is not easy!
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I'm going to agree - it's almost impossible to talk someone through longeing a tricky one but much easier if you can watch first and then have someone talk you through it. It's all down to timing and, as JillA said, body position. You can also have a chat about equipment, how best to use your arena space etc with someone who can actually see the situation and experiment with you a bit if need be.

Longeing well isn't crazy complicated but it's a learned skill to teach a horse to longe well.
 
Cortez said:
I think you would do best to find an instructor who can show you (and horse) how to do it. Lunging is not easy!
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Agree there, but if you have trouble finding some one or want to get on start long reining. When he does that well you can lunge with two lines making it more difficult for him too turn in. But if you can get some lessons!
 
Agree it's difficult to explain and best to get help. As said you need to be in an almost perfect position and really send him forward with a lunging whip
If your a foot out of place or a second too late you will have lost him
 
TarrSteps said:
I'm going to agree - it's almost impossible to talk someone through longeing a tricky one but much easier if you can watch first and then have someone talk you through it. It's all down to timing and, as JillA said, body position. You can also have a chat about equipment, how best to use your arena space etc with someone who can actually see the situation and experiment with you a bit if need be.

Longeing well isn't crazy complicated but it's a learned skill to teach a horse to longe well.
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This - I was having some issues sought help and now we are both much better at it :D
 
Our youngster used to turn in too. I enlisted a helper to lead him around and gradually move further away, but ready to lead him back out if he tried to come in. Probably not technically correct but helped him understand the concept!

Also timing - if you can anticipate when they are going to turn in, you can have the lunge whip at the ready to encourage them back out before it happens.
 
Thanks everyone. I tried the footwork well behind the girth line this morning and had much better results. Still just walking though. I have to be careful with lunge whip as it freaks him out a bit. Not quite there with trot in hand but today got a couple of strides and he never took off. Got a lesson this weekend so will speak to her about it too.
 
It is tricky to lunge properly, always looks very easy with a horse who knows what its doing but you realise how hard it is when presented with a arguementative 3 year old!!

One thing I discovered is to keep the hand with the lunge rein right by your side, if necessary hook you thumb in the pocket. I realised that when the horse was about to turn in I automatically shoved the hand holding the lunge rein away from my body towards his head and that put me in front of the movement. Also, when you are coming to a bit where the horse starts to hand towards the outside ie the gate, keep your feet still, don't walk with him and allow him to take you.

Hope some of that makes sense and helps.
 
missallym said:
Thanks everyone. I tried the footwork well behind the girth line this morning and had much better results. Still just walking though. I have to be careful with lunge whip as it freaks him out a bit. Not quite there with trot in hand but today got a couple of strides and he never took off. Got a lesson this weekend so will speak to her about it too.
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It is actually much easier to keep the horse going (and teach it to go forwards) in trot. Lunging at the walk is OK for a round or two for relaxation, but the whole purpose is to teach the horse to move forwards in balance.
 
It is so easy for a horse to be disobedient on the lunge, as you have so much space between you and him. As such, it is easy for him to be disobedient to the 'go', 'stop', and 'keep straight' aids.

He also sounds hyper-reactive to the whip and could benefit from some desensitization. Gently place the whip on his shoulder and if not too stressed move it around a little. Don't remove until still/calm - if you do you are inadvertinently reinforcing that the whip means move.

I agree that you do need someone to show you how to lunge, but I would make sure that he is obedient to the basics of go, stop, and turn in-hand first. Effectively he is dictating his own line and therefore, lacking 'straightness' by turning in. (his front legs are moving off the line you want by 'falling' in/out.)

I personally would make sure that you have the basics of stop/go/turn/yeild before you attempt lungeing - and then get someone to show you how to lunge. He has bascially learnt that he can do what he wants and the more you repeat it, the more he learns it.
 
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