help...lunging

[alsxx]

I'm breaking my 4 year old mare at the moment, and lunge work is going very well, she has manners to die for and I'm really pleased with her. However, she just cant be bothered to trot on the lunge!! She knows full well what 'trot on' means and does trot, but its a very lazy trot with no impulsion that soon becomes a walk again no matter what!

This isn't normal for her, as she will usually trot along nicely in hand, out on walks etc. I'm working her two nights on, one night off so she doesnt get bored, and keeping our sessions very short and sweet with lots of transitions and we always end on a good note with progress made each time. By work I mean lunging or we go out for a walk in hand (which she loves and goes into marching mode lol!).

So what I'm wondering is, do I move onto long reining and not worry so much about working her in trot, or should i smooth this out before we go any further? If so, any suggestions as to how to give her some oomph in trot!?

 

[Christmas_Kate]

It's not very 'correct' but get up and chase her into a trot. Obviously, don't get up her backside, but really crack the whip and growl at her (without scaring her silly). A hard hat and gloves is definately adviseable.....

 

[Cobland]

One of mine is very lazy lunging, i was told to shorten the lunge rein and crack the whip near them. Its helped me loads.

Definitely recommend growling, wearing a hard hat and gloves. Found out about the gloves the hard way lol.

They soon learn the range of the whip lol

 

[Evil_Cookie]

Hi, I've just backed my mare who sounds quite similar, you'll probably find your mare will be the same when you get on, and have no impulsion in the school. My mare is great out hacking and dull in the school. I was trying to find a middle ground, as when there young you don't want to nag if they are unsure, but then you don't want them ignoring you because they can't be bothered either. To get trot on the lunge, I shortened the lunge rein to about half length, and then walked around in a big circle with her, trying to remember because she's young circles can be quite unbalanced. And then use the lunge whip and trot with her, (looks a bit silly but is quite effective) Eventually (after a couple of good trot transitions) retuning to the middle when she will trot on her own, just be sure she knows what you mean. The mare will now trot quite happily, but occasionally reverts back to laziness in which case a slightly firmer aid is needed, usually a growl now, no more running in circles