Help with Lungeing please

[spotty_pony]

I have just started doing some lungeing my young mare. (I say young but she is 6 but a very green 6!)

She is from Ireland and I was almost sure she wouldn't have done any lunge work before - and I was right. She was very well behaved, but a little bit confused to start with. She kept trying to go in a straight line instead of on a circle and she kept turning in at any opportunity she got. She is getting better and we are managing to do wibbly wobbly circle shapes now but she doesn't really understand going forwards. I am using a lunge whip and she obviously doesn't know what one is for as I can wave it around behind her and literally make it crack and I don't get much of a reaction! I am only working her in walk and trot atm as she is struggling with canter as she is so unbalanced but I was just wondering if anybody had any tips on how I can encourage her to work more forwards? Or will this just come with time?

Cookies if you got this far any advice much appreciated!

 

[spotty_pony]

Anyone?

 

[JanetGeorge]

I'm currently teaching two of my junior staff how to teach a young horse to lunge - it's bloody hard with horse and handler in front of me - even harder on the internet!

First, throw away your BHS 'how to lunge' guide! For a young horse who hasn't a clue you need to keep horse on short rein - while you walk a large circle (this is so you are close enough for real control - but horse isn't stressing his joints on a small circle.)

ALWAYS stay 'behind' the horse - never be further forward than level with his hip - keep the lunge line pointing out in front of you - and walk towards his rear end, thus sending him forward with your body language! if you get forward of his shoulder, you'll not be able to do a THING if he turns in on you. And use you voice - clear and consistent commands for walk, trot, canter, and whoa.

Don't crack your whip - flick horse on bum if necessary while giving the voice command (this is why you need to stay close to the horse.)

Keep 'tweaking' the lunge line to encourage the horse to bend his neck a little and make the circle. Definitely DON'T attempt canter until the command (and balance) are well established in walk and trot!

 

[margaretb]

I'm currently teaching two of my junior staff how to teach a young horse to lunge - it's bloody hard with horse and handler in front of me - even harder on the internet!

First, throw away your BHS 'how to lunge' guide! For a young horse who hasn't a clue you need to keep horse on short rein - while you walk a large circle (this is so you are close enough for real control - but horse isn't stressing his joints on a small circle.)

ALWAYS stay 'behind' the horse - never be further forward than level with his hip - keep the lunge line pointing out in front of you - and walk towards his rear end, thus sending him forward with your body language! if you get forward of his shoulder, you'll not be able to do a THING if he turns in on you. And use you voice - clear and consistent commands for walk, trot, canter, and whoa.

Don't crack your whip - flick horse on bum if necessary while giving the voice command (this is why you need to stay close to the horse.)

Keep 'tweaking' the lunge line to encourage the horse to bend his neck a little and make the circle. Definitely DON'T attempt canter until the command (and balance) are well established in walk and trot!

Could I ask - as I fell off on Saturday and am a little sore still - Poppy is very full of herself and I need to put alot of time in with her. I put her on the lunge rein just now - initially she went beserk, but eventually I got her to walk nice circuits in a calm walk on each rein and then called it a day - finishing on a positive note. the session lasted about 20 minuts. Is this ok to do daily, hopefully eliminating the need to go in a full pelt to start off with?

 

[Circe]

I had to teach both my boys to lunge when i got them and really its all about your position in relation to them.
Keep yourself level with or behind- to drive the horse forward - the girth. I found if i got to far forward, ie level with the shoulder or head, thats when they turn in. Then its hard to get them going back on the circle.
A round yard is ideal to start lunging, if you dont have that, maybe the corner of a field /arena. It might be helpful to have someone walk next to your horse at first till they get the idea and learn voice commands a bit better.
Id say try to avoid cracking the whip. Do the least amount possible to get the response you want.
Personally, i like to keep lunge sessions short ( 20 mins ) and only lunge a couple of times a wk.
Kx