Help with lunging issues please!

Montyforever

Montyforever

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Posting now because i'll forget in the morning! :D

Honey "turns in" while lunging. She never did it before but now she does it constantly! :(

She isnt scared of you, you can jump up and down letting off fireworks and she would still turn in and walk in and say "im done!" even though when i taught her to lunge she was taught to stand and stay still until i came to her ... :mad:

Cant use a whip, she bombs off! :o but i cant keep her going!!!

(isnt me in the vid, is my mum and no crit about the lunging please, she was hot and bothered after a 20 min session of this! lol)

Tips/advice/bang my pony on the head?/bang me on the head?

Im happy to admit responibilty if it is me, just want to know how to right it!

Thanks all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYGkFl3ZOH0

[youtube]YYGkFl3ZOH0[/youtube]
 
Hey Monty :)

I would say from the looks of things, your mum is too much 'in front of her' She needs to get behind the movement more. When your mum stays behind she is going forward as soon as she is slightly in front Honey falls in. It does look like Honey will 'get it' quickly as she does move away when your mum gets behind her.

Stay behind her, driving her on all the time. Harder without lunge whip as pointing it at their shoulder can work wonders.

If that doesn't work I would suggest lungeing with 2 lines.

Good luck, you have a very sweet looking pony :)
 
I would long rein not lunge. With a line on each side ,through a roller, you can hold them out until they get the hang of it. Still work on a circle if you want but use the outside rein to keep pony on track letting it come round behind her.Hope that makes sense
 
Hi there
Have that extention of your arm i.e the lunge whip for gentle drive etc get her used to the whip as a part of you not as a stick that might hurt so lots of desensitising (google Clinton Anderson).
My mare is very sensitive to the whip and so I hold it in a passive way and only need to point if she tries to change gait of her own choice
Start with a shorter line and only lengthen when you have control at that length, longer the line less control.
My boy used to do this, I had to get firm but great when you actually get it going. Good luck
 
I can't watch vid on my phone but will later. Agree with daisy2- the whip is a useful tool, mine used to be scared of it, I can crack the whip now while in rolls his eyes in a sigh(not fear). Work on a very short line until pony realises its easier to go slow but walk the circles so its constantly moving. I carry the whip so that the handle is pointing and rest of whip is out behind me, I can easily bring it into play then. Pointing at shoulder doesn't work for mine, I have to make sure i'm level with his backend driving forwards or he would turn in. And I always walk the lunge as then if I stop so does horse and I can walk faster to get him to stride more.
(Again note i've not watched vid so not sure exactly what your mum is doing in comparison to what i've described)
 
To add to the great answers above try lunging with two - one in the middle holding lunge rope and not getting infront of shoulder and the helper walking slightly out from middle calmly chasing her up a bit.
Keep her closer and in control and do try to get her used to the whip.
 
Can't really tell from the video if your pony is taking the mick or just doesn't understand what your asking, but the remedy is exactly the same.

You need walk with her to start off with, imagine she's walking on a larger circle, your walking in on a smaller one, position yourself towards her quarters and look at her quarters, use a schooling whip if she's too frightened of a long schooling whip and drive her out and off, doesn't matter if she scatters forward in trot, so long as she goes forward but you must keep at her quarters, massage the rein gently so it encourages her to turn her her head in so she maintains a circle but only when she's understands she must go forward otherwise you'll confuse her, if she starts to creep in and looks like she's going to stop or turn in, drive her on again, but it's important you get your timing just perfect, you can also lift your whip towards her body.

Remember to use your voice effectively but only when asking a command to go forward (at this point...slowing down can come later on) so not chatting in between, otherwise you'll just confuse the pony.

Using the right body language is also very important, at the moment your mum is blocking her so ideally I think the best thing to do and it will solve things pretty quickly and make it easier on you and your mare is to get someone down to show you both how to lunge (obviously I'm not saying you don't know how to lunge a horse…the basics etc but there is art to lunging horses that are starting out, or ones with other issues) because every part of our body gives off a signal, the way you position yourself, how you walk, where you look etc will cause a reaction to how the horse goes.

It’s much easier if someone was to show you, rather than people telling you on a post that’s all.
 
Thanks everyone!

Cant longrein on 2 lines in a circle with her, shes super senstive about her back end. Took us 6mnths to pick out her back feet :o

Will try with a schooling whip!
See what you mean about behind the movement, will have to really concentrate on where im standing!! Shes a very clever mare and i think to be honest shes taking the pee now :( She knows that nothing "bad" happens if she turns in, but she knows she gets to stop momenterily while i sort out lunge line and walk back round her backed :(
 
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