LowenKi
Well-Known Member
I use lunging primarily as a winter tool when I struggle with access to hacking and often our outdoor arena is flooded and or frozen... sometimes both!
My new chap doesn't really seem to agree that lunging is a good idea. He's clearly been lunged in the past, but I struggle to get him to do ANY trot work or transitions as he just likes to bolt round and scream at the top of his voice! It almost looks like he's enjoying himself...!
I've tried him in side reins and a pessoa (never got it connected up, just with the fluffy bit round his bum to get him used to the idea in case he'd never seen one before)... and even equipment free - which was the worst idea! Tried with lunge whip and without... I am used to a bit of a bronc and a play for a few minutes at the start of a session but I've never come across a horse who will happily do this continually! Sometimes I worry that he will fall over, I don't want to keep trying unless I've got a method in mind to try and work him through this.
It's a really useful tool for me and my horses, is there a way of making him more accepting of the lunge?
Any ideas or previous experiences would be much appreciated! Is it just excitement and I need to lunge him more?! Not sure whether I'm doing the right thing by persevering... any ideas welcome!
My new chap doesn't really seem to agree that lunging is a good idea. He's clearly been lunged in the past, but I struggle to get him to do ANY trot work or transitions as he just likes to bolt round and scream at the top of his voice! It almost looks like he's enjoying himself...!
I've tried him in side reins and a pessoa (never got it connected up, just with the fluffy bit round his bum to get him used to the idea in case he'd never seen one before)... and even equipment free - which was the worst idea! Tried with lunge whip and without... I am used to a bit of a bronc and a play for a few minutes at the start of a session but I've never come across a horse who will happily do this continually! Sometimes I worry that he will fall over, I don't want to keep trying unless I've got a method in mind to try and work him through this.
It's a really useful tool for me and my horses, is there a way of making him more accepting of the lunge?
Any ideas or previous experiences would be much appreciated! Is it just excitement and I need to lunge him more?! Not sure whether I'm doing the right thing by persevering... any ideas welcome!