horse goes crazy when being lunged

[EJ87]

Hi everyone just wondered if anyone could offer me any advice as to why my 14.2 11yr old mare goes mad on the lunge? Iv had her now since may and its been a steep learning curve as she is quite a forward going girl and i am quite the novice so anyway we have been having lessons and are now doing quite well together although my instructor said it would of been a good idea to lunge her if i cant get out to ride her so yesterday evening i tried this and she goes mental bucking galloping tail high in the air and snorting like a stallion! i dont use a whip just my voice. The thing is as soon as i take the lunge line off shes fine quiet little affectionate mare she is its like she is two completely different horses! any thoughts would be appreaciated thanks.

 

[maggiesmum]

How about either long reining / lunging with 2 lines to have more control over direction, turning the horse takes the power and speed away or loose schooling?

She could have been inadvertently taught that lunging means charging around like a lunatic so thinks she's doing the right thing, my TB was the same so for years i've only ever long reined him, he actually lunges ok now too, over time he seems to have earn that its not about zooming around as fast as poss.

 

[iconique]

I've got one like this, she was loose schooled rather than lunged and now just doesn't get the concept of lunging.

Its practice and time, we found by making the space just into a lunging area and practicing before expanding the area has meant an improvement, but she still hooleys off if you try in a large area

 

[LiveryList]

Possible. i know plenty of people whos version of lunging it to stand in the middle and get the horse to go as fast as possible just purely to knacker them out but its no very productive. If she gets the idea of going ona ciercle i'd say this is most definately the case lol My mare was like this when i first started her as a 3yo cos she just did not understand the concept and i think felt she had to try to get away from me as she didn't understand the being attached and being asked to go forward. It just took time with her doing short and snappy sessions and getting her to understand that speed isn't everything. You may need tp persevere a bit- perhaps get your instructor or a helper to assist by walking with her initially, or just working on a small circle and just staying in walk until she just stays in walk and then move up a gear. If she is flying around i would advise against using two lines as this can often do more harm that good if they are being silly, more for you to hold and they can easily get spooked or trangled up in them.