Horse scared of lunge whip but only from a distance, also being tyed up issue.

[Jxmxg]

I noticed when I went to lunge my new horse he seems scared of the whip but after a few minutes he let me stroke him all over with it and lead him around while I was holding it but when I pick it up of the ground or walk near him with it or if he can see it from a distance he gets all tense and backs up away from it. I figured since he calmly let me rub him all over with it he wouldn't be scared of it. I ended up lunging without one for now but I would like him to get use to it so he doesn't get high headed, stiff or distracted when he sees one. What would you suggest I do? Walk over to him with it with treats and when he's good give a treat and just repeat that? " like I said he is fine when I rub him all over with it but then as soon as he sees it a few minutes later from even a few feet away he is scared. Also when I tye him up he pulls back and get high headed like he's going to rear, maybe he doesn't like the preassure on his poll when he moves or he feels trapped? So I've been brushing him while holding the rope to avoid him panacking, im at a busy livery yard to need to be careful he doesn't freak out. Any tips on getting him to relax while being tyed up? I've been rubbing him all over he stays calm for a bit but is easily distracted and hates when he feels convinced when tyed. X

 

[Scotsbadboy]

Have you had him long and do you know his history? My current horse doesnt do well tied on the yard (he's thirteen) but its purely because he doesnt understand it, he understands that standing in his stable to be groomed, tacked up etc is perfectly normal though. He has manners to die for but standing on a yard just doesnt really enter his radar as a normal thing to do!

You've done one session of desensitizing the horse to the lunge whip ... quietly and calmly keep going, its always good to get them used to everything and anything but I believe the aim of lunging by using your voice only is the best method so in theory you dont need a lunge whip! (I dont even own one, all my horses have always worked off voice commands)

How old is the new horse?

 

[rabatsa]

For tying up use an idolo tie up ring https://idolotethertie.com/ and a very long rope.

With the lunge whip I would lunge in an enclosed area so that he cannot be loose on the yard and hold it every time you lunge. I had a nervous beastie and it took a year before he stopped flinching at every slight movement of the whip but it was worth the effort.

 

[Jxmxg]

Thanks for the replies The new horse is 5years old. I definitely plan to do more desensitisation sessions with him. I didn't really use a lunge whip for lunging my other horses in the past and when I did it was just used as a guidance, but even if I don't need one I'd still like him to get use to it incase someone else has one near him and he acts up. I know some of his history. He was shown in hand before I bought him and has been lunged with tack on but he is not trained undersaddle yet. I wanted to restart him from scratch to make sure he has a good foundation before introducing undersaddle training. He always has loads of energy and is a bit nervous of you at first, won't let you stoke his face unless you have a treat. He is good to lead and pick his feet out and put blankets on and so on. I've only had him a week so taking it slow with him and letting him settle. Only lunged him once so far. He was pretty good tho. I will post a video in a minute. He is a Welsh D cob. I will look into those tye rings and use a longer lead for him when tyed up. X

 

[ihatework]

The idolos are good - use a long rope that is smooth, not one of the cheap cotton type lead ropes, you need one that gives quickly and smoothly. Start with tying him up in his stable rather than outside and stay close by. Let him figure out the pressure and release. At some point once he is more relaxed I’d introduce a more fixed tie in his safe controlled space.

Lunge whip wise, without knowing his history, it’s not unusual for youngsters to get chased around with lunge whips. Not with any bad intention necessarily just sloppiness. Different horses react to that in different ways, so it’s worth persevering with desensitisation, as it’s useful to be able to use one correctly. You can do a couple of things - teach to lunge off voice with the lunge whip tucked under your arm to start with, also can use a schooling whip as an arm extension before you start to use the lunge whip. Shouldn’t take too long.