How do I get horse to stop and stand on lunge?

J

jen1

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When lunging my horse I would like him to stop on the lunge without coming in to me! He is great with voice commands to walk off from the beginnng, trot, canter, back to trot walk but I can't get him to stop and stay out. He seems to know that I want him to slow down as he will walk really really slowly then just turn into me! I don't have anyone to help by holding onto him so that's not an option. Any suggestions???????
 
I was v firm with my horse when teaching him this and initially he was v offended that I didn't want him to come in towards me! Basically I halted him by crossing my whip hand under the other and pointing the whip at a spot infront of his nose so that he could see it ahead of him rather than behind him, along with a verbal 'Woooah'. then if he tried to turn in I'd point the whip at his chest and give it a little shake so he could see it, all the while saying 'stand!'. If necessary I'd back away to maintain the distance until he realised I did not want him near me. Took a while to sink in but now he thinks it is his party piece!
 
Use your lunge whip pointing at his shoulder to push him out. If he won't stop like this, use the wall of the school to stop him while pushing him out with the whip. You have to be consistent & firm but he will eventually get the message.
 
Do you lunge off two lines? Thats the best way. Also when you are leading him in hand and want him to stop, pair it with a voice command so he gets used to it and then should know what you want when you use the same command when lunging.
 
look at the eye (rather than the back end which you should look at when lunging to get horse moving from behind). Wiggle the lunge stick assertively at the front end. If your horse understands 'over' (Ie move out like mine does that will help). I'd also put my body in line with the horse's shoulder or in front as this is taking you out of the 'driving' position. You do have to be assertive and firm and consistently do this every time.
 
Use your body language.
Horses watch your every move so all you do is look directly at his eye, then turn slightly backwards to his rear and look down at the floor, dipping your head a little.
Use your voice to ask for halt, and ensure you use the command when he has actually halted. Getting him to halt out on the circle is difficult, two lines is the easiest method, using your outside hand as the aid. make sure you always immediately "give" as a reward.
 
I never managed to teach my boy this, he just stuck up 2 hooves. I just had to get him in walk and then I would walk to him. He is so opinionated, bless. As he's never going to live with anyone else I don't see it as a problem. All part of his character, though not correct.

Jane
 
Update!

Ok had a go this morning! and after some time with him walking really slowly he eventually did stop! Did the body language and pointing the whip in front of him. Tried it again and he stopped again but think that was a fluke as he happened to see something 'interesting' across the fields!

Tried again and he kept coming into me, so will keep up the practice and hope it sinks in! Also he will come into me then I can't get him away and he starts wanting to just stand with me like a big blooming dog!

I try to get him away and swish the line and whip and he just does a lovely pirouette thingy stepping round me so he always has his shoulder by me turning very elegantly on his back legs! arrrggghhhhh! I got angry and eventually he got the message while I was also digging him in the neck with the whip handle!

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