How do I stop getting dizzy lunging my mare?

[snopuma]

So as the title really, does anyone else suffer with this ? Is there a cure?

I have been tasked with getting madam to canter on the lunge, I always avoid as she is nuts on the lunge and have only lunged her twice this year in the last 2 weeks, trouble is she is ok in walk and trot and thinks canter means 100mph which as an ex racehorse she can do, I have tried all the gadgets but to no avail, she is actually happier in just a lunge cavasson and no bit, but her canter starts with 'head up in the gods' a few fast bucks then an attempt to go faster and faster and faster looking like the hounds of hell are chasing her (can you see why I hate lunging her!) she will stop but only after about 10 fast laps at which point I feel like fainting, and I am really not exaggerating Its like my eyes can't process the speed of what I am seeing and at some point I am going to faint and get dragged round the school, so either any ideas for slowing her down or any ideas to help focus so I don't faint?

Whats left of my birthday Hotel Chocolat chocs and Pear Cider for those that got this far

Any one else have similar experiences?

 

[D66]

10 fast laps doesn't sound too bad! Mine does at least that and i think she is quite good on the lunge. She does settle down eventually though. You could stand still and pass the lunge line behind your back until she slows down.

 

[HashRouge]

Try walking a larger circle yourself, if that makes sense? So rather than turning more or less on the same spot, try walking a ten metre circle with the horse going around the outside of you. It's how I lunge my mare, to try and get her on as large a circle as possible.

 

[Bertolie]

Easiest way to stop yourself getting dizzy is to get someone else to lunge for you! I have to do this as I suffer from Menieres disease and cant do circles at all. Walking a bigger circle helps slightly but I still get dizzy and nauseous even after 2 circles of walk!

 

[Blythe Spirit]

i sometimes get dizzy lunging - and my horse is good to lunge so its not the speed. I find it has to do with where i focus my eyes of try looking at the same point on the horse all the time as opposed to the fence flashing past behind her!

You could also try long lining or lunging on two lines (people differ in what they call this) but it is closer to riding and you can use the reins to slow down - though if she canters like this when ridden too then this won't help you much but if she canters well when ridden it might bridge the gap for her and stop the antics on the lunge....

Liz

 

[starandgarfy51]

Hi
Watch the horse not the background! take small steps on each turn, so your not spinning round and round. keep your shoulders square and turn your body as a whole even if this is fast you shouldn't feel too dizzy. Hope this helps!
star*

 

[dreamcometrue]

As Hashrouge says, you won't get dizzy if you walk a circle too and move up and down the school as well.

 

[putasocinit]

Look ahead not at her

 

[Darcydoo]

It's like motion sickness (eyes say moving,brain says still) I used the travel sickness wristbands and walk a circle myself ,whilst keeping my eyes on her shoulder. No spinning feeling and hitting the deck yet !!

 

[Fii]

Try walking a larger circle yourself, if that makes sense? So rather than turning more or less on the same spot, try walking a ten metre circle with the horse going around the outside of you. It's how I lunge my mare, to try and get her on as large a circle as possible.

This^^^ its what i do as well!

 

[Shooting Star]

would second long reining, it's always been my favoured way of bringing a horse back into work not just because of being able to do lots of straight line work by being able to walk behind or to the side but because when canter is on the cards there are extra brakes available if required