How do you stop a horse looking to the outside while lunging?

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HashRouge

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For one reason or another my sister is looking after my mare for me atm. She currently hasn't got a saddle either for her horse or my horse (saddle fitter was supposed to be coming yesterday but cancelled :rolleyes:) and wants to start lunging my mare who she says is a bit on the podgy side :p. I don't usually lunge her but when I have done I've noticed that she has a habit of looking to the outside. I don't know how to stop her doing it short of pulling at her all the time, which I'm sure isn't good for her. Does anyone have any tips for getting her to move as straightly as possible whilst on the lunge? Thanks :)
 
Use a lunge roller and two reins, although be careful not to use the roller as a winch point!

Otherwise pop some side reins on with a roller.
 
side reins with the inside slightly shorter, or clipping the lunge line to the inside bit ring only, however that can cause sliding and pulling of the mouth so take care.
 
She's probably stiff and finding it difficult. I know its not for everyone but I lunge mine with nothing on, I do a bit of leg yielding/neck flexing exercises in hand for 5 minutes before I lunge and within 2 weeks my cob is carrying himself properly with a correct bend on the lunge. He used to spend the whole time with his head in the air and nose out.
 
All those solutions are going to do is make her tense against the inside side rein and still look to the outside in my opinion.

I don't actually think there is a very good answer to the problem unfortunately. The outside is far more interesting than you at the inside! ;)

Its why I much prefer loose schooling (in a roundpen so much the better) or "playing" with the horse rather than lunging. Much easier to get their attention back by changing the rein, doing poles, a jump, different shapes, backwards, forwards etc.

If you want to stick with lunging, try some trotting poles, changing the size of the circle, and include a fair few transitions and changes of rein.

:)
 
Some good ideas guys, thanks! I think my sister might get a bit lost with two lunge reins but I'll suggest it, and I'm not sure side reins will suit my mare. I like the idea of some leg yielding and stuff in-hand first, so I'll suggest it. My sister has also said she'll keep the circles big and sessions short, so hopefully pony will get the idea. She's not the easiest horse to lunge!
 
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