How to make pony start lunging

scrumpy27

scrumpy27

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Hi all, this may sound very basic but its getting to really annoy me, i CAN't lunge... i am fine once the pony is going round in circles i can keep her out and she listens to me lovely but i just can't get her started, she stands and looks at me then we both dance round in tight circles going nowhere,i have tried pushing her shoulder out with the whip but she just pushes back and i have tried flapping my arms abit and telling her "away". It is my fault because i had a lesson the other day and she was perfect for the instructor, circled out no problem. Today i knew i was getting frustrated and angry so stopped and ended up walking her in a circle then gave up and put her back. I just need to know how to send her away to get started, as usual all suggestions welcomed... Thanks in advance for replies.
 
You may have to try being a bit more dominant with your body language. Walk with her a little to get her moving and then gradually send her out with your voice and body. I'm not the best at explaining things but you need to make yourself slightly more forceful without being scary. So you need to be standing up straight, facing her directly and really expect her to move away from you. You may need to walk 'at' her the first couple of times to get her attention. Make sure you're staying level with her girth, or even slightly behind, so you're definitely sending her forwards. If you end up level with her neck and shoulder you'll be blocking her forward movement. The best thing would be to get your instructor to see what you're doing so she can tell you where you're going wrong. Once you've got the knack you'll be fine, I'm sure. :)
 
Hi Thanks Celia, i have tried sort of leaning and stepping forward and i say "away" forcefully, i end up jogging back all the time to stay behind or in line with the girth, but she does keeps tight to me so i get dizzy and as soon as i stand still she stops. i keep the lunge rein arm out in front and try to keep the whip at her hocks if i have room but usually i am too close to her to be able to even use the whip, i have tried shaking the rein to push her out but she seems to ignore me i don't want to shout at her or get angry because its not her fault but i do wonder if shes being a humbug!
 
What about long-lining her first? Get her used to walking up front and away from you. Then when she's confidently going forwards you can start to introduce turns and eventually circles.....
 
Good idea Domane, i haven't tried that and her confidence is a big issue, she is a sweetie only 5yrs old and very spookey i went passsed a ride on mower today, (its windy) and all four hoofs off the floor in a dramatic spook! i need to give her confidence thats why i don't want to get too scarey and lose her trust, we have only had her nearly a month now. Thanks for suggestion
 
Just to add she is always in my space, if i am poo picking she backs up to wheelbarrow and gets right on top of it, if we are in the field she has her nose right in everything we do, she often leans on me! i can send her away in situations like this and she stands a couple of meters away looking at me until invited to come back. when led from the ground in a headcollar she tries to lean accross me or bite my hand or rope. I am working on this but i think it extends to not moving out on the lunge rein.
 
Yes, it does sound like you are her comfort blanket and she's loathe to leave you. Besides, a month is very early days for a new partnership so I'm sure that her confidence will grow as time passes and you get to know each other.

When you lead her, do you let her follow you? I've got a 2yo and a 3yo and when I lead them I use a 12ft line and I ask them to lead beside me so that I am at their shoulder. They absolutely hated it at first, wanted to tuck in behind safe ole mum but I like to see where they are as youngsters can be unpredictable! If I'm leading on the near-side, I loosely hold the line at about halfway in my left hand and then with my right-hand I use some of the excess to swing/rotate in circles to drive them from the shoulder and also to keep them out away from me. I also lead on the off-side and hold the line with my right hand and swing the excess with my left. It takes practise but to me it's the first step in asking them to walk independently and slightly ahead. I want to drive both of my boys when they are older so they need to be confident being up front and solo :)
 
Your pony is very smart. She has learned that if she stays close to you, and doesn't move away, that you are unable to lunge her. She is evading.

This calls for a different approach. You need to forget about lunging for the moment, and concentrate on groundwork exercises to teach your pony to yield her shoulder. You may have to do this by touching/putting pressure on her at the shoulder to begin with and, once she has learned this, you must teach her to yield her shoulder away as you step in toward it.

Next, you need to teach her to stand still while you move all around her. This will allow you to take up a position which will facilitate lunging, without the pony turning to face you and evade.

Once the pony is taught to yield the inside shoulder, and will allow you to move around her whilst she stands, you can work on having her remain where you stand her whilst you move away from her.

Once these three exercises have been learned by your pony, you will be prepared to ask her to yield her shoulder away from you, then you can raise your driving hand and send her on the circle. If she tries to evade by turning to face you, you can step in toward her shoulder and, because you have taught her to yield, you can dissuade her from turning, and then send her on again.

When learning to lunge, and teaching a green pony to go on a circle, you have to be quite light on your feet, watch the pony for signs that she may try an evasion, and get into a position where you can counteract that by asking for yield from the appropriate part of her body.

Then it is about creating a balance between sending her on (without putting too much pressure on her quarters, causing her to turn in), and looking at or stepping in toward her shoulder to keep her out on the circle.
 
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