How to stop a horse turning in?

[Bri]

Whilst lunging that is?
Have been having a play with the new girl, trying to get her used to voice commands and build up some muscle. First few times she was great but has now learnt to turn in and stick by my side. She refuses to go 'out' again - despite growling at her, 'scary' body language and encouragement with the whip.
Have resorted to having someone walk round at her head - but usually isn't anyone around so can't do it all the time.
Should I stick to lunging when there is someone around? Or is there anything else I can do? Ta!

 

[Clodagh]

Can you lunge with two reins? That would help.
Sorry to hear about your boy.

 

[Bri]

Not sure how she'd react to it - would it not encourage her to turn her bum in?? Will wait til YO is around and then give it a go.

Thank you. Missing him so much already

 

[Irishcobs]

My boy used to do this and now the 4yr old at work has started to do it. I find if I move quickly to the back of the horse and push them off, either with the whip or with a growl etc. They should move froward away from you but you have to be quick to stop them coming in again. I also found loose schooling helped with this to.

 

[PapaFrita]

C's horse does this all the time. You need to get behind her and 'shoo' her on from there. It involves quite a lot of running around, but she'll soon stop doing it!

 

[Nari]

I'd also go for two lines. It shouldn't encourage her to turn her bum in - the second line acts as your outside rein but where it is behind her quarters it can also be used to send her on - and if it does then you've got it way too tight! If you're worried how she'll react though I've also seen people put the second line through the roller then over the horse's back so it isn't around the hindquarters.

 

[Bri]

I've tried

Was running about like a headless chicken this morning - whereas she was just very cooley swinging her ass round so her head was always facing me!!
Have tried - shooing, growling, shouting - she's stubborn as anything and just flickers her ears at me and looks bored!

 

[Clodagh]

mmm..I can only lunge with 2 reins if the horse behaves, naughty ones I can only manage one, so not the best person to give advice...

If you had the outside one coming over her back at the saddle patch, not around her bum, might that not give you some outside steering? Then you'd need to hold a whip, too!
My big horse is an angel and I can lunge her with 2, little pony is a b*gger and turns and stands and stares, I do him with 1 and as PF says, lots of runnig around. (I wonder who is lungeing who sometimes).

 

[PapaFrita]

Isn't that just like mares?

Ok, another thing you could try is making a 'ring' with jump poles on crates or simlar. I find it much easier to lunge reluctant horses like this!
OR, do what BOF does and get an assistant to do the running!

 

[vicijp]

Definetly 2 lines - like this:

 

[Bri]

Excellent thank you - so if she tries to turn in I just use the 2nd rein to guide her back out? Will the 2nd rein also keep her going forward, or should I use a whip too?
*Have visions of me all tangled up, while horse looks on smirking!*

 

[vicijp]

Its very easy, just use them as you would a pair of reins. Having them loose like that means you can give the outside one a slap to send them forwards, no need for a whip. It also makes rein changes ultra easy. When you have them trained to voice they should change reins without you moving a muscle.

 

[Bri]

Ta very much! Will give it a go later!

 

[Nari]

Vicijp I agree with you about everything except rein changes being easy, so far I can only manage them in walk & even that isn't a pretty sight!

 

[frannieuk]

How on earth did you manage to lunge with two lines and take the video!! Thats got to be talent, or are were you born with 3 hands???

 

[_jetset_]

I was having the exact same problem with Grace so I booked a lesson with my instructor (just 30 mins) and got her to lunge her. It worked a treat... basically she kept encouraging her forwards with the whip, and if she stopped and turned in she would put herself at the side and make her carry on. Kept her on quite a smallish circle so she could get her moving around her first, then gradually increased it.

Grace is now lunging brillantly (sorry if I haven't explained this very well)

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

Ive have that problem with three out my four youngsters, Ive found when they walk in, give then nothing, dont look or any thing, guide the back to were they should be then reward, so being on the lunge out side (if ya get me) is positive.

 

[vicijp]

Mmmmm, I have had lots of practise. But I will admit he is very quiet!

 

[vicijp]

It will come with time. I had a breaker last year who could canter figures of eight on 2 reins to a simple 'left' or 'right' voice command - he is exceptionally clever!

 

[S_N]

This is what I plan to try with B in the New Year. She's terrified of lunging - it's either turn in and hug me or gallop round like the wall of death - thanks to the person that £$%&ED her up on the lunge - so I will be starting from scratch. Long reining and introducing lunging from there.