Lazy lunger- advice please

[GeeGeeboy]

I've just started to teach my boy how to lunge. The first couple of times was in his field. I hadnt lunged for a few years so was a bit rusty I noticed G was very stuffy on the lunge and reluctant to go forward but as it was only his first attempts i just thought he was a little confused.

However, i got my instructor to lunge him for me last week and he was so lazy with her,she found him really tricky. He really isnt keen on going at any speed but walk and has absolutely no fear/ respect for the lunge whip. You can literally hit him in the bum with it and he doesnt react So i tried him again today in the field and ended up giving in after 5 mins because i was exhausted and he wouldn't move. Help please!! What would you do in this situation ? ps.he is usually a very forward going pony.

 

[Emily91]

It's hard to advise without seeing him really. You dont happen to have a video of you lunging him do you?

I find a lot of the time your position in the centre has an impact. Try to keep your shoulders square with his to push him out and forwards. Also keep your shoulders up and take and aggressive stance towards him.

Im sure your instructor has told you this though.

If I think of any other useful methods i'll let you know.

 

[GeeGeeboy]

It's hard to advise without seeing him really. You dont happen to have a video of you lunging him do you?

I find a lot of the time your position in the centre has an impact. Try to keep your shoulders square with his to push him out and forwards. Also keep your shoulders up and take and aggressive stance towards him.

Im sure your instructor has told you this though.

If I think of any other useful methods i'll let you know.

Thanks fro the advice- will try to get a video next time.x

 

[Bowen4Horses]

be active/energetic in your lunging and it'll really help!

 

[Snowysadude]

My friend ties a little plastic bag to the end of her lunge whip, works a treat. I pick up bits of rubber in the school and throw them at my boy (very BHS I know) and that works. Neither of the horses react to a whip normally - I think its just a case of getting to know the horse

 

[hannahmurphy]

You say you've just started to teach him .... He's probably not quite sure what it's all about yet! Keep at it with clear aids and most importantly a BIG voice and I'm sure he'll get the point in the end!

Lunging is not the most obvious thing to a horse!

 

[Steorra]

If he hasn't been lunged before then he's probably just a bit confused . Ask someone on the ground to help you by walking at his head while you stand in the middle. Be encouraging and try not to get frustrated - when lunging you are asking a horse to read your body language, and if you're giving 'cross' signals it won't help.

Make sure you are standing behind the movement not in front. You need to be well behind his shoulder where you can drive him forward until he gets the idea.

If he's not reacting to the whip then try this instead: ditch the whip, and (assuming lunging to the left) take most of the loops of the line in your left hand, leaving about 2' in your right. Spin the end of the rope like a windmill to send him on instead of waving or tapping with the whip. I find horses that 'don't do lunging' understand what this means a lot more quickly than the whip and tbh I prefer it to having to crack a lunge whip or smack them. Once he gets the idea you can reintroduce the whip for conventional lunging if you prefer.

Some horses lunge much better with two lines, but it takes a bit of practice. It's a very useful skill but you might want to try with an established horse first as I found it a bit fiddly.

 

[bonny]

Maybe he just doesn't want to be lunged and who can blame him for that ? is he an older horse ? Is it really necessary to lunge him ?

 

[3DE]

I find a lot of the time your position in the centre has an impact. Try to keep your shoulders square with his to push him out and forwards. Also keep your shoulders up and take and aggressive stance towards him.

Agreed! Also get behind him. If you are more to his shoulder as it is very easy to do, you are blocking his forward movement. Get behind him slightly and you can encourage and drive him on.

Also how is he long lining?

Another thought - he may not get it... If I have a new horse I always get someone to walk the horse on the circle first a couple of times, simply so they get the idea. That way the person on foot can chivvy them along and they learn the word cues quicker

 

[Emily91]

If he hasn't been lunged before then he's probably just a bit confused . Ask someone on the ground to help you by walking at his head while you stand in the middle. Be encouraging and try not to get frustrated - when lunging you are asking a horse to read your body language, and if you're giving 'cross' signals it won't help.

Make sure you are standing behind the movement not in front. You need to be well behind his shoulder where you can drive him forward until he gets the idea.

Definitely agree with this. Lots of positive reinforcement so that when he does something right he knows thats what he's supposed to be doing. Also try not to stand still in a spot in the centre, move around with the horse to encourage him to move, keeping shouldes square and behind shoulder to send him forwards.

 

[letrec_fan]

With green/inexperienced horses it is often better to walk to the side of them, nearer the hindquarters and walk forward with them in a circle rather than stand still in the middle because this is likely to not mean anything. With time, as he starts to learn voice commands you can move into the middle and ask him from there.

Also - what about two reins? If he doesn't object too much this could help. It will balance him more and give him a better idea of what exactly you want.

I always used to run alongside my lad as he was an inexperienced lunger. This helped him alot - but it is more hardwork for you!

One more thing - don't be too rigid with the circle shape. If he doesn't stick to it, just let him work around you. This helped mine.

Are you using side reins or any kinds of gadget? If you are perhaps taking them off to see how he reacts/works then?

Hope this helps.

 

[3DE]

Also - what about two reins? If he doesn't object too much this could help. It will balance him more and give him a better idea of what exactly you want.

That was actually how I taught my youngster to longline - it was almost lunging with two lines at first until he 'got it'. I walked behind his shoulder, about 2 foot away from him at first with the outside rein running across his back. As he got used to this I dropped it behind him then eventually moved myself behind him too. I guess with lunging you could move yourself gradually away towards the middle.

I still say someone walking with works best though - just not always possible...

 

[GeeGeeboy]

Maybe he just doesn't want to be lunged and who can blame him for that ? is he an older horse ? Is it really necessary to lunge him ?

He is 8. It isnt necessary to lunge him but then when is it necessary!?
I want to lunge him to enable him to be more supple, balanced and to generally improve his way of going for him and me.

 

[bonny]

I just think some horses hate being lunged, going round and round in circles often in side reins etc. If your horse is one of them then why make him ?

 

[magichorse]

My horse is really lazy on the lunge too. Sounds daft but running on the spot in an energetic way helps mine Worth a try!

 

[Steorra]

I just think some horses hate being lunged, going round and round in circles often in side reins etc. If your horse is one of them then why make him ?

I don't see this as a matter of making a horse do something he hates, more explaining it in a way he understands. No one here has suggested forcing the horse. I for one don't use gadgets or even side reins though I think in specific circumstances they have their place.

There are huge benefits in fitness and training terms to lunging, especially working with two lines. It's a fantastic way to watch your horse work - to get to know his or her paces from the ground as well as the saddle, and to spot any irregularities that might be a sign of an injury / problem. It is also possible to 'school' a horse very effectively on the lunge, from basic transitions to advanced lateral work (though again I would say that needs two lines rather than one). Have a look at the Spanish Riding School working their horses on lines.

Like schooling, lunging is only boring or horrible for the horse if the rider / handler makes it so, either through not making sure that the horse understands his or her job, or by doing endless repetitive circles. You can move a horse around the arena, do pole work, pop a cross pole, and introduce playful elements to keep things fun. My horse has done (and enjoyed!) all these things, and I've taught several horses whose owners have told me 'oh he / she doesn't lunge' to do them too.

ETA I'm not being narky, just genuinely puzzled

 

[GeeGeeboy]

I don't see this as a matter of making a horse do something he hates, more explaining it in a way he understands. No one here has suggested forcing the horse. I for one don't use gadgets or even side reins though I think in specific circumstances they have their place.

There are huge benefits in fitness and training terms to lunging, especially working with two lines. It's a fantastic way to watch your horse work - to get to know his or her paces from the ground as well as the saddle, and to spot any irregularities that might be a sign of an injury / problem. It is also possible to 'school' a horse very effectively on the lunge, from basic transitions to advanced lateral work (though again I would say that needs two lines rather than one). Have a look at the Spanish Riding School working their horses on lines.

Like schooling, lunging is only boring or horrible for the horse if the rider / handler makes it so, either through not making sure that the horse understands his or her job, or by doing endless repetitive circles. You can move a horse around the arena, do pole work, pop a cross pole, and introduce playful elements to keep things fun. My horse has done (and enjoyed!) all these things, and I've taught several horses whose owners have told me 'oh he / she doesn't lunge' to do them too.

Great reply! Im going to persevere with him i think and try to make it fun!

 

[Bertthefrog]

You could try lungeing with a helper - they can handle whip and get a lot closer?

Or the method I used with success on one lazy git - use the lunge whip and instead of aiming to touch their bum of hocks, go underarm and try and catch their tummy! From the distance you can't do them any harm, but their bellies are much more sensitive, and they are (from a prey animal) much more inclined to move away from contact in this area! It was the only way I could get this one horse to move - and once he began to respect the whip, and then my voice, he became much easier!

 

[bonny]

To me a horse who is discribed as being lazy to lunge, but not to ride is trying to tell you something. People rarely used to lunge horse, especially just normal riding horses, now it seems to be all the rage. A horse just being chased round in circles which is what alot of people do when lunging isn't being helped in any way. I appreciate what you are saying and for a highly trained horse, lunging does have it's place but for a horse who simply doesn't want to be lunged then I stand by what I said. Why do it ?

 

[Bertthefrog]

Oh and waving the lunge whip around in a circular motion like a demented windmill helped somethimes too.......

 

[3DE]

To me a horse who is discribed as being lazy to lunge, but not to ride is trying to tell you something. People rarely used to lunge horse, especially just normal riding horses, now it seems to be all the rage. A horse just being chased round in circles which is what alot of people do when lunging isn't being helped in any way. I appreciate what you are saying and for a highly trained horse, lunging does have it's place but for a horse who simply doesn't want to be lunged then I stand by what I said. Why do it ?

Even more important for a horse of less a training - lunging helps teach the horse balance and also improves the musclature in order to carry a rider correctly and work correctly.

I have an 18yo project horse who hasn't been ridden for 4 years and have spent the last two weeks lunging her (sometimes twice a day) to build up her back muscles in readiness for carrying my weight.

A couple of pics I have put on before -

Initially

After 10 minutes and 2 changes of rein

Yes she's not working brilliantly yet but I doubt I'd have been able to get her to work as quickly, or more to the point, comfortably, under the saddle...