Long reining-how to get horse to go forward on their own?

[Misterben]

Any help appreciated please.

Ive always been pretty lucky and not had a problem with it.

But just started a very sweet youngster that has been mollycoddled and used to someone leading him.

I dont want to be nasty but how do I get him to go on his own? Or is it just a gradual process of weaning the person away from his head?

 

[the watcher]

Start with circles (like lungeing with two reins), progess to zigzags while the horse gets used to the idea of you changing over direction behind them, you can then stay behind

 

[Queenbee]

I am having absolute hell with Ben on this too! He took to it so well last year but after a break it seems he left his brain behind in 2011! Very backward on lunge and lines and growling,clicking, Squalking, flapping lines and swishing whip do nothing! I look like a total eejit!! Only thing that gets any reaction is actually hitting him with end of lunge whip (not hard) to which he bucks/ kicks then moves! And can't hold a whip and 2 lines!!! So just lunging for 5 - 10 mins at a time until he stops bucking and moves forward, hopefully once he remembers voice commands it'll be a sinch, until then I look like an incompetent tit!

 

[Littlelegs]

Agree with the watcher. I find as well that once in a straight line it sometimes helps to be a step to one side at first so you're in their line of sight initially.