Lungeing help please

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Sarah_Star

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I bought a new horse at the end of last year. We're obviously still getting to know each other, and are finding things a bit tough at the moment. He lunges fine if he has had turnout and been ridden for 90 mins the previous day, but sometimes that is just not possible.

Today I lunged him on his best rein first (left), and he fell in through his shoulder and we ended up on a really small circle. I tried pushing him out with my lungeing whip, and as he has so much energy he decided to buck and gallop around me. When he wasn't bucking he was refusing to move at all
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How on earth do you make the horse go on a bigger circle? Whenever I made the lunge line longer he still refused to move outwards. In the end I gave up as I felt he was being a danger to handle.

Help please!
 
I shake the lunge line at them - the movement should send them out on to a larger circle. Also try pointing your lunge whip at his shoulder, also helps me.

IME most horses will have a buck, squeal and leap around when you first start on the lunge. Maybe try lunging with 2 reins instead - you should have more control that way. I'd also try lunging over poles, lots of walk/halt/walk transitions and don't do any trot or canter until you have more control.
 
Don't know if this works for everyone, but worked with my last horse who was a bit awkward to lunge and also liked to fall in.
I used to almost 'lead' her around the circle - rather than staying towards the centre of the circle and her going around with me right in the middle, I would follow her in an approximate circle, level with her head, with my shoulders square on to her. If she wasn't being too wild, I could afford to step towards her (letting the line go a little slack) and push her away with my body language. She soon got the idea...
 
Agree, may help to have an assistant walking and trotting level with the horse on the offside for a bit. Agree with pointing whip at horses shoulder and walk towards him slightly at the same time then step back,lengthening lunge line as necessary(!) continue until the horse maintains the size of circle required. Let him have a buck etc to begin with, get rid of any excess energy, just keep him going forwards!
 
To add to this discussion, how do u get the horse out in the first place? My mare thinks it's fun to come towards me and won't stay out no matter what I do. Whips don't help (whether its a dressage whip or lunge whip) and only way she stays out is if someone holds her on the outsite! She ends up lunging me as I am chasing her trying to get her out!
 
I know how it feels! mine wont stay out atol!! The only thing i find that sort of helps is if i get someone to lead him round the outside for the first few circles, and everytime he comes back in, they take him back out.
 
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