Lungeing issues, only one way!

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RustyandMoon

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Hi I am just looking for some advice really. I am breaking in a little dartmoor pony, who is going really well with everything (wearing tack, walking on the roads, being lent over etc.) He is an absolute sweetheart, but hates going on the left rein on the lunge. Right rein he goes fairly well but as soon as you try and change it he will try his best to face you and its a real struggle to get him going again and I have tried so hard to stay behind his movement to keep him moving, but within half a circle hes back facing me. I am lunging in a field rather than a pen so its easier for him to do this.
I am not sure exactly why this is happening when he will go so well on the other rein. I just wondered if anyone knew why he might be avoiding this so much and whether there are any tricks to getting him going on the left rein.
Any advice gratefully recieved.
 
If you can eliminate muscular/skeletal issues it might be an idea to check his vision in his left eye. If it's not health related, do you have a helper who can lead him left?
Do you always work in the same spot?
 
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What i find useful in this situation is to make sure he can lead from both sides. If you have a short whip, stand by his sholder, ask with your hand nearest his head(when u are facing his shoulder) with a little pressure, and tap him on his back or side with whip to get him to move forward. If he moves sideways, thats ok. He will learn to walk forward.

So, on the left rein, ask him to move forward with your left hand, and use the stick to tap him. A soon as he moves forward, just allow him to walk with you. Then ask for him to stop, then walk on again. Gradually you want to be able to ask him to walk on only from using the stick, so gradually you can increase the distance from the horse. If done right, he will learn to move forward from the stick, and keep the circle small so that he learns to do it correctly. U dont want to rush it and have him get worried and turn in toward you. Do this first on his good rein, then work on his bad rein.

Its kind of like teaching him to lead, but just increasing the distance from the horse. And remember not to walk backwards, as this will pull him in toward you.
 
I think at first it was difficult, and now its probably just become a silly habit. My horse gets himself into silly pickles like that now and again. Try as others have suggested. I think it may just be a case of you really chasing him up from behind and staying there untill he understands.
 
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