Lungeing problems

LaurenBay

LaurenBay

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My just turned 6YO is really starting to try it on lungeing. She hadn't been lunged very much before I got her, I'm guessing a couple of times. She at first was lovely on the lunge, once she got the hang of it and slowley she is starting to look better for it. Now she constantly stops and faces me (both reins) its very fustrating. She doesn't do anything nasty just simply stops and turns to face you and stays still.

At first I tried to give a firm "no" and walk up to her push her back out and try again, she still kept doing it. So now I say a firm "no" and flick the lunge whip torwards her bum (not actually touching her though) and try to get her moving, but it sometimes results in her just doing side steps so she is always facing me. What else can I try? I was thinking stones in a bottle and shaking it but shes pretty laid back so don't think it would bother her much.

My YO lunged her other day and Ruby went better for her, Yo just kept moving behind her bum with the lungewhip and said it wasn't important if she didn't do a proper circle but she just needed to learn to move away from the whip! seemed to work and hoping that she will slowley grow out of it!

In the mean time anything else I can try?
 
My old mare ,after what she considered long enough on the lunge , would turn in..go right up on her hindlegs and walk towards me.She would then drop down as calm as you like right beside me.No malice at all,just a game between us.:rolleyes:
 
Is there anyone else who can help you? My little one used to try it on at the beginning, so got OH to walk with him/hold him when he turned in, and then slowly walk away as he continued on circle again.

Also, I know its obvious, but really concerntrate on being behind the shoulder, try pointing the whip at her shoulder, and saying 'away'

failing that, did you long rein her first? Try that if not, you can do it on a circle, and if she begins to come in, you can gently squeeze the outside line to ask her to go back out

hope some of that may help a tad!

bexcy-bee x
 
Haha, sounds like Ruby , she will go straight out on the circle and then after about 10 mins just stops and looks at me to say "I'm finished mum, take me back to the stable/field please" But not nasty at all.
 
This is NH not really BHS lunging but it's up to you if you think there's any merit in it for the way that you are training your horse...

If I point towards my horse's hindquarters, it would push the hindquarters out, thus the front end would come in and the horse would be facing me. I use that if I want to bring her back in to me.
If I flick behind her - more energy behind her means increase your pace and go faster.
If I want her further out on the circle I would point to her shoulder to direct the front end out a bit more. Hind end then follows front end.

Obviously like I said, this isn't exactly traditional lunging and it might make sense for the way you are training or it might not. I hope it helps but if not feel free to disregard. :D
 
Thanks Bexy, she doesn't actually come in though, she just stops dead and turns her body so she is facing you. She doesn't walk in and doesn't turn in when she is working. She's very good at the staying away part, its just the keep moving part that I am struggling with haha.

Will try some long reining though :D
 
unbalanced said:
This is NH not really BHS lunging but it's up to you if you think there's any merit in it for the way that you are training your horse...

If I point towards my horse's hindquarters, it would push the hindquarters out, thus the front end would come in and the horse would be facing me. I use that if I want to bring her back in to me.
If I flick behind her - more energy behind her means increase your pace and go faster.
If I want her further out on the circle I would point to her shoulder to direct the front end out a bit more. Hind end then follows front end.

Obviously like I said, this isn't exactly traditional lunging and it might make sense for the way you are training or it might not. I hope it helps but if not feel free to disregard. :D
Click to expand...

Thanks for that :)

But if I flick behind for more energy it doesn't work, Lazy mare :rolleyes: I try to point the lunge whip behind her bum, give lots of praise when she moves forward, just trying to maintian the forwardness that is the problem.
 
I end up flicking the lunge line at my boy to keep him out as he sets off in fast canter if I so much as pick up a lunge whip....
 
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