lunging a loon...........

cob&onion

cob&onion

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When i lunge my TB she gets very wound up and ends up bucking/farting/rearing full height and is generally a prat. Must admit she does make me nervous lunging her and it really puts me off so dont do it much.
Any how she has been off work and now the vet has recommended i get her fit again by lunging or/and long reining her. (she has sore back caused by saddle so waiting for our physio appointment) Long reined her for few days and shes fine. Lunged her today and she went like a rocket and did all of the above :o i just kept a hold and managed to calm her down and just kept asking for a trot which i eventually got. We finished on a good note.
I dernt lunge in a pessoa in case she panicks when she rears - same for side reins, she went in them once reared panicked and almost lost her balance :eek:
I am always worrying incase she comes in and bucks at me or worse still rears up over me.........these are full blown leg waving rears not mini ones. Riding wise shes fine its just on the lunge she gets like this.
The other day whilst leading her down the field she got really excited as we had to walk past horses which where very excited and running about - of course she got excited but she was bucking on the end of the lead rope and reared full a fe times and narrowly missed me :eek: have started wearing a hat for turn out now and ordered a dually halter and a 12ft rope.

Normally 9/10 shes a good girl and laid back WHEN SHES IN FULL WORK.

What do you do when your horse acts a pratt on the lunge? push them on? calm them down??

I have got access to help if i need it but really want to manage it myself if i can :)

Any tips for lunging and general handling a very excitable horse on the ground would be good :)
 
Not got much advice, but make sure you're always wear gloves! And your hat, and even a BP if you own one, it's better to be safe than sorry.
 
I don't single line lunge unless the horse is really nervous with a line round hindquarters.

I long rein and if your mare is happy with this why not do that? Monty Roberts recommends long reining as opposed to single line lunge. He demonstrated why in an impressive show at Gleneagles with a mare who disunited in canter.
 
Hat and gloves, maybe bp. When she rears, id drive her forwards, move your body language so your pushing her from the back and back up with the lunge whip whilst gently pulling the line sideways so when she does come down she doesn't go straight forwards but carries on on the circle. And to prevent it happening, keep her forwards and thinking, spirals in and out, halt to trot, move up and down the school etc.
 
Two lines would be good but it doesn't sound like op could handle those efficiently enough to avoid tripping mare up (no offence intended op). Where abouts are you, someone on here might be able to recommend someone to give you a hand
 
cob&onion said:
I cant keep up running long reining :)
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You don't need to run!! (sorry can't work out those smiley faces). Just stand in the middle as you would with one line. BUT you have more control and steering.

My trainer taught me not to pull to steer but to slacken outside rein once you have the hang of it you can do serpentines, circles, change direction etc. I think you get her attention better.
 
Yes will get some help using two lines, have done a bit of long reining and she seems to go better. I see what you mean about the two lines ie standing to one side - i think its lack of confidence with me :o
Will def sort some help out with these ground issues, cant keep putting it off and def think mare can sense am a little wary of her whilst lunging.

Thanks for all your suggestions :)
 
i agree with the advice given already, an instructor recommended i try free lunging with my TB as he struggles on the lunge and becomes a twit.
if you have a round pen then that would be great but if not, you could section of part of the school using jumps, fences etc.
 
Thats very kind :)
Am on a livery yard with a few instructors so should be able to get a bit of help, normally i just get on with things and like to keep myself to myself so didn't really want to ask for help there, but seeing as am not getting myself anywhere i will ask one of the instructors to lend a hand :)
 
cob&onion said:
Thats very kind :)
Am on a livery yard with a few instructors so should be able to get a bit of help, normally i just get on with things and like to keep myself to myself so didn't really want to ask for help there, but seeing as am not getting myself anywhere i will ask one of the instructors to lend a hand :)
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Glad you can get some help, try free lunging if you can. My arab was an idiot on the lunge but behaved like an angel free lunging.

ETS : oops cross posted
 
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