Lunging a Young Green Horse

[Vickyt137]

Hello, I wanted some advice, I hope someone can help. I recently got my 4 and half year old Palomino, about 1 half months ago, and we have been working on our bond and starting ground work. I am backing her with a friend. We have started lunging and she is not very good at it, as you would expect for a young green horse. I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks to help get her on the right path. She is very attached to me, and will not go forarwd on her own, I have to lead her to get her to go in a circle. She was amazing the other day did everything right, and did well, but now its like she doesn't understand, and keeps trying to come to me rather then go round on her own? Any Ideas please?

Thank you

 

[windand rain]

You need to be slightly behind her shoulder to drive her forward. if you are to far in front she will follow but not move off on her own. I personally am not keen on single line lunging prefer to have two lines on to stop them turning in

 

[Vickyt137]

Yes I try to be, she just turns in and stops and doesn't go forward, she doesn't understand I think.

 

[Widgeon]

You need to be slightly behind her shoulder to drive her forward. if you are to far in front she will follow but not move off on her own. I personally am not keen on single line lunging prefer to have two lines on to stop them turning in

This is my experience too from watching my last horse being re-backed; with a horse that doesn't understand lunging, two lines is much better to start with. Then once they've got the hang of going forward and not turning in with two lines, you can try moving to one. However I should add that I was not the one doing the double-line lunging as it's a bit of handful, particularly with a green horse - you really need someone who already knows what they're doing, so they can teach the horse.

 

[Merry neddy man]

You stand behind the shoulder and have a friend longline from behind only YOUR voice giving commands, do that a few sessions then use friend to longline with less input for a couple of sessions , then friend follows for 5 mins then disappears and see how you go on your own, dont try and rush it you gain nothing.