Lunging Advice needed...?

[BarmyC]

I have just taken on 2 4yo kwpn registered horses and need some advice with lunging them.

The owners OH thought he was helping when he lunged them whilst she was out riding her others and as he isnt very experienced he only lunged on one rein.

I am now trying to work them on the lunge and want to get them out of this bad habit, but when i try to out them on the other rein they muck about and try and tank off on the opposite rein. (they are 16.3/17hh and im only 5ft3) One will try and rear when i ask him to work on the "wrong rein"

They are both superbly bred one is out of Lauriston and both are from Renkum stud.

I do try and persevere but dont seem to get anywhere

any advice?

 

[dianchi]

Any chance u can ride them on the lunge to start with??

 

[jumpthemoon]

How do you try and change the rein? Have you tried starting them on the other rein and swapping to the good rein? Or is it the change of direction that upsets them?

 

[BarmyC]

I have tried starting them on the bad rein and it makes no difference.

As to riding them on the lunge im not too keen to if they start to rear. I have a recurring problem with my elbow and cant afford to come off. (not bothered about coming off but would rather not put myself in a postion where i could hurt the elbow again.

To counteract it when i ride i work more on the bad rein to compensate for not lunging on it i just want to break the bad habit.

They have only been working properly for 3 months but this problem seems to have stuck

 

[jumpthemoon]

Do you try to get them to change the rein while they are still on the circle, or do you ask them to stand, then walk over, turn them round and send them off again?

 

[OrangeEmpire]

Have you tried having someone walking round at their head on the difficult rein?

alternatively you could try loose-schooling/round-penning them as if they rear etc there are no long lines to get tangled up in and you can concentrate on being assertive and sending them forwards...?

 

[Shilasdair]

They sound like a handful!
If they were mine, I'd pretend they'd never been lunged before, and retrain them from the walking in hand aspect, to sort out their mental reluctance to do this (horses don't transfer skills learned on their left side to right side, etc) and to try to redress any resulting physical stiffness.
So walk them in hand, on a 20m circle on both reins equally, teach them voice commands for 'Walk on', 'Whoaah' 'Trot on' and 'Out' or 'Over' as you lead them. Then recruit a helper to walk round with the horse whilst you lunge them. The helper should be holding the lunge line, but not interacting with the horse, just passively obeying your instructions. Gradually the helper should move from the horse's end of the lunge line, to yours...when the horse has got the idea, and obviously you should do this equally on both reins.
I'd dress the horses in snaffle bridle, lunge cavesson, roller and fairly long side reins, with brushing boots. And I'd dress the humans in hats, and gloves, perhaps body protectors if likely to get kicked.
Hope this helps
S

 

[jumpthemoon]

[ QUOTE ]
Have you tried having someone walking round at their head on the difficult rein?


[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I was going to suggest

Making them halt, having a helper to stand on the outside and help you turn, then send forwards.

Alternatively, have you tried with two lines? That should solve the issue as you would be able to keep them straighter and have more control.

 

[Jennypenny]

Yes try two reins and see how you get on, I always finds this really helps that problem. Mabe try long reining aswell.

 

[flowerlady]

If non of these work try the joining up tecnique. where you send them off in one way with no lung and turn them by making them change direction.