Lunging help?

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showjump

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Lunged my youngster yesterday for the first time since we've had him. He was fine in walk, but in trot he shot off at 100 miles an hour! (well not quite but you get the hint!) This was with a bridle on, so had to pull to get him to stop, this in turn probably hurt his mouth as his his teeth are coming through. So gave up so it wouldnt hurt his teeth.

So i have just purchased a pessoa training aid but cant use this untill hes better on the lunge. Any ideas as to how to improve the lunging??

Thanks.
 
When you ask him for trot just be really gentle with your voice and try not using the whip. keep it there, but dont flick it at him - just start off gently asking him to trot, then if he doesn't go up the tempo in your voice a little. I personally would not lunge a youngster in a bridle either - i'd invest in a cavesson. You must be able to get them cheap off eBay?

Do you think that would help or were you doing all that anyway?
 
I make sure all mine respond to whoa perfectly before asking them to trot - agree with jumpthemoon, get a cavesson, I never ever lunge a young horse with a bridle. Also always lunge in an enclosed area, even if you have to fence something off temporarily
 
You could put a cavesson over the top of the bridle and attach the lunge line to that rather than the bit if you're worried about hurting him? It's probably just overexuberance - if he wants to gallop round like a maniac let him. Just keep him turning until he slows himself down. He's a baby so that will be quite quickly! He will soon learn that it's hard work cantering in a circle and will steady himself up. Just make sure you're in a confined space and you've got boots on him in case he gets away from you or stands on himself in babyish fashion! If it were me also I'd put something on him eg. side reins, loose draws, whatever - not tight just so he can't stick his head in the air and b****r off!
 
I didnt have a whip at all, and did like you said asked like you said. I was thinking of a cavesson, but eventually when i introduce the pessoa it would need to be attatched to the bit wouldnt it? (not recieved it yet) So could i get bit attachments for cavesson, but attach lunge to cavesson?

He just sort of shot off then carried on going wizzing round, not great for legs, or menage!
 
The pessoa attaches to the bit, yes, but you don't have to attach the lunge line to it. just put the cavesson over the top of the bridle.
 
good god, you're thinking of introducing one of those things so soon? Yes you need a bit eventually (I use a nathe or similar for their first few times) but I still never ever use a bit to lunge from, even with my old horses. Why a pessoa, does the horse already have a problem?
 
just over 4 years. No he doesnt have a problem, (didnt know they had to have a problem to use a pessoa) and of course i am not going to put him in the pessoa straight away. This was the first time i have lunged him but i have only have him a few weeks.
 
I dont like gadgets and dont use them unless a horse has a problem, properly adjusted side reins are fine for lunging young horses when being broken and if properly introduced you shouldnt need gadgets of any type.

If you have only had the animal a few weeks and it was the first time you'd lunged him why didnt you make sure you'd got walk sorted properly on both reins with established halts before trying to trot?
 
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I didnt have a whip at all, and did like you said asked like you said. I was thinking of a cavesson, but eventually when i introduce the pessoa it would need to be attatched to the bit wouldnt it? (not recieved it yet) So could i get bit attachments for cavesson, but attach lunge to cavesson?

He just sort of shot off then carried on going wizzing round, not great for legs, or menage!

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I personally would use a whip anyway, just to keep the quarters out, encourage engagement and for safety. I know not everyone does though. I think wait until you get a cavesson before lungeing again. When he took off all that pressure on his mouth most likely scared the hell out of him! I would wait until he is a bit more established before using a pessoa as well - maybe start off with long side reins? He needs to get used to a contact first. Practise getting him used to your voice in walk as well. you'll get there
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Im not sure if its a good/bad idea with younger horses as Ive never dealt with them but have you tried double line lunging/ long reining? This will give you more control hopefully
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You can also slow them by allowing them to run on as donadea said but teach him that you want slower by repeatedly giving gentle tugs on the lungeline using calming voice commands at the same time. it takes a while but they get the idea! Of course if he is galloping round hanging off the lungeline you need to give sharper Oi No! tugs to get his attention but don't let him stop and turn in so that he understands what you want! These things just take time - he obviously doesn't know what is expected of him yet.

You are right not to put him in the passoa until he is calmer - the less flappy things the better!
 
I think this would be a good idea when he's established with lungeing on one line first - some young horses can have a bit of a tizzy and shoot off when they feel the outside line round their quarters until they get used to it. Plus if you're having to cope with an excitable youngster one rein is easier than two, the last thing you want is to get it tangled in his legs, that will definitely not help his confidence! But of course it's up to you, perhaps you're a more accomplished long-reiner than me...
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The horse is broken, dont think i mentioned that anywhere. I did walk first on both reins, then asked for trot (where the problems started)

I know it probably scared him but had to stop him, hence why i will not try again until i get a cavassen.
 
Have you got any one to help you? We always taught a horse to walk and trot inhand first so he knew the voice comands, then when starting to lunge the helper attaches a lead rein to outside ring of cavesson and walks with the horse helping to keep him out and halt etc, when ready to trot they got to run (if not very fit half a circle to start with (helper that is) helper can then undo leid rein and stay alongside horse gradually moving away from him, usually only takes a couple of sessions before horse lunging normally
 
O god Im no expert I just know its worked with a few horses down out yard who rush, but as I say Ive not tried it on "babies" just a couple of older horses but I do see your point about the line round the bum - could make the problem worse, I hadnt thought about it in that way - Ill be quiet now
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i always get my youngsters started by long reining them. its much easier for them and it lets you get some moderate control whilst getting them used to your voice.
I then introduce them to lunging from the long reining ie start then on a continous turn while making my way into the middle and then, like magic, your lunging!
I dont agree with the pessoa at this stage but some loose ish side reins bay be of some benefit
 
you can long rein without putting the rein round their bum - use a roller with terrets or rings on and put the rein over their back - thats how we break for driving here to begin with. But if the horse is rushing off you'd still have the problem of frightening it with its mouth I think.

We have used the method of a helper in the past on the outside for horses that really cant grasp a proper 'whoa' and it works OK with youngsters and older horses alike but we dont use it with a bit on babies.
 
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O god Im no expert I just know its worked with a few horses down out yard who rush, but as I say Ive not tried it on "babies" just a couple of older horses but I do see your point about the line round the bum - could make the problem worse, I hadnt thought about it in that way - Ill be quiet now
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the long reining was a good idea though - IMO anyway
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lol no I was just speaking from experience! Tried it on my baby the other day and she looked very alarmed, clamped her tail to her bum and shot off! Got used to it very quickly though and is fine though now. mind you she is very sensible and was happy lungeing, plus had been long reined before, just not in a circle evidently!
 
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