lunging issues...

JellyBeanSkittle

JellyBeanSkittle

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Horse keeps bogging off on the lunge, even if it is long lined. Super strong chap who is really testing people at the moment.

Any ideas?
 
not very pc but when i started a new job there was a mare that did this every time it was lunged, i resorted to meeting force with force and she is as light as a feather on the lunge now but she is only ever lunged in a bridle or you would not have a hope of holding her
 
This horse can't be held :( just bolts. Not in pain or fearful - perhaps lacking in confidence at tImes (Is havIng lots of groundwork and bondIng tIme) but he will potter along happily then suddenly go! No rhyme or reason why. Getting very frustrating for friend!
 
My solution would be just don't lunge the horse.....not helpful but I think alot of horses hate being lunged and who really can blame them ? Maybe the horse has learnt that he can get away and so does just that. You could try lunging off a bit etc but probably more useful to listen the horse, understand why he's doing it and ride him instead.....assuming the horse is broken .....
 
He is :) has been known to do similar under saddle too. Think I know my answer really, just feel awful for my pal as she was having a bit of a morning of It.

Horses!
 
My youngster tried this, I started lunging in a dually halter what a shock he got when he tried legging it. It's not nasty and its worked a treat with him. Good luck
 
JellyBeanSkittle said:
This horse can't be held :( just bolts. Not in pain or fearful - perhaps lacking in confidence at tImes (Is havIng lots of groundwork and bondIng tIme) but he will potter along happily then suddenly go! No rhyme or reason why. Getting very frustrating for friend!
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thats what i was told about the one at work :rolleyes: i love to lunge, especially the tricky ones
 
I think the pottering along might be a factor too. You get a stop start effect, instead actually ask the horse to really move forwards right from the start, so it can't save its energy to suddenly race off or explode.
 
I would be doing lots of close groundwork in hand with a horse like this. Get them listening to you and moving as you request. Lots of variation and praise and positive reinforcement.
Then gradually increase the distance between you and the horse via long reins. I would always use 2 not just one continuous one if your horse could bolt off. If you build it up gradually I would expect the problem to not reoccur, however if he did run off again drop one rein and use the other to pull him around.
 
Presumably he is lunged in an enclosed space? If so, I wouldn't stress about it - let him bog off, then calmly pick up the end of the lunge line and carry on where it left off. Horses hate wasting energy, and if it isn't acheiving, it is counterproductive for him. The key is to remain calm, don't make a drama out of a crisis but just be matter of fact about it. Soon he will realise that it isn't acheiving freedom, attention, cessation of the work or whatever else it is he feels it is gaining for him
 
Not everyone will agree but try putting side reins on him, my old mare was a sod for ******ing off when lunging, as soon as I asked for canter she would leg it up the school, 60x80!! Often people would shout well anchored! I found side reins really helped contain her.
 
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