Lunging manners VS ridden....

tankgirl1

tankgirl1

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I have just learnt how to lunge Boyo after groundwork lessons. On the lunge he will have a bronc and a buck as I ask him to canter - is this normal? Otherwise he is perfect, ear turned in, listening and responding to voice commands. Is it just excitement? He has gotten away with no lunging in his previous home as he just turned in and refused to move, dare I say his mum was a bit scared of him.... He is a bolshy Sec D hence us having lessons, as I am a novice really, not ashamed to admit it! I was scared of him at one point hence lessons! Since taking lessons advice he seems much better, I thought we were moving on loads due to groundwork,then he bronked and spooked with me the other day out hacking! He has NEVER done that before in 12 mths!!! Will be calling instructor if it continues to be an issue, bloody horses! I am a OTT neurotic mum btw xx
 
It's quite common for horses to be exuberant on the lunge, particularly when you ask for an upper gear.

Assuming there's not been any change to his care/daily routine and he seems ok in himself (ie pain free), then I wouldn't worry unduly.
 
Moomin1 said:
It's quite common for horses to be exuberant on the lunge, particularly when you ask for an upper gear.

Assuming there's not been any change to his care/daily routine and he seems ok in himself (ie pain free), then I wouldn't worry unduly.
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He is fine otherwise, I almost feel like it is him voicing his displeasure at me, the puny human making him do as I say!! Do they think like that? I want him to respect me!!
 
tankgirl1 said:
And what is with the sudden spooking and bronking?

Saddle just been checked, not done teeth and back yet admittedly!
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Depends really - if it has only been the one occasion out hacking the other day, I would tend to just carry on as normal and see how he goes. My girl can do odd things on occasions which are really out of character. If it does become a real issue and regular in occurrence then I def would look at getting a vet down for a check over.

My advice would be to carry on with as many lessons as you possibly can, issues or no issues. We all need them as we never ever stop learning. I can't wait to start up my lessons on my girl again (winter time issues and dark evenings up to now :-( ).

Try not to worry - I don't think you have any serious issue on your hands :-)
 
Whilst it is normal for them to want to 'let off a bit of steam' on the lunge personally I don't allow it.
Imo if they are being asked to work for a short period in their day then all I ask back is good behaviour and manners.
I'm not a great fan of lunging, certainly not for fitness but I do lunge my rising 5 Welsh Sec D for schooling purposes so it tends to be low key and certainly no strain on him physically. Or sometimes just to take the edge off him. I prefer long reining.
Three reasons really come to mind. One is that he finds cantering in a circle difficult especially if he is young or unbalanced. Another, if it is because he is 'bolshy' then I would ask what is he being fed? If I give mine anything with molasses, sugar, alfalfa or cereal within 24 hours he's a monster. Lastly he is bored on the lunge, which is another reason why I don't particularily enjoy it. He may also be confused as to what you want him to do and playing up because he doesn't understand.
If he is getting fitter being lunged then proving a handful whilst being ridden I would ease back on the lunging.
If he starts to play up don't let him 'bronc' it out of his system! bring him back to a steady working pace and platform he is comfortable working from then build up again. If he is allowed to get away with it on the lunge then he will think it is acceptable.
 
He is on spillers happy hoof, top spec hoof supplement, garlic, dry haylage and grass, so deffo no cereals/starches! Poss alfalfa from the spillers tho?
 
Only lunged him a handful of times since lesson - he turned in and reared at instructor when he first lunged him!! He is a very opinionated boy who has got away with allsorts for the last 5 years!
 
tankgirl1 said:
Only lunged him a handful of times since lesson - he turned in and reared at instructor when he first lunged him!! He is a very opinionated boy who has got away with allsorts for the last 5 years!
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Only for 10-15 mins at a time max, I appreciate he will get bored quickly, and I am a novice so don't want to overdo it!
 
cambrica said:
Whilst it is normal for them to want to 'let off a bit of steam' on the lunge personally I don't allow it.
Imo if they are being asked to work for a short period in their day then all I ask back is good behaviour and manners.
I'm not a great fan of lunging, certainly not for fitness but I do lunge my rising 5 Welsh Sec D for schooling purposes so it tends to be low key and certainly no strain on him physically. Or sometimes just to take the edge off him. I prefer long reining.
Three reasons really come to mind. One is that he finds cantering in a circle difficult especially if he is young or unbalanced. Another, if it is because he is 'bolshy' then I would ask what is he being fed? If I give mine anything with molasses, sugar, alfalfa or cereal within 24 hours he's a monster. Lastly he is bored on the lunge, which is another reason why I don't particularily enjoy it. He may also be confused as to what you want him to do and playing up because he doesn't understand.
If he is getting fitter being lunged then proving a handful whilst being ridden I would ease back on the lunging.
If he starts to play up don't let him 'bronc' it out of his system! bring him back to a steady working pace and platform he is comfortable working from then build up again. If he is allowed to get away with it on the lunge then he will think it is acceptable.
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I think this is fine for some horses, but not with others.

I think it's better to do a bit of give and take where lunge work is concerned. If you can see that they are bursting with exuberance and finding it hard to concentrate with your instructions. Forget the instructions, let them do as they wish - within reason obviously with regard going mental and causing injury. Then, when ready, give and instruction - a simple one. Once they comply, great. Leave it there.
 
Moomin1 said:
I think this is fine for some horses, but not with others.

I think it's better to do a bit of give and take where lunge work is concerned. If you can see that they are bursting with exuberance and finding it hard to concentrate with your instructions. Forget the instructions, let them do as they wish - within reason obviously with regard going mental and causing injury. Then, when ready, give and instruction - a simple one. Once they comply, great. Leave it there.
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This. I ignore his bronking, let him hoon if he needs to, then bring him back to 'trot' aaaand walk on!, aaaaaand stand! - we may both be clueless but it seems to work - once we wind down he listens...
 
Possibly with some horses but I personally wouldn't allow it, especially not with my Welsh he's far too smart and given an inch he would take 10 miles ;) I start every session just walking and halting which is basically his platform No1 and sets him in the right frame of mind to then work up from there. The moment he struggles or finds anything difficult we go back a stage then try again. As he is young, strong and opinionated if he got his own way he would either injure himself or me!
It sounds as though the OP's welsh has got away with far too much and really needs to be brought back into check, respecting her. Body language is key when lunging and one slight subtle move can be completely misread by the horse, its not as easy as it looks.
The aggression he has shown towards the instructor is of concern as he is feeling the dominant one and if he gets away with it can potentially be dangerous. He needs very firm but fair handling. The one thing I would say is that shouting or loosing your patience in any way will be very counter-productive. You need to really keep your cool.
As for his feed it sounds fine although some horses do get fizzy on haylage (although some don't) as it has a much higher sugar content than hay. Happy hoof should be fine.
Mine has chaff with nothing in it, lo-cal balancer and micronised linseed, he is unshod and has hooves like granite. He also well soaked hay.
 
A good thing to teach them is a half-halt on the lunge. Also until you feel you have full control, to lunge in a bit.

With anything young, inexperienced or opinionated, I tend not to canter them on the lunge until they reach a more physically and mentally mature state.

A good solid ground work session might be an idea before lunging.

But the odd buck through sheer exuberance is ok, allowing it to become a habit......not so good!

Hope it all goes well and this was just a one-off!
 
My section D mare is a lunatic on the lunge, I am more than competent when it comes to lunging, have worked with hundreds of horses and ponies of all shapes and sizes over the years and have owned this mare since weaning, she is now 16 years old. If on a lunge line she will just circle me at high speed, bucking and turning herself inside out for as long as it takes for her to wear herself out and will then work nicely after about 10 minutes of complete mayhem but is so tired I can't do anything productive with her. However, this mare is a delight to ride and a superb driving mare who will work beautifully from voice commands at all times under saddle and in harness... just not on the lunge. I do work her on a circle very successfully but I long line with two lines instead of one and she goes superbly. If you can master two lines then may be worth a try?
 
You've had loads of good advice and here's my two pennith worth … make sure your lunge circle is a good large one when asking for canter; when horses get unbalanced (on a smaller circle) their default is to panic and panic means go faster/bronc. You want your boy to succeed in everything he does and this will help.

What do you use to lunge him in? Head collar/bridle/cavesson? Do you back up your voice command with the lungeing whip? If you do, perhaps just try a voice command and keep whip low to the ground and see how that works?

Good luck.
 
If just in head collar they can be real monsters.
the gp horse can get bored and tank off lol.
the med dr mare can do lots of bucking and bouncing but never pulls
the baby often has 15min of leaping like a loon.
the 26yr old either turns in refusing to move or goes nuts.

but any tack on and any kind of exuberance is much reduced!

under saddle, never had anything from 3 of em, except the 26yr old who can be as silly if not more....broncs, and rears are her speciality
 
If it's continual broncing every lunging session when asked to go above trot then yeah I may consider wanting to do something about it. If it's just a few circuits / the odd buck into canter then as long as horse is otherwise well behaved I think I'd put up with it. Not something I've really had to think about too much as all mine have been mostly good on lunge (current Welsh nightmare pony did once have a go at towing me over when he was in full welsh ******** mode and I perhaps was a little bad tempered in how I sent him away, didn't get him anywhere and not done it since)
 
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