Lunging problems again!!

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Kiko

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I'm having loads of problem's lunging my youngster since I had an Instructor up who lunged him solid for an hour in trot and canter in side reins with him charging and trying to kick her. I stopped using her straight away!! Now I try lunging and he just charges straight for me within 30 seconds of starting. Hes only 5 and I think this has really scared him and he must of been in pain when the instructor lunged him.

At the moment, before I ride in the school, I walk him around me once in a circle both reins and then ride. I want to try and build his trust again and make him realise i'm not going to do that, has anyone got any advice?

Thanks guys!!
 
Do you have anyone that can help you on the ground - i.e someone that will actually lead the horse around for you as you 'lunge'. Just get to get him back in to the habbit?
 
thats a good idea! Will try and find someone
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Poor horse, sounds like just a lack on confidence. A horse at my yard used to charge people when lunging after coming for a bad background. They had one person lunging then another leading as suggested above worked realy well and he is perfect now
 
Just out of interest why was it the instructors fault that he was charging and kicking at her, he sounds very dominant to me, i had a horse who charged at me once or twice, and bang he had it on the end of the nose with the end of the lunge, he didnt do it again, by the way i am very kind to my horses but do put myself first in that kind of incidence. I would longrein him for the time being, then at least you have control of him all the way round, hopefully this will make him have more respect for you untill you lunge him again, dont put yourself in danger, just remember horses are pretty horrible to each other, i think he is just trying to be the boss.
 
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just remember horses are pretty horrible to each other

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huh
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I dont think thats paricularly true. Some horses are yes, but not all.
 
Long rein him as it is far better for a young horse as it does less damage to their joints and skeletal structures.
 
Parisienne Girl, whilst horses are establishing themselves in a herd there is alot of argy bargy, biting, kicking etc, when the herd is established yes they are respectfull of each other. This is the point i was trying to make, this boy sounds like he wants to be in control to me!!
 
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themselves in a herd there is alot of argy bargy, biting, kicking etc

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Not always.

However, from reading the OP's post in the PG it would seem that the little horse has some mouth issues - which could account for the behaviour on the lunge.

Remove the wolf teeth - and normal behaviour should resume.
 
If you dont believe that horses can be horrible to each other, just go and put a bucket of feed between them, then see how nice they are.. I would prsume that the horse has been checked over for any signs of pain etc, but sometimes feel that this can all to easeley be used as an excuse. Horses are always looking for a weakness in a rider/handler you have to be very clear and confident in the messages you are trying to give them.
 
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If you dont believe that horses can be horrible to each other, just go and put a bucket of feed between them, then see how nice they are

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Most definately a recipe for a few broken bones. And of course horses can be just horrid to each other. I had one that was an expert.

But when introducing a horse to a new herd - if done carefully it does not always result in the argy bargy you spoke of. However, this is a discussion for elsewhere.

As I said, the horse sounds as if it has a mouth problem in another post.
 
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Horses are always looking for a weakness in a rider/handler you have to be very clear and confident in the messages you are trying to give them.

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Not all horses are looking for weakness; ones who are content and trusting of their handler very rarely question her/him.

The charging the handler is, however, generally because they have no confidence in the handler or are trying to get one-up on them, so I'd agree with that comment.

I got a horse a few months ago who was like this; she's a big bugger and there was no way I was going to tolerate the risk of being trampled. She did this the first couple of times I led her out! Hadn't even got as far as lunging her in the round pen! Anyway I managed to get her to the round pen and thereafter I free lunged her for a few days. This worked well. Now that she knows me much better, she is totally fine, will lead perfectly and has never charged me again.
 
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