Lunging problems!

[AngelicMagician]

Okay so I have TB x mare and have had her for a year and a half and she's terrible to lunge!!!
She is better in the lunge pen and I've given up lunging with a rope for fear she will tangle herself in it! She will start off walking fine but when I flick the crop/ask her to walk on/click she will blindly fast trot/canter/try to gallop around the pen and she cuts half the arena off (why I don't use a rope) but if it try to use the crop at her shoulder to keep her out (I read it in a book) she will just go faster and in the school she is terrible!!! She will get closer and closer in at great speeds and winds herself up. Trying to lunge in side reins is always a disaster because in her great speeds she pulls herself in her mouth and winds herself up again as she is a hyper, sensitive soul. I try to lunge without the crop but can't keep her out! She also involuntarily changes the rein and I sometimes give her her 'mad 5 minuits' to start so she rids herself of excess energy which sometimes helps but then she thinks she can get away with all that!
With the dark nights I need to lunge sometimes but its so stressful!!! Takes so long to slow her down!

 

[WelshD]

Do you have a friend who could attach a leadrope and lead her on the outside to keep her out (dont use whip at first in case she panics)

 

[angel7]

Obviously get her checked over first as misbehaviour on the lunge is often sign of pain somewhere exacerbated by the circling. If she is frightened or just doesn't know what she should be doing, take it slow.
Give her 10 mad minutes loose and alone in the school before you start.

Catch her and pop the side reins on so they only have a light contact and not so loose they flap about as she moves. Allow her to walk calmly on a small circle to start with and stop her as soon as she goes too fast. Basically don't let lunge get too long to start with, work from about 8 feet only.Repeat several times over several days.

Introduce trot gently
Use the lunge whip and a strong stance/voice and send her forwards with it on the small circle.
Work at one end of the school only to start with and keep the lunge short.
Always pick up a positive contact with the lunge rein so it is not slack and use the whip/voice to push her on and outwards- you know she is going to come in on you when she approaches the corners and try and scoot off down the long side, so anticipate her by moving either infront of or behind her shoulder to stop her or send her on.
Don't be frightened to actually draw her head in towards you while pointing the whip at her rear and sending her on.
Set up some trotting poles along the short end of the school to slow her and some guide poles along the sides.

Lots of praise when she gets it right, I often point the lunge whip behind me and only bring it up and to the hindquarters when needed. So many horses are terrified of it trailing along chasing them.
I have had some abused horses which simply cannot be lunged, they have been so badly beaten by others. I just try longreining or loose schooling instead which they seem to tolerate better.
Good luck.

 

[mandwhy]

Have you tried lungeing after riding to help her 'get it' when she is more relaxed? This helped my last horse who could be ridiculous on the lunge galloping all over the place sweating and boggle-eyed, very challenging, and perfect a different time of the week. He basically found it very stressful and became very wound up (especially if anything pulled on his mouth so headxollar was much better) I just had to try and show him I just wanted him to be relaxed and do a couple of circles for me. It had to do with his lack of respect for me also when he would turn in and strike out at me.

I suggest just a chilled out walk off on the lunge after riding literally for 5 minutes to cool down, to show her it doesn't have to be stressful!