Lunging problems

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simoneleslie

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Hi guys!
I have a 4 year old traditional who lunges perfect on the left rein, as soon as I put him on the right rein he walks or trots a few strides then turns in & plays up, I lunge in his bridle, roller & side reins!
I need help to overcome it! Anyone have any ideas? X
 
A lot of youngsters do this for a while. You could get a helper to lead by his head when you change to the right rein, or you could use two lunge lines (take your side reins off for this), so that you've got an outside rein to implement when he wants to turn in towards you....this always has worked well for me. Make sur your always in line with his quarters driving forward.
 
my rising 5 tried this for a couple weeks when he came off box rest in December! he was soo quick, I couldn't get behind fast enough to send him forward!

I got some help from an instructor and as harsh as it sounds, cracking the whip at him when he turned in, took about 3 cracks and he totally stopped turning in! we didn't have to hit him with it but cracking right! then just kept sending him forward and stayed as far behind as I could be! once he went well on that rein, he'd get a mint and then he learnt that doing as he was asked, he'd be rewarded!

I've been lunging him 3-5 times a week since and he's only tried turning in at me once, and I flicked the whip towards him and he went off and happily lunged again!
 
another thing, I'd lunge without side reins! you boy is only 4, hes probably still very unbalanced due to his size, so I'd concentrate on getting him going forward before introducing extra gadgets. I lunge in a bridle only and some times his saddle!
 
That's a classic young horse who has more often been led from the near side than the off side. Spend a few sessions leading from the off side so he gets used to seeing you on his right, he just isn't used to it. Then lead him from that side letting the lead rope get longer and longer - and you have a mini lunge situation.
And yes, ditch the side reins - the last thing you want to do is jab him in the mouth when he is going forward nicely and just bobs his head.
 
We (I mean most horsey folk!) do a lot of leading our horses on the left side, I dunno, it's tradition or something, so it's the side they are most comfortable with having their human on. To the point where if their human is trying to work them from the right hand side it's just Weird. And Wrong. And horse will try everything he can to put you back on the left Where You Belong.

I'd suggest doing some general in hand work, just leading and stuff, from his right hand side. It'll feel a bit funny for both of you at first, it's quite discombobulating (I've been trying to find somewhere to use that word for weeks!) but it will help to get you both used to it and it'll help to start balancing him up.
 
I think lunging with 2 reins is certainly worth a try - I've got one like this and it was an instant fix :) Get your lunge lines organised first, take the side reins off and then you're away. I always start on the easy rein first so you and the horse can get a nice feel, then swap around. If the horse isn't spooky about things behind them, you can keep them moving to change the rein easily.

Since mastering this method I'd never go back to lunging on one rein, you get a much nicer feel and it's easy to sort out problems like this. Also good for horses that turn in when you ask for halt.
 
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