Lunging tips

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helm

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Hi.
When ever I lunge Ernie he can be a little naughty - bronking off etc etc, he doesn't do it all the time just when the need takes him.... i can deal with that... what's frustrating me is that when i lunge him on the left rein when he's decided he's had enough he turns in and starts walking the other way or just stops... He doesn't do it on the right rein... I lunge him in a bridle, roller and either side reins or a bunge... I stay behind him on the circle with the whip but when he's out at line length I obviously can't tap him with the whip to stop him doing it... Previous owner used to constantly give him polo's whilst being lunged and I think this might be a throw back... it's just so rude though and takes an annoying amount of time to keep turning him back the right way... any tips
 
I thought the same... so today and other days I've started on the right cos I usually start on the left... on the right I can tell he thinks about it but doesn't... he just does it on the left... No problems with back etc etc... he's always done it... It's just the school isn't great cos of the wet weather and he hasn't done much recently re the snow so I don't feel I can have it out with him as much as I would if conditions were different... hence why it annoyed me more this morning
 
Have you tried long reining on a circle so he cant turn in (if you hold the outside rein and push him fowards)?
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I have thought of that... but again cos he can be a nutter on the lunge I was bothered he's get his legs caught in the outside line if he started bucking and galloping around like a mad thing... it's a tricky one
 
My old mare used to go on strike on the 2nd rein, left or right but i don't think she liked lunging and got bored thats why i asked about the starting rein.
The only thing i can think of to suggest is to use two lines, Is there any way you could long rein till he calms down then put him on a circle?
 
Thanks Vikki and Snowy... all stuff for me to think about... he's a very bright little thing though... i suspect he'd still fathom a way round it... he doesn't try it at all with my instructor
 
My horse is a 18.hh german warmblood and when i got him he done this on the lunge. He was naughty. And a naughty giant size horse on a lunge is no joke !! I cured it with the two lunge lines/roller. It stopped him almost immeditately. Gave him a telling off about twice good and proper with the outside rein etc. He lunges perfect now on a single rein.
 
Hi there - i know its difficult but you need to be quick with the lunge whip and flick it toward the shoulder as he goes to turn in - i dont mean crack the whip i mean flick it from the floor upward toward the shoulder. Keep the circle slightly smaller than usual but enough that he can exercise comfortably and keep the whip pointed at the shoulder.
 
lunge with 2 reins and thread the outside one through a neckstrap and then through a flash strap attached to D clips by the withers and that way you can keep the line well out of the way of his legs.

works brilliantly on every horse that tries to turn in and once you have broken the habit most are able to go to lunging with 1 rein again.
 
Ditto sandg1. The smaller the circle the more control you will have over him, you need to be watching for it and as soon as you see him starting to think about it flick the whip at his shoulder as described above. The sooner you act the better. Hope you get it sorted, I know how frustrating (and dangerous) it can be.
 
Might be worth checking your own body language, I know I was sometimes stepping back without realising when my old pony thought he knew better and turned in towards me.

My instructor taught me how just by stepping forward could be enough to send them on again.

My pony never messed about for her
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Good luck
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