lunging.....where to start?? And she's scared of the lunge whip!!

H

Hemirjtm

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 December 2006
Messages
8,510
Location
you take this road, then that road
Visit site
I have allready had to start lunging from the begining with Hemir, but i'm now going to start with Motty...and I was wondering how YOU would start teaching a horse to lunge?

I did a little bit yesterday, just walking around next to her, moving ever so slightly away from her as we were going around in a circle, encouraging her to move out on her own! (does this sound ok?) We did this for about 10 mins, then i finished on a good note
laugh.gif


I don't want to push her, as she may be 7 but i get the feeling she has had some very bad experiences in the past, she's scared of most things, we had toruble with the bit at the begining, jumping out of the stable, trying to jump the fence...etc, but we're overcoming these problems, slowly but surely
laugh.gif
Next thing to tackle is the loading, and the lunging
laugh.gif


Oh and she's scared of the lungw whip
crazy.gif
How can we let her know that it's not 'scary'?

thanks
laugh.gif
 
You don't need a whip! A whip is simply an extension of the arm. If the horse is responsive without a whip why use one.

Start off with a helper leading. Whe the horse has got teh idea the leader goes. You will soon get the horse on the voice, and all will be well.
 
I agree with YorkshireLass. Just use your voice, she will slowly get it! If she needs any more encouragement just swoosh the end of the lunge at her? A leader is good too, they can just gently encourage her and reassure her. Have you tried lunging on two reins just to gently encourage her to walk on her own? If she has had some bad experiences in the past, the best thing to do is just take it slowly and do what you have been doing by ending on a good note and gentle encouragement.
Hope this helps!
 
my mare hated things around her bum but persisted and now she lunges with 2 lines better than she does with 1

tbh - just becuase they dont like something doesnt mean they shoudnt do it imho
 
I fully understand jo1, and i persisted with my boy, but tbph with her I just want to take things slowly, and not rush it and make her scared all over again, we have come such a long way, and right now i don't want to put her back to square one. Which with her it could possibly go that way.

As i have allready said we have had to start again with her from hte begining, and she was badly treated and left to get scared all the time, her old owner would take her out, she would have a 'wobble' and he would get off her, smack her (around the head normally) and then walk her back to the yard....I'm pretty sure this is what happened during two years of her life
crazy.gif
so yes i agree with you about keeping going, and not giving up, but she's had a hard life so far and just want to take things very slowly! She was rather over weight 2 months ago, so we have spent 2 months hacking and letting her get to know us, conquering the little problems, and now it's time to stat the proper schooling
laugh.gif


thanks for replying xx
 
Can you try desensitising her to the lunge whip by running it gently over her body in the stable as you stroke her? I think its in one of the Kelly Marks books where it is recommended.

Daisy used to be afraid of the lunge whip but is now fine about it and lunges beautifully.

My other suggestions would be have you get an enclosed area where you can loose school? Ideally a round pen? Get her and you used to moving her with your body language for changes of speed and direction. With no lunge rope you haven't got to worry about them getting tied up if they panic, rear, bronc or change direction
 
thanks fro replying
laugh.gif
Have been doing just that with the lunge whip!

At the moment no, haven't got anywhere, but thats another thing dad is going to have to build for us lol! It's on the list of jobs, but we need to sort the fencing out for the fields first, then decided where to put a reasonable sized 'schooling area' and then put in a round pen (just on grass for now!)

thanks
x
 
do u have to lunge her??

it took time with my mare as well tbh - she was a 3yr old untouched mare. longliened her last year and brought her back into work - find that lunging her with 2 reins helps a lot cos she had a habit of falling in

it does take time and lots of patience Lol

Good luck hun and if you need anything just shout

xxxxx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top