Lunging

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HelenRod

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I've been lunging my young horse (5years old) when he is focussed, today when someone else was picking up tne pooh from their horse he lunges lovely floaty paces holding himsrlf together etc.

However, 75% of the time he is not focused, busy throwing his head round, playing with his bit, & not goung round in a circle, so busy messing that he forgets to turn and nesrly runs into the fence or drags me to the fence.

Any advice?
 
Don't lunge him! Sounds like it's not adding any value, and to be honest, with a Naughty horse I find it takes as long to lunge as to ride, so you don't save any time!
I rarely lunge my boy cos he takes the absolute P, but my friend successfully lunges 3-4 times per week as her horse is better on the lunge so it's effortless for her. Horses for courses and all that!
 
lunge over poles, lunge with two reins, lunge with a roller and put an ace bandage around the hindquarters - like a posoa would be (this will make him more aware of how he carries himself) - a few ideas for you :)
 
Is there a reason you can't work him under saddle? He's sounds bored and a bit rude!

I detest lunging and avoid it unless absolutely necessary. Does their legs no good.
 
There is a real skill to lunging well which is really best learned from an experienced instructor. All too often people seem to think that it is just running the pony around on the end of a line and / or attaching gadgets to them. Pretty much any horse can be lunged and lunged well - but it takes time and practice. If the horse is messing about this much I would either teach both handler and horse to lunge correctly or not lunge! Lunging badly will damage the horse.
 
I'm with the above two, I'm not great at it so tend not to do it that often. And I'm not a fan due to stress on their joints. I'd rather do the work in the saddle and if I felt they'd benefit from lunging, then I'd opt for long reining, big circles, ground work or get the yard to do it !
 
Thanks everyone, i do try to always work him under saddle but like to be able to have the option to lunge.

I will look to maybe get my instructor to maybe try him and see where we go and maybe try a few of the suggestions mentioned above
 
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