Lunging!

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tteall

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I love a welsh but boy, do they come with an attitude!

Currently I have been asked to get a 7/8 Y/O Welsh Gelding into work to be a lead rein. He has been backed and ridden as a 4 year old but since then he has just been a (very pretty I must say) field ornement, so I'm going right back to basics.

Tack he has taken to like a gem. We are walking easily with a girthed up saddle and a bridle on with his head collar beneath to lead him from so we aren't doing anything with reins or bits for now. Just getting used to the feel of it in his mouth.

Alongside this we have been 'lunging' with the intention to get him lunging in tack (to ensure he is happy and comfortable with it) before getting on. I began by trying to find out what he knows on a small circle and at first he lunged beautifully! Voice commands for walk and trot (the only gaits we will be doing for a while to build him up) are almost spot on perfect. One rein check, lets change, have a walk and trot and then call it a day.

Well, it never goes to plan does it!!

I could not get him out at all, nor get him back out on the same rein as before. So today I thought well okay then, we will free lunge you and again, he was great to begin with then decided nope!

I'm feeling this is a show of more manner issues, too. Don't get me wrong, he is a saint of a pony, perfect kids prospect. Not bargy or pully, nothing fazes him (dope on a rope) and generally respectful however when he 'decides not to be lunged' (I say that loosely) this is what he does: turns to face you; walks into your space (never quite into you); attempts to get either side of him are met by a blocking muzzle and occasional turn; Using the lunge whip as an arm extension to apply pressure to get him to at least cross his legs well, it gets to a point where nothing you can do will make him budge! You can crack the whip right by him, give him a tap, apply a constant hard pressure or reoccuring hard pressure and nothing!

I'm a little lost. I've dealt with whappy horses, spooky horses, young and nervous horses but god forbid I get a PONY that stands there and does nothing.
 
Do you lunge with one rein or two reins? I find it much easier to lunge with 2 reins. You can apply outside pressure so he stays on the circle.

My Welsh is also very smart. I wouldn't say this is attitude, hes just clever and learnt how to avoid it..
 
yes I had one that just saw lunging as an excuse to come in for a cuddle, and lunging her on 2 reins was what helped her to understand what the object of the exercise was. I can lunge her off a single rein now but usually use 2 because it's nicer to move around the school and change the rein etc.
 
I'd add, make sure you are always teaching him about personal space and staying out of yours, if he's walking into you and not moving away when asked this will become an issue in other areas, not just lunging. Make sure he is learning about this in the stable, in the field, when leading around etc.
 
I'd long rein rather than lunge. Although that is a personal preference and 2 lines will work just as well. He's clearly learned how to get out of something he doesn;t really want to do - and given that he only does it on one side I would wonder if he is also stiffer that side. Might carrot stretches help at all?
 
I'm not a fan of lunging with two reins as I find it puts quite a lot of uneven pressure on the mouth and it's quite difficult to have an even contact all the time, especially if you have a horse who arses about. Could just be that I find it difficult though.

I prefer long lining.
 
Thanks for all your replies and suggestions!

Personal space has become more of an apparent issue the last week but thats on the upwards slope of improvement.

And i think hs problem with lunging is that...he just doesn't enjoy it? Which is fine, we are doing lots of uphill work in hand and switching feeds to help him develop that topline however will still do a bit of lunging here and there, and finish off when we do with something he enjoys. I am introducing long lining to him next week so he gets a better feel for a bit!
 
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