Making a schooling pen in the field...and pony scared of lunge whip.

T_K

T_K

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I built a schooling pen out of electric fence in my field yesterday and quickly found out my young Haflinger is a good jumper. She is absolutely petrified of the lunge whip to the point that as soon as I just pick it up I can see the terror in her eyes and she freaked out and jumped the fence out of the pen....luckily I was loose schooling her but I know she would've done the same if I had had her on the lunge. :(

So the question is - what can I make a schooling pen out of that she can't (and wont try to) escape from? And how can I get her to realise I'm not actually going to touch her with the whip - I can only guess that someone has used it on her quite violently at some point.
 
when i got lady she was also terrified of the lunge whip :( what i did was just had the whip in the same area as where we were working....then i had her on the lunge rope (not lunging....just so i had more to hold on to if he pulled away) and slowly and gently rubbed the whip over her body and giving her some of her fave mints as rewards :) shes fine with it now i can even tie carrier bags to it and rub them over her she doesnt even bat an eyelid :D

so my advice....which isnt very good....put her on lunge rope first and have some treats :D slowly progress from having it in the area then moving it closer and touching her with it etc...show her that it wont hurt her and she will get rewarded for being near it and not spooking....hope it all works out :) xx
 
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ditto Jadeyyandladyy.

my boy was terrifid of lunge whips (well most things really) we started with it on the ground in paddock whilst we worked and prgressed to having it hanging off the fence, then i put polos/cored apples on its lash & left it hanging in the feild.
now i can run it all over him & trail the lash over his head ect the only time he gets a little stressed now is when pebs is being a cow & breaking the fence down as i crack it in her direction (she thinks its the electric making the noise.
 
T_K said:
Strangely I can rub it all over her, put it in her face etc - it's just when I move it away from her or move it fast. :(
Click to expand...

hmmm.... well that is strange :/ still....try putting her on lunge and have the whip in your hand, move away, walk round her etc then walk towards her and reward her. i dunno....worth trying lol Good Luck :)
 
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