My cob won't lunge....

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Mongoose11

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Ok, so long story short.

Heavy cob mare - have always been happy hacker/odd schooling session but would actually like to do more - actually care about her way of going rather than just getting on and meandering through the country....

Want to improve her way of going and to this end I am going to start having lessons again and I want to start working her on the lunge.

She won't lunge, she does that thing where she turns in on you and gets arsey - there was a whole thread about it a while ago... she does sort of little mini rears and starts acting up.

She will lunge if I wrap a second line round her back end but I don't like doing that as she fights it and rushes. When she settles like that she works in a lovely outline...

So, would a pessoa help us? I have NO experience in using one - have no idea if the bum strap will have the same effect as the second line. I could be really showing my ignorance here.

Can anyone help?

Thanks


xx
 
A pessoa would make it harder for her to turn in on you, yes. It would also work her in a nice outline. You may find that until she gets used to it, she is reluctant to go forward. Some horses also buck in it because of the strap behind them. Just start her off on the lowest setting with the lines going between her front legs and attaching to a D ring on the roller where a martingale would go.
 
Have you checked to make sure her back is OK? My new boy did the same thing and would only lunge on one rein and then get crazy and buck and try to bolt off and jump the arena fence when on the other rein. I had the physio out and she said he was so stiff on one side that he was scared to lunge on one rein for fear of losing his balance. One treatment and he is like a completely different horse. Complete change of personality and gone from an unpredictable devil at times to an absolute angel.
Might pay to get a good physio to take a look as it might be pain/discomfort that is causing her to play up.
 
My first guess is that she has either never lunged or has forgotten how too. If that's the case then she needs to learn how to lunge correctly before you can improve her by working her on it. If you aren't used to teaching a horse how to lunge, then my best advice is to get either an experienced friend or instructor to come & help you both get started.
 
littlelegs said:
My first guess is that she has either never lunged or has forgotten how too. If that's the case then she needs to learn how to lunge correctly before you can improve her by working her on it. If you aren't used to teaching a horse how to lunge, then my best advice is to get either an experienced friend or instructor to come & help you both get started.
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Or she is a cheeky monster who can spot a weakness in your body language - one of my mares will do this to anyone new who isn't 100% confident :o
 
Suziq77, agreed, I've met a few who know full well what to do who do it for various reasons. It was because the op said she wants to start lunging her & they've mostly just hacked that I guessed it might simply be the fact the horse isn't sure what she's asking.
 
Ok, so I probably didn't give enough detail. The year before last we were consistently schooling and she was working well, rounded and swinging through - nice work for her. I have just got out of it and gone back to real laid back pleasure riding...

She definitely knows how to lunge - her problem is she knows too much. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and was saying to yard mates - she's never been taught, she doesn't know how bless her. Then a friend strapped another line on and she went beautifully!

I just don't want to do the two lines as I know she doesn't enjoy it. She hates the fact that she can't turn out and she can't get the better of me.

I guess what I am saying is - how can I lunge her successfully without the two lines - will a pessoa help OR how can I get her to accept and lunge with just one.....

xx
 
It sounds like she does not like the discipline and control that you have with two lines, it will make her work in a way she possibly finds hard.
A pessoa will do the same to some extent as two lines, she will be unable to turn in so easily and you will be in control, chances are she will hate the pessoa.
I would stick to two reins for now and she, if she is not in discomfort somewhere, Will get used to them and accept that she needs to work properly.
 
You've said it yourself, she only dislikes the 2 reins cos she can't have her own way so there is always the chance she'll do the same with a pessoa. If she is just being a so & so I'd lunge her in 2 until she realises your in charge, working on her respecting you, not the second line, then whatever you decide to use she expects to listen to you.
 
Billie1007 said:
I just don't want to do the two lines as I know she doesn't enjoy it. She hates the fact that she can't turn out and she can't get the better of me.
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Do you want a horse who enjoys "lunging" (aka turning in on you) or one who does the work asked of her?

I personally wouldn't bother lunging as I don't see what benefit it would bring to you that long reining and ridden schooling couldn't do better ;)
 
But why not continue to use the 2 reins instead of the single one atall?

Its far easier to control her and keep her working with 2 so just continue to do so. Simples.

Lunging with one rein is boring for the horsey anyway...
 
I guess it is her reaction to the two lines that makes me not want to do it but i am just being soft. You are right - I should continue using the two lines until she gets the message that she is there to work and if she won't work on one she will have to do it with two.

I have a bad back and it won't hold out to more than a couple of schooling sessions a week so I thought if I could lunge her at least once a week successfully then it would be a useful addition to her regime.

Another question - possibly a stupid one and I will do some further research but should your outside line be longer than your inside one so that the 'push' isn't too much on her behind? This push is what is getting her to go forward I know but like a pessoa can be too tight in the back I wondered if by having two lines the same length it was creating 'too much push'?

I am new to this forum and I have a thick skin but I have seen some people get pulled to shreds of late - so be gentle :p You can always just sigh and shake your head at the screen - at least i can't see you ;)

Thanks for all the help so far x
 
I have the outside line longer only to compensate for the fact its got to go round the outside of the horse rather than directly to me. If i'm using it as a means to get the horse lunging on one, I'd really be concentrating on the inside one, however if i'm using it as my outside rein I use them the same as I would for ridden work.
 
Billie1007 said:
I guess it is her reaction to the two lines that makes me not want to do it but i am just being soft. You are right - I should continue using the two lines until she gets the message that she is there to work and if she won't work on one she will have to do it with two.

I have a bad back and it won't hold out to more than a couple of schooling sessions a week so I thought if I could lunge her at least once a week successfully then it would be a useful addition to her regime.

Another question - possibly a stupid one and I will do some further research but should your outside line be longer than your inside one so that the 'push' isn't too much on her behind? This push is what is getting her to go forward I know but like a pessoa can be too tight in the back I wondered if by having two lines the same length it was creating 'too much push'?

I am new to this forum and I have a thick skin but I have seen some people get pulled to shreds of late - so be gentle :p You can always just sigh and shake your head at the screen - at least i can't see you ;)

Thanks for all the help so far x
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I would aim for the same pressure down both reins. The outside one will have to be longer, because it goes around her bum, but it shouldn't look or feel longer to you, except for one or two less coils in your hand. :)

I'd still question what lungeing is going to add to your regime. Are you trying to get her fitter? Improve her muscle development? Improve her response to voice commands? If your back only holds up to two schooling sessions, will it hold up to hacking? if so there are plenty of schooling exercises you can do out and about (some fab books around to give you ideas).

For fitness, don't forget free schooling and hacking.

For correct muscle development, work her properly while hacking (at intervals to begin with) and when schooling - don't forget she'll get sore quickly to begin with.

For flexibility, use carrot stretches and massage.

For responsivenes, transitions...

I personally don't think a pessoa is the way to go to improve a horse's musculature or way of going. They basically work by the horse socking himself in the teeth when going long... so the horse learns not to put himself in the position where he gets socked in the teeth. In my opinion that's more likely to result in the horse travelling with a stilted gait, tucked in nose, and tense back, rather than propelling himself through from behind up over his back and into a soft contact at the front.

I think that with lunging with two lines (not forgetting that you can long rein from this equipment too in straight lines and curves) you have a chance of being able to have an encouraging influence on impulsion as well as having a contact, and that this is a much better way to improve your horses' way of going.

That's my essay, anyway. Hope you didn't take any of it as critical - s'not meant to be, I promise! :)
 
Naturally - this helped a lot. Realised I want to work on her fitness and muscle development.

Thank you. I will be using this information to keep my aims in mind and go from there.

Thanks everyone xx
 
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