Nightmare on lunge- any ideas?

charlie76

charlie76

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I like to lunge my horses as I feel its good for them but one that I have is a nightmare on the lunge. He goes against the side reins, tense with his head up and runs about like a loon in trot, in canter he rushes and falls in. He only starts to lunge like a normal horse once he has worn himself out which is no good!

I have tried the following lunging equipment-
side reins in the normal postion, side reins low, side reins between his legs, tight side reins, loose side reins, chambon, de gouge, pessoa, nothing at all- it makes no difference at all. I have also tried with and without a lungewhip, off the bit, off the cavesson, 2 reins. You name it, I have tried it.

I really want him to settle as he would really benefit from the lunging.

Any ideas?
 
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He only starts to lunge like a normal horse once he has worn himself out which is no good!

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Don't they all???

Thumper finds it all highly exciting for the first 10 mins or so. Then starts to work really nicely.
 
Sorry to state the obvious...but has anyone actually taught him HOW to lunge?
If he were mine, I'd take him back to absolute baby basics - and teach him in hand the voice commands - I use 'Walk on, Prrrrr! (for trot) 'And CANter', 'Whoah and Stand' to slow them down for a halt, 'Steady' to reduce length of stride, 'Over' to make them move out, 'Back' etc.
Once he responds to the voice commands (not your body language) in hand, then get an assistant and have them walk round with your horse on the lunge, obeying your commands. Gradually, have your assistant move up the lunge line, towards you, so leaving your horse increasingly on his own. Praise and reward when he is good.
Eventually your helper will join you in the middle and can be dispensed with - and your horse should know how to lunge.
Hope this helps.
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have someone sit on him on the lunge to reassure him so he gets used to it and they can explain it all to him whilst he is going round
 
He knows how to lunge he just chooses to 'do his own thing!'. It can take 20 mins of looning about before he even starts to settle and then he is too tired to do much more.
He is going very well ridden- soft and relaxed and gaining good marks in the dressage arena.
Once he settles he is very responsive but as I have siad- he is exhausted from going beserk by then.
 
Is there any need to lunge then? After all lungeing is not meant to be good for the legs so if I couldn't do it, just get on and ride him!
 
ok, then he's just being a plank. ever round penned or loose schooled him to get rid of some excess energy then put him on the lunge and worked him. then he can tire himself out but you remain less tired?
 
Have you thought about altering your lungeing style? Eg if you normally move around a bit or move your arms/flick the whip etc, try just standing still in the centre and trying to get him to gently walk on so he stays calm. Even lowering your voice and softening the tone can really help them to relax.
 
I have tried everything. I have looseschooled him in the indoor school and he is just as bonkers but it doesn't seem as bad as he isn't doing the wall of death on a smaller circle!
I want to try and work through it with him as I don't always have time to ride.
Guess I'll just have to wear him out!
 
tbh rather than 'tiring him out' ie lunging him a lot I would pop the tack on for twenty mins..far less risky and mroe productive.
But you know him best
 
i have a horse that finds lunging just as exciting!!hes 16 now and still tries it on i would suggest that you lunge little and often so he will just find it almost a bit boring!!then you will find he will settle.
 
My mare used to be so naughty on the lunge. Would just throw herself around & go crazy. Then I went to a Monty Roberts demonstration & bought a dually halter. And now I can lunge her in walk, trot & canter in an open field. So I'd reccommend the dually halter as the solution. Lunging is so good for them it's worth perservering. I think Kelly Marks sells them on her website.
 
Thanks for that- off now to have a look.
I just think its important for him to be good on the lunge in case I couldn't ride for any reason at anytime.
 
My beast is just as bad to lunge, she tends to do 1 circuit of walk then a big buck and a fart and spend the next ten minutes galloping like a loon, back legs flying at me etc...

i tried taking her back to basics, just walking on a small circle at first, off a headcollar without holding a whip, just using my voice. it worked really well so i gradually introduced trotting and she settled down nicely, but then i noticed she wasn't working as well as she could which kind of defeats the purpose.

Eventually i relented and let her have her bonkers 10 minutes as I realised that its her way of loosening up and de-fizzying herself before she settles down and concentrates on her work.

Yours does sound a bit extreme but if you take it really slow, literally walk him round for 5 mins on a 10m circle then put him away, you will probably find he gets bored and settles.
 
why do you think lungeing is good for them? genuine question..not sure what benefits it has that cannot be got ridden, particularly for a horse who is difficult to lunge?
 
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