No Halting and increased speed

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EazyBreezy

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Hiya!
I need some advice!
My youngster (3.5yrs old) has been lunging beautifully for the past 2/3 months. He knows all voice commands well and followed them to a T. Until recently, he refuses to stand on the left rein. When the line is tugged instead of slowing down, his speed increases.
He was raced so I wonder whether it is an unwanted aid he's picked up. Should a stronger bit be used? He's in a linked fulmer at the moment.

Thanks
Phill
 
Tugging at the rein is not really an aid to slow down, lunging should be to the voice and your body language, as he is already broken and has raced he will have learnt that taking a stronger hold or changing hands, shortening the reins, means to go faster, they tend to slow or stop when the rider drops the reins/ contact and relaxes.
I would not be using a stronger bit to gain control on the lunge I would be doing less lunging and more long reining, get him out hacking and do more of the reeducating from on top, he is probably bored if he is lunging more than once in a while, he may still be a youngster but if he raced as a 2 year old he would have been broken nearly 2 years ago, if he is not ready to start ridden work then he would probably benefit more from a few months doing nothing, turned away, than too much lunging which will not do his young, already hard worked, joints much good.
 
be positive said:
Tugging at the rein is not really an aid to slow down, lunging should be to the voice and your body language, as he is already broken and has raced he will have learnt that taking a stronger hold or changing hands, shortening the reins, means to go faster, they tend to slow or stop when the rider drops the reins/ contact and relaxes.
I would not be using a stronger bit to gain control on the lunge I would be doing less lunging and more long reining, get him out hacking and do more of the reeducating from on top, he is probably bored if he is lunging more than once in a while, he may still be a youngster but if he raced as a 2 year old he would have been broken nearly 2 years ago, if he is not ready to start ridden work then he would probably benefit more from a few months doing nothing, turned away, than too much lunging which will not do his young, already hard worked, joints much good.
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As above. A strong bit is of no use on the lunge. If my horses are reluctant to step up into a halt I move sideways and ask them to halt onto the wall. I don't mean hurtle them at the wall, just aim them towards the wall whilst asking for the transition.
 
Thanks for the advice. He was raced in a sulky for a year or so. He was then backed by a riding school. When ridden he's all over the place sort of not having a clue of what to do
 
EazyBreezy said:
Thanks for the advice. He was raced in a sulky for a year or so. He was then backed by a riding school. When ridden he's all over the place sort of not having a clue of what to do
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Ah, confused.com by the sound of things !

Back to basics and lots of time will see you turn him into a nice useful lad. I have never retrained anything that has raced, but I would imagine everything done slowly and without excitement is the way forward. Hope he rewards your effort and patience in him.
 
yes he does seem very confused! I can already see lots of change in him :) he's a lovely chap and very willing. He's grown loads in just 4 months! Taking it slow for him to grow more confident too!

Here is the cheeky chap :)

 
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