Teaching halt/stand on lunge

Magicmillbrook

Magicmillbrook

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How do you teach stand on the lunge. My little cob will happily walk, trot, back to walk with just voice but he is so hard to get to stand, usualy I end up saying staaaand, staaand, staaand and he will come back to stand after about 3 or 4 more circle and usualy involves him coming in and standing next to me. last night I put him out walking on a 10m caircle and and asked him to stand and then swooped in and got him to stand as though I were leading him, and eventualy he was standing without me moving in, but not sure this would work on a bigger circle. I think, being a cob he is used to just being lunged in a circle like the clappers to get weight off, rather than to help with his transitions etc. Ridden he will stand very well and I have been using the voice command hoping it will help.

Any ideas gratefully received.
 
I was having the same problem with my cob, then something suddenly twigged this winter, and now he does it 80% of the time straight away. The other 20% of the time it takes a little longer but he does eventually do it.

I made sure that whenever I asked him to stand, I gave my 'aannd staaand' cue just to reinforce what I was asking. I also put him on the lunge in double lines so I could give rein cue at the same time as voice cue.

How old is your horse? Mine is only 6, I think it just took a while to sink in!
 
Mine is 5 so only just getting balanced enough for lungeing. I forgot about using two lines. Last summer, before we were allowed to school and lunge I long lined him out in the field, will give that a try.
 
I start with stand. Start by getting the horse to stand and backing away to the centre of the circle - one step at first and return to him and praise . Keep this up until he will stand on the spot as far out as you need to lunge . Then ask to walk on etc and practice saying stand again ( I take a step towards the horse for halt signal - say 'halt' and if I don't get a stand then I continue towards the horse til he stops - taking hold of the bridle if necessary ... After a few goes I get halt with just one step towards their head...
 
Ask vocally and raise your rein hand at the same time, if you don't get a response the horse gets a consequence - put a bump down the rope. Ideally you need a heavier type rope for the effect but basically think about sending a ripple down the rope to his nose. As soon as he stands tell him he's a good boy and give him a few minutes just sanding there to process it before asking him to walk on again. If he should try to turn in to you another small bump and make a bear claw with your hand to keep him away :)
 
My horse is rubbish at this too. So my instructor showed me how to cure it. Basically if he won't slow down or stand, gradually move your circle over towards the fence so that they have to stop. Don't go nearer to him. Just make sure as you go towards the fence that you are in front of him so that he can't duck away between you and the fence. Do this each time you have trouble and eventually he'll get the message! It worked on my horse anyway.
 
Double-lunge/long rein . . . that way you can reinforce the voice command with aids. Also, teaching on the ground/when tied up.

P
 
I do a long 'aaaaaand stand' (sometimes with a whhhhhooaaaaa in front) and each time I ask for a downward transition I turn my body from facing out at the horse to sideways on to the horse, so I go from big person, to small person.
 
It seems to me from your post that you are using the 'stand' command to stop the horse. 'Whoa' and 'Stand' are, or should be, two separate commands. It's only once the horse has stopped that he can be expected to stand.

Your body position and posture in relation to the horse when he is out on the lunge is very important, as this is the way you encourage the horse forward, persuade him to speed up, slow down, change gait, and generally become compliant. If you are slightly in front of his girth you will somewhat block his forward movement; if you are behind that point you will send him on. Passive body posture will ease the pressure on him, whilst assertive posture will increase it.

Therefore, once the horse is stopped, you can use your position and posture to block him from going forward and so encourage him to stand until you change you position and allow him to go forward.
 
Haven't read the other replies so sorry if this has already been mentioned! I taught my horse to stand by saying "aaand halt" and stepping slightly in front of her as it blocks her, also used this method to get her to go down the gaits. It didn't take her too long to pick it up and I also use this when lunging the horses (racehorses) at work and it works very well :)
 
AengusOg said:
It seems to me from your post that you are using the 'stand' command to stop the horse. 'Whoa' and 'Stand' are, or should be, two separate commands. It's only once the horse has stopped that he can be expected to stand.

Your body position and posture in relation to the horse when he is out on the lunge is very important, as this is the way you encourage the horse forward, persuade him to speed up, slow down, change gait, and generally become compliant. If you are slightly in front of his girth you will somewhat block his forward movement; if you are behind that point you will send him on. Passive body posture will ease the pressure on him, whilst assertive posture will increase it.

Therefore, once the horse is stopped, you can use your position and posture to block him from going forward and so encourage him to stand until you change you position and allow him to go forward.
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This is what I do and it took just 2 sessions to teach a 10 year old fit pointer to lunge from being clueless to, in the main, being obedient if still a little exuberant at times, at least he does now stop when I ask.
 
Go back to basics again. Walk alongside and give command "aaaaaand Whoa" draw out the 'and' use this as a prefix for all downward transitions.

Ask for Woah with a short tug on the line. Repeat until he will halt with a slight squeeze and the beginning of the verbal command. Then step a few feet away and repeat. Keep doing this, cementing each phase before moving further away.

Keep stand for the times when you want him to remain stationary.

Just something else, are you lunging from a proper lunge cavesson or a head collar. It's much easier to maintain control using a lunge cavesson.
 
Thanks for all the great replies. Lots of food for thought. I do use the aaannnnddd before trot, walk and attempted halts, will try the whoaa rather than stand. Body position is interesting. I think in my frustration I may have been sending mixed signals, last night when we made bit of improvement I was realy thinking about remaining passive. I lunge in a dualy, he never gets strong or fast, just keeps shuffling forwards!!!
 
Seriously put a bump down the rope to stop him, yes body position is important but if you've got a forward goer its very effective, I'm not saying heave it so you scare the pants off him, just flick your wrist if he tries to continue forwards to say 'no I'm saying stay still'.
 
TigerTail said:
Seriously put a bump down the rope to stop him, yes body position is important but if you've got a forward goer its very effective, I'm not saying heave it so you scare the pants off him, just flick your wrist if he tries to continue forwards to say 'no I'm saying stay still'.
Click to expand...

Thanks - will give it a go
 
Half halt like you're riding and use the lunge whip to reinforce position (without touching him with it!). Keep using your voice, mine took a while to get it, but the long staaaaaand works brilliantly and he no longer comes in to me, he just stops totally. Took practise!
 
teach it in hand first, then at arms reach away, gradually making the distance further so they are used to being on their own, that way its just a lead on from being led.body language is key. if they do it once, lots of praise and do something else.
 
I taught mine by bringing her in a bit (shortening the line) and turning the whip/putting it under my arm to stop driving her forward and she soon learnt from my body language
 
I use a visual signal for half-halt and increase it's intensity for a stop. Simply raise my hand upwards.

I start teaching horses this when leading in hand, then closely circling around me and gradually increasing distance away from me in prep for lunge work.
 
My lad was hopeless (and after lots of work was only less hopeless, but it made a different all the same).
I taught him on the ground. Used voice commands, body language, schooling whip etc and as he got the message I'd start being further and further from him when I gave the command. Reduced the aids too so that it was down to just voice.
 
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