Tips for lungeing with two lines + feed question

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xxcharlottexx

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On the odd occasion that i do lunge my horse he's usually pretty good
however in walk, he will always fall in on part of the circle and im finding it really difficult to get him to stay on a large circle as they get smaller and smaller.

Ive tried shaking the lunge whip at him.... it works most the time except he will then trot off which i dont want him to do

So i thought id maybe giving lungeing with two lunge lines ago... ive never done this before so has anybody got any tips on how to do it.
Do i just put the second lunge line through the stirrup/roller?

And while i was making a post thought id ask my other question i had...

Finally got my horse up to the right weight and im now going to stop feeding conditioning cubes as he doesnt really need it especially with all the fresh grass coming up.

Im was thinking of feeding him happy hoof and maybe some speedi beet if he needs any extra energy
Will the happy hoof have all the vitamins and minerals he needs or would you consider feeding a balancer aswell as happy hoof... or something other than a balancer with the happy hoof?

If you think feeding a balancer aswell what would you reccomend and how much does it cost?

sorry for the long post
thanks
 
Regarding your first question: Your positioning is key when lunging. Ideally you want to be positioned 45 degrees away from your horse. If you are too far in front you will have the effect of slowing him down and backing him off. Behind him is a driving position having the effect (with the right body language of making him go forward).
I would say you need to be at a 45 degree angle, slightly behind your horse and with your head angled towards his head. You can carry the long whip in front of you and wiggle at his head/shoulder/stomach area. Play about with this positioning and stand with your shoulders back (assertive/driving body language) marching (if necessary) towards your horse....to keep him forwards and out.

Using two reins - I would suggest attaching two reins to the bit rings, then run them through the lowest part of a training roller/surcingle. You may have to be careful spending time getting your horse used to the reins along his sides/around his back legs. Then start with straight lines, stopping and starting. Have the reins so they are long enough that you are not within firing range if he kicks out. Use the reins to control his quarters. Move onto circles when you and horse are happy. You will find you need to release the outside rein/make it longer on circles/turns. Try to keep the reins organised in your hands and stop to re-gather yourself whenever necessary....
 
With regard to the lungeing with 2 reins I would be careful about just attaching it and expecting him to get on with it.If he has never had it done before the sensation of the lunge near his hocks could scare him and cause you problems. I would start off by using a roller and attaching it through a side ring but then bring it over your horses back and into your hand with your other rein.Once he is doing this happily then you can bring the outside lunge rein behind him.Remember to keep the outside rein slack though so as not to confuse him apart from the times you need it to act.

I'm not sure about the happy hoof but remember that with the grass coming through if he is a good doer chances are he won't even need that.I'm sure you are well aware that you only up the feed once the workload has increased or weight has started to drop.
 
I attch my lunge reins with one going through the roller, second D down on near side, through the same height hole, then over the back and through the top hole of the other side, it seems danderouse to have it resting on his hock. You can do as spike said,or i tend to steer with both reins continously, so also schooling at the same time, getting correct bend etc. but this does take much time and practise, as to start with getting the horse to understand and not over react to the reins and keep the contact even is very hard

Haz
 
Thanks for all your advise, will try over his back first (hadnt actually thought of that!) then gradually get him used to going round the back of him, if using 2 reins is beneficial.
will only really need the 2nd rein in walk as hes fine in trot/canter but it will prob take me a while to keep both reins even so il just stay in walk to begin with

Hes not doing a huge amount of work at the minute as im busy with exams and coursework... but once theyre out the way il hopefully be starting to school him properly and get him fit and toned.
though hes not really a good dooer, hes quite a fine TB. Will try happy hoof and see if he holds his weight, was more concerned about him getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs as whilst hes 7, he didnt have the best start to life
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The tips for lungeing with two reins, above, are excellent advice. If your horse is used to leg straps on his rugs then he should accept the second lunge-line around his hocks OK. Remember to keep your hands low and make a triangle with your horse across the top and your inside rein forming one side of the triangle and the outside rein and whip, forming the other. You may find that you may need an extra person just to start him off, to begin with, and you may also find that carrying a whip will be too much of a hand-ful, so just use your voice and body-language. It is a good idea to have two different coloured lunge-lines, if poss. so that you don't get muddled up!!!
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Best of Luck!!!
 
About the feed question, we have just changed all our feed to healthly hooves and alfer beat, I have done alot of looking up on the sites on this feed and seem to be the right one with us...
 
Most horses get everything they need from grass (despite what most owners think!) so yes, your horse should be fine on those with grass.
 
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