How to get your horse to lunge!

Cynthia · 02-11-2005, 12:09 PM

I don't have a round pen...but I need to lunge. Any advice? When I get my mare to lunge, she does half a circle and comes back to me. That's fine...cause I don't want her to be afraid of me. This mare hasn't been ridden in two years and has wonderful, wonderful ground manners. She rides well, but I need to get her in shape for the Drill Team.

I thought a way to get her in shape and build up her endurance would be to lunge. We make the clickin' noise with our mouths, and say "Up" and she does go...for a little while and comes back to me. I don't want to scare her...or make her jumpy because she is new to us. I want her to trust us...(she was with her previous owner for all her life 20yrs and I bet she's homesick...

----and he did a wonderful job training her, and loving her).

She was used in the sherrif's possey, but it's been a while. I play the music LOUD in the barn, and have introduced her to a tarp and flags. She will be used in the arena at rodeos...so I am trying everything that would be at a rodeo..my kids get out there and run around screamin'...I drive the 4 wheeler/lawn mowers around her, move a plastic bag in front of her and talk loud....(because announcers do that).

Last thing I want is to end up on the ground in the middle of a drill! You would get stomped on real good there!

SO....any advice on lungin'? I don't like whips...but if this would help...I will try. I also need some help with giving her a new name. Her registered name is "Cutie Poco Bueno" I think....I would have to look at the papers. He called her Cutie...and I want to keep it, but she's mine now...I like the Old West names and outlaws...so far I have found "Annie" for Annie Oakley (a red-headed sharp-shooter); "Bailey" just cause that's cute, "Biscuit" cause I love bread.."Cattle Kate" after a female outlaw "Cattle Kate Watson" and Cutie is a cuttin' horse....Hmmm. OR Buttermilk cause that was Dale Evans' horse name....I love outlaws and old westerns...can you tell?

Thanks for readin' my LOOOOONG winded post!
Take Care,

Cindy

tiggypoodle · 02-11-2005, 12:14 PM

You may not like whips but a long longe whip will really make a difference in this situation!

It will make your life a lot easier. If your mare is going to the right, hold the longe line in your right hand and the whip in the left, and keep the whip pointed at her hip. Also, keep your body pointed toward her hip too, if you accidentally face her head she will think you WANT her to stop and/or come to you.

Lily

EquineAlberta · 02-11-2005, 01:01 PM

Yep. Tiggy is right, a longe whip will help, but don't think of it as a whip, as much as an extension of your arm. You will use it to point at her to press her on the circle, and you may wave it, to chase her, but you do not need to hit with it.

Also, pushing the mare forward and away from you shouldn't make her fear you, it will just (hopefully) give her some respect to you as the leader. Just make sure you aim your body and your attention towards her hind end to make her go on the circle!

If she really does not understand, you could also consider lunging her with a rider until she gets the hint of what is expected. I have used this when teaching an older horse to lunge for the first time.

stb4all · 02-11-2005, 01:25 PM

Yes a lunge whip is a necessity when teaching a horse to lunge. After they learn how, they often don't need a whip. And it IS just an extension of your arm. I wanted to add to everyone else's comments. Besides keeping your body facing their hind quarters, be prepared to do a lot of walking the first few sessions! If you just stand there and shake the whip at them, they often make a half circle and come right back at you, just as you said. You need to keep "driving" her forward. Continually walk towards her hind end. Sometimes they spin their hind quarters away from you and you have to run to get "behind" them again. If she spins her hind quarters away from you like that more than once, you need to start over. But since she does go out away from you at least half a circle, it doesn't sound like she will do that to you. She at least understands somewhat! You will make some funny looking circles at first, but they quickly catch on.

Iwuvspunkyhorseys · 02-11-2005, 01:47 PM

if you dont liek the idea on a lounge whip try tying a knot or two in the very end of the longest lounge rope you can find, when she wont move into her gaits throw the rope at her hind-quarters. Make sure you use your voice commands at the same time. If she sort of pauses like my horse used to, I went back to the very beginning. I stod in the middle with my lounge line in my hand, and had an assistant hold on the out side of his halter and start walking her around while your standing in the middle, give her her cues wak trot and whoa. Having your partner do the same. Then once they get the idea that they need to do what the person beside them does have your partner let go, but contenue to walk beside him and follow your cues. Slowly have the person drift futher away. Then have the person go away completly, she is going to try to stop walking, this is where you throw the end of your lounge line at her hind-quarters and give her the signal to carry on.

stormy · 02-11-2005, 05:33 PM

I had a couple horses figure that trick out. 8) Hey if I run around the circle a few times (just to make it look like the effort has been made to obey) and return to center then my work is done.

Of coarse my owner loves me so much and thinks I am soooo in love with her that I cant leave her side. She thinks I am cute when really am being lazy and would rather call it a day and go back to the barn where I am not expected to run.

If I could read your horses mind I'd bet those would be her words. KEEP HER GOING!

I would take that whip and encourage her to stay to the outer circle until you ask for her to stop. YES, the whip is your tool to use in your training. Not a weapon and your horse will figure that out so dont be afraid of using one. Aways remember your body language says multipals. The body positioning is very important. Position yourself at the hip point to drive forward and in front of shoulder for stopping or turning. When my horse started to come in to me I would take the whip and point toward her and twitch it back and forth saying NO. They learned not to come in. It'll work for you too. Let us know how all goes and good luck. Remember praise for job well done. Stormy

saudimack · 02-11-2005, 08:01 PM

to teach my yearling, i had somebody on the other side of her leading her. and when id say Walk, the other person would start walking, thus, so would the horse. Whoa, the person would stop and so would the horse.. it took her maybe 5 minutes to figure that out. and i can now lunge her with out any problems.

Oh, i advise ALOT of praise when they do it right

02-11-2005, 12:09 PM
Cynthia Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NorthEast Texas Posts: 868	How to get your horse to lunge! I don't have a round pen...but I need to lunge. Any advice? When I get my mare to lunge, she does half a circle and comes back to me. That's fine...cause I don't want her to be afraid of me. This mare hasn't been ridden in two years and has wonderful, wonderful ground manners. She rides well, but I need to get her in shape for the Drill Team. I thought a way to get her in shape and build up her endurance would be to lunge. We make the clickin' noise with our mouths, and say "Up" and she does go...for a little while and comes back to me. I don't want to scare her...or make her jumpy because she is new to us. I want her to trust us...(she was with her previous owner for all her life 20yrs and I bet she's homesick... ----and he did a wonderful job training her, and loving her). She was used in the sherrif's possey, but it's been a while. I play the music LOUD in the barn, and have introduced her to a tarp and flags. She will be used in the arena at rodeos...so I am trying everything that would be at a rodeo..my kids get out there and run around screamin'...I drive the 4 wheeler/lawn mowers around her, move a plastic bag in front of her and talk loud....(because announcers do that). Last thing I want is to end up on the ground in the middle of a drill! You would get stomped on real good there! SO....any advice on lungin'? I don't like whips...but if this would help...I will try. I also need some help with giving her a new name. Her registered name is "Cutie Poco Bueno" I think....I would have to look at the papers. He called her Cutie...and I want to keep it, but she's mine now...I like the Old West names and outlaws...so far I have found "Annie" for Annie Oakley (a red-headed sharp-shooter); "Bailey" just cause that's cute, "Biscuit" cause I love bread.."Cattle Kate" after a female outlaw "Cattle Kate Watson" and Cutie is a cuttin' horse....Hmmm. OR Buttermilk cause that was Dale Evans' horse name....I love outlaws and old westerns...can you tell? Thanks for readin' my LOOOOONG winded post! Take Care, Cindy __________________ Broke K Ranch Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away....

02-11-2005, 12:14 PM
tiggypoodle Coming two Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Home Sweet Home, Badger Canyon, WA Posts: 1,691	You may not like whips but a long longe whip will really make a difference in this situation! It will make your life a lot easier. If your mare is going to the right, hold the longe line in your right hand and the whip in the left, and keep the whip pointed at her hip. Also, keep your body pointed toward her hip too, if you accidentally face her head she will think you WANT her to stop and/or come to you. Lily __________________

02-11-2005, 01:01 PM
EquineAlberta Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,417	Yep. Tiggy is right, a longe whip will help, but don't think of it as a whip, as much as an extension of your arm. You will use it to point at her to press her on the circle, and you may wave it, to chase her, but you do not need to hit with it. Also, pushing the mare forward and away from you shouldn't make her fear you, it will just (hopefully) give her some respect to you as the leader. Just make sure you aim your body and your attention towards her hind end to make her go on the circle! If she really does not understand, you could also consider lunging her with a rider until she gets the hint of what is expected. I have used this when teaching an older horse to lunge for the first time.

02-11-2005, 01:25 PM
stb4all Halter broke Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 172	Yes a lunge whip is a necessity when teaching a horse to lunge. After they learn how, they often don't need a whip. And it IS just an extension of your arm. I wanted to add to everyone else's comments. Besides keeping your body facing their hind quarters, be prepared to do a lot of walking the first few sessions! If you just stand there and shake the whip at them, they often make a half circle and come right back at you, just as you said. You need to keep "driving" her forward. Continually walk towards her hind end. Sometimes they spin their hind quarters away from you and you have to run to get "behind" them again. If she spins her hind quarters away from you like that more than once, you need to start over. But since she does go out away from you at least half a circle, it doesn't sound like she will do that to you. She at least understands somewhat! You will make some funny looking circles at first, but they quickly catch on.

02-11-2005, 01:47 PM
Iwuvspunkyhorseys Halter broke Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: US, NC Posts: 130	if you dont liek the idea on a lounge whip try tying a knot or two in the very end of the longest lounge rope you can find, when she wont move into her gaits throw the rope at her hind-quarters. Make sure you use your voice commands at the same time. If she sort of pauses like my horse used to, I went back to the very beginning. I stod in the middle with my lounge line in my hand, and had an assistant hold on the out side of his halter and start walking her around while your standing in the middle, give her her cues wak trot and whoa. Having your partner do the same. Then once they get the idea that they need to do what the person beside them does have your partner let go, but contenue to walk beside him and follow your cues. Slowly have the person drift futher away. Then have the person go away completly, she is going to try to stop walking, this is where you throw the end of your lounge line at her hind-quarters and give her the signal to carry on.

02-11-2005, 05:33 PM
stormy Long Yearling Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northwest Lower Michigan Posts: 1,068	Teaching to lunge I had a couple horses figure that trick out. 8) Hey if I run around the circle a few times (just to make it look like the effort has been made to obey) and return to center then my work is done. Of coarse my owner loves me so much and thinks I am soooo in love with her that I cant leave her side. She thinks I am cute when really am being lazy and would rather call it a day and go back to the barn where I am not expected to run. If I could read your horses mind I'd bet those would be her words. KEEP HER GOING! I would take that whip and encourage her to stay to the outer circle until you ask for her to stop. YES, the whip is your tool to use in your training. Not a weapon and your horse will figure that out so dont be afraid of using one. Aways remember your body language says multipals. The body positioning is very important. Position yourself at the hip point to drive forward and in front of shoulder for stopping or turning. When my horse started to come in to me I would take the whip and point toward her and twitch it back and forth saying NO. They learned not to come in. It'll work for you too. Let us know how all goes and good luck. Remember praise for job well done. Stormy __________________ Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

02-11-2005, 08:01 PM
saudimack Halter broke Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: wa Posts: 194	to teach my yearling, i had somebody on the other side of her leading her. and when id say Walk, the other person would start walking, thus, so would the horse. Whoa, the person would stop and so would the horse.. it took her maybe 5 minutes to figure that out. and i can now lunge her with out any problems. Oh, i advise ALOT of praise when they do it right