Lunging Training Question

Luv2Game · 12-13-2006, 02:53 PM

Ok, I was just reading Karen's Post about her and Rio. With all of the talk about lunging, I have a question. I do not have access to a round pen, therefore I have to lunge. My horse pulls on the lungeline the whole time going round and round. How do I break her of this?? By the time she's gone around 5 times, my arm feels like its going to fall off. Also, she is blind in the right eye. She will only lunge counter clock wise, with her left side facing me, and her blind eye facing out. Is she just being stubborn, or does she not like not being able to see me?? How do I MAKE her lunge on that side. I was tapping her on the butt with my lunge whip-nothing!! Thanks Everyone!!!

ilovepaints1 · 12-13-2006, 03:07 PM

Im in the same shape as you at tax time after credit cards are paid off it is a round pen all the way! But anyway I dont know how long you have been lunging her but with my young one I would just give a sharp pull and firmly say pay attention when he would do it and after a couple of sessions he started to get better. But with her blindness it may take a long time on that side because she probaly is afraid of running into you or of the lunge whip sound. I have finally gotten mine trained to where I dont need a whip I just stomp my feet to get them to go faster and use voice commands. I also have a horse that is either totally blind or partially blind in one eye and he is really skittish on the lungeline but I dont mess with him too much because he is a retiree now. But to me it sounds like she is standing there because she cant see you if she goes around on the good side not being disobediant.

Rocking Horse · 12-13-2006, 03:12 PM

1 of my horses is blind in one eye also.

She won't lunge unless she can see me, same as yours... I don't know if you will ever be able to change that.

My mare rides fine and I don't usually lunge her anyway, so for me it's not really a problem..

I don't think your mare is being stubborn, she needs to see you, she trusts you and looks to you for her cues.

Sonseeahray's_girl · 12-13-2006, 03:18 PM

What kind of halter do you use? I find the rope halters way more effective, since they can tend to "lean" on the nylon ones more, which will put much force on your arm and tire you out quickly!

I would also suggest doing the tug and release...keep tipping her nose into you with firm and consistent tugs.

As for lunging on the blind side, I'm not sure if this will work, but you could try teaching her to lunge the Parelli way. It worked nicely with my gelding, and while he's not sight-impaired, he was attitude-impaired at times!

Now he lunges like a dream, and I don't even have to spin with him. If you want explicit instructions how to do it, PM me and I'll 'splain more. Don't want to take too much space up on here, but it really does work!

irishmusic · 12-13-2006, 03:32 PM

Even though I have access to a round pen, I don't use it. I find that they teach a horse to bend away from the direction that they are going. It also seems to make them a bit stiff and reluctant to bend and round under saddle.

I use a lungeline with an english saddle and bridle. Run the stirrups up and "tie" the leathers through the stirrups. Take your reins and with the buckle at the pommel, run the reins under the tied up stirrups. Use a "converter" that attaches to each side of the bit and the lungeline -or- run the lungeline through the bit (a snaffle) on one side under the chin and attach to the other side of the bit. You will have to run the lungeline through the opposite side of the bit when you reverse directions.

I find that this helps the horse to bend into the circle of the lunge instead of away and allows greater control and cueing of speed.

**gbarmranch** · 12-13-2006, 03:37 PM

I like to use driving reins for this - it is easier to teach rather then a single lunge line - 25 foot driving reins (attached at the bit on each side and run through the stirrup) can be used as a lunge line on one side and yet help set the head and move the hind quarters, and shoulders, from the other side - it might also work well with the mare who has a blind eye!

EquineAlberta · 12-13-2006, 11:28 PM

Get a really good lunging cavesson. The ones with the padded noseband and metal over top with three rings. They work great for lunging; the horse is less likely to lean, the caveson gives clearer commands (no worries about the twisting like a halter), and can be used with side reins to the noseband to help keep her head in a controllable position.

I also like long lining like gbarmranch, but it isn't easy in a large space. I usually teach the horse to lunge and drive before I move on to long lining...and some horses get confused by the line behind their rump. I do agree that in the long run it may be great for your mare though, I would just wait until you can lunge safely at least one way first.

Karen2

JoAnne · 12-14-2006, 08:13 AM

If you have a helper, have them lead your mare on her blind side around as you stand in the middle so she gets confidence, then after a few times have them step away to see if she is okay on her own ( but if it was me, I probably just wouldn't lunge her on that side, I'd hand walk her or lead her around at the trot on that side)

12-13-2006, 02:53 PM
Luv2Game Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,424	Lunging Training Question Ok, I was just reading Karen's Post about her and Rio. With all of the talk about lunging, I have a question. I do not have access to a round pen, therefore I have to lunge. My horse pulls on the lungeline the whole time going round and round. How do I break her of this?? By the time she's gone around 5 times, my arm feels like its going to fall off. Also, she is blind in the right eye. She will only lunge counter clock wise, with her left side facing me, and her blind eye facing out. Is she just being stubborn, or does she not like not being able to see me?? How do I MAKE her lunge on that side. I was tapping her on the butt with my lunge whip-nothing!! Thanks Everyone!!! __________________ "Horses know nothing of money, status, beauty or accomplishment...Horses see only our hearts, and they accept or reject us based on what they find within... - Mary Midkiff

12-13-2006, 03:07 PM
ilovepaints1 Long Yearling Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,072	Im in the same shape as you at tax time after credit cards are paid off it is a round pen all the way! But anyway I dont know how long you have been lunging her but with my young one I would just give a sharp pull and firmly say pay attention when he would do it and after a couple of sessions he started to get better. But with her blindness it may take a long time on that side because she probaly is afraid of running into you or of the lunge whip sound. I have finally gotten mine trained to where I dont need a whip I just stomp my feet to get them to go faster and use voice commands. I also have a horse that is either totally blind or partially blind in one eye and he is really skittish on the lungeline but I dont mess with him too much because he is a retiree now. But to me it sounds like she is standing there because she cant see you if she goes around on the good side not being disobediant.

12-13-2006, 03:12 PM
Rocking Horse Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,367	1 of my horses is blind in one eye also. She won't lunge unless she can see me, same as yours... I don't know if you will ever be able to change that. My mare rides fine and I don't usually lunge her anyway, so for me it's not really a problem.. I don't think your mare is being stubborn, she needs to see you, she trusts you and looks to you for her cues. __________________ ~ Too many freaks, not enough circuses ~

12-13-2006, 03:18 PM
Sonseeahray's_girl Long Yearling Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,286	What kind of halter do you use? I find the rope halters way more effective, since they can tend to "lean" on the nylon ones more, which will put much force on your arm and tire you out quickly! I would also suggest doing the tug and release...keep tipping her nose into you with firm and consistent tugs. As for lunging on the blind side, I'm not sure if this will work, but you could try teaching her to lunge the Parelli way. It worked nicely with my gelding, and while he's not sight-impaired, he was attitude-impaired at times! Now he lunges like a dream, and I don't even have to spin with him. If you want explicit instructions how to do it, PM me and I'll 'splain more. Don't want to take too much space up on here, but it really does work! __________________ When I ride my horse, my heart is no longer in my chest ... it is between my knees.

12-13-2006, 03:32 PM
irishmusic Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 581	Even though I have access to a round pen, I don't use it. I find that they teach a horse to bend away from the direction that they are going. It also seems to make them a bit stiff and reluctant to bend and round under saddle. I use a lungeline with an english saddle and bridle. Run the stirrups up and "tie" the leathers through the stirrups. Take your reins and with the buckle at the pommel, run the reins under the tied up stirrups. Use a "converter" that attaches to each side of the bit and the lungeline -or- run the lungeline through the bit (a snaffle) on one side under the chin and attach to the other side of the bit. You will have to run the lungeline through the opposite side of the bit when you reverse directions. I find that this helps the horse to bend into the circle of the lunge instead of away and allows greater control and cueing of speed. __________________ It seems that some creatures have the capacity to fill spaces you never knew were empty. Captain Jean Luc Picard

12-13-2006, 03:37 PM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,575	I like to use driving reins for this - it is easier to teach rather then a single lunge line - 25 foot driving reins (attached at the bit on each side and run through the stirrup) can be used as a lunge line on one side and yet help set the head and move the hind quarters, and shoulders, from the other side - it might also work well with the mare who has a blind eye! __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

12-13-2006, 11:28 PM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,693	Get a really good lunging cavesson. The ones with the padded noseband and metal over top with three rings. They work great for lunging; the horse is less likely to lean, the caveson gives clearer commands (no worries about the twisting like a halter), and can be used with side reins to the noseband to help keep her head in a controllable position. I also like long lining like gbarmranch, but it isn't easy in a large space. I usually teach the horse to lunge and drive before I move on to long lining...and some horses get confused by the line behind their rump. I do agree that in the long run it may be great for your mare though, I would just wait until you can lunge safely at least one way first. Karen2 __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB CHT Horse Stories!

12-14-2006, 08:13 AM
JoAnne Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 2,442	If you have a helper, have them lead your mare on her blind side around as you stand in the middle so she gets confidence, then after a few times have them step away to see if she is okay on her own ( but if it was me, I probably just wouldn't lunge her on that side, I'd hand walk her or lead her around at the trot on that side)