Lunging, again

Perrys_mama · 07-09-2007, 08:18 AM

Another lunging question for the forum...

Perry and I are having trouble with lunging. I put a bridle and bit on him (he chomped and chewed a lot, but seemed pretty ok with it) and brought out my boyfriend for assistance. I looped the line through the inside bit ring, over behind his ears and clipped it to the outside bit ring. I would give the commands, then boyfriend would obey and if Perry didn't follow, boyfriend would take up the outside rein and pull him along. Perry was starting to get the idea....but he won't stay on the circle!! Boyfriend could let go of the rein after a few steps, and Perry would follow but...

If boyfriend left his outside, I would try to prompt Perry with a wiggle of the lunge whip and he immediately spun his hindquarters away and faced me. Dead stop. More wiggling or cracking of lunge whip, and all he did was back up.

I have NO idea what I am doing wrong. I raise my "lead" arm to about shoulde height to try and indicate direction, and I hold the lunge whip low until I need to increase intensity of the aids. I am looking at either his rear feet or his hips the whole time.

I am not really good at teaching horses to lunge...the other horses I've worked with just kind of understood. Spooky came to me already fully understanding Parelli's "circle" game, so I don't even have to turn to lunge her!

Tips? Suggestions? The rest of his training is going well...I even sat on him bareback this weekend and he was curious but not terribly bothered!

Cappysmom · 07-09-2007, 08:34 AM

Oh Boy, do I feel your pain. My Cappy does the same thing. What I do is start by keeping the lunge line short and tap your lunge whip on his bum not hard but just lightly and keep tapping, it will keep him forward and at a walk only, slowly increase your lunge line out and keep using the lunge whip tapping on his bum. Once he is far enough out ask for your trot but keep your whip up and when you start to see that Perry might swing his bum around, give him a tap on his bum and yell NO. It worked for Cappy although if I get distracted at all, he swings him bum out. You have to keep your eye on him, it sounds like Perry is smart and can read you really well. Good Luck.

David · 07-09-2007, 08:45 AM

I have had this happen a few times... what always seems to work for me is to use your lunge whip like parelli uses his stick and string. When he turns his butt away, slowly swing your string at his withers and neck area to get him to move his front end. When I do this I rarely have to make contact, just the swinging rope will make him want to move away. As soon as he starts moving stop swinging then give him the command to move again. At the first sign of him swinging his butt away go back to his withers. For me this will get them longing the way I want in about 10 minutes. You may have to use this method for several sessions before he does it correctly without spinning away.

Hope this helps
David

Eagles Nest · 07-10-2007, 11:42 AM

very astute David! So many focus on the rear, when the handler's body position and making the horses's head move away from you are much more important!

It sounds to me like he is "playing" with you. Go with the "shorter line" and concentrate on sending his body forward but both pushing his head and sholders away and applying pressure behind his shoulders.

KatieMae · 07-10-2007, 11:49 AM

Sounds like your boyfriend is well trained at least

I kid.

I would suggest the shorter line, as well... I've always started out (just at the walk for younger horses, too many tight trotting circles can cause injury) on a circle small enough to create a triangle with myself being the one point, the lung line being one side, the whip being another, and the horse being the bottom. I make the circle small enough to tap the horse to move forward. If the horse does not move forward, consistent tapping causes an annoyance to the young horse and will cause them to move away when they finally give in to your tapping... Very similar to what David said, as soon as he moves, stop tapping.. If he stops again, go back to square one. As far as turning in goes, I suggest tapping at the shoulder until he moves away... It could take up to 15 minutes, depending on how tolerant the horse is..

HotxtoxTrot · 07-11-2007, 11:21 AM

This is the way I taught my horse how to lunge:

Start with the lunge line only about five feet long
When first asking the horse to go foward stand almost behind it, to the rear
Instead of making the horse walk a circle around you, walk in a circle yourself, always staying slightly to the rear of the horse
As the horse gets the message, you should be able to lengthen the rope a bit
If he stops, step to his rear and make him get out of YOUR space!

Good luck!

annem · 07-11-2007, 11:35 AM

You shouldn't be looking at his rear feet or hips as this is pushing his back end round so that he faces you. You should be as someone else said, standing further back so that you are behind the shoulder. You have to look at the shoulder to keep the horse out and moving forward. I know it is easier said than done, but once you get it, it seems to click. Sometimes you may have to move your self with some assertive movements as they can be pretty quick and smart with the turning in towards you. Especially if they have learnt that you are not sure what to do once they have done this. Smart little critters these horses. Thats why we admire them so.

AlbertaGirl · 07-11-2007, 03:07 PM

Are you in a round pen when you're trying this?

Also, can you just use the halter to lunge? I haven't read through all your posts to know exaclty where you & Perry are at, but I've never started out lunging a horse with the bridle, always just on the halter, and mine all move out really well, and will turn to change directions in a continous motion. When I was a training assistant, that's how I was taught to do it, and it's worked really well for me. Have also lunged using a bridle, but I prefer to hook onto the halter, and once they get all the basics, use the bridle and reins to teach them to keep their head down.

I'm not sure if Perry's still up by Fort McMurray or down by Edmonton, but if he's down by Edmonton, and you end up wanting some help, let me know...

Perrys_mama · 07-12-2007, 03:40 PM

Naw, we're still in Fort McMurray. Spooky still lives in Edmonton, but I don't

We don't have a round pen, so I am stuck in a square corral on a lunge line. I usually lunge him in a halter, but he was wearing his bridle to get used to it. I think that might have been one of the problems...he wasn't really used to it yet!

I think that I was maybe focusing too hard on his hip...I was always taught to do that, but then again, what little I know about training was from an unruly arab who had a lot more trouble stopping than starting. Calm little Perry sometimes gets me pretty confused.

We'll try again later on this weekend...

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07-09-2007, 08:18 AM
Perrys_mama Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 887	Lunging, again Another lunging question for the forum... Perry and I are having trouble with lunging. I put a bridle and bit on him (he chomped and chewed a lot, but seemed pretty ok with it) and brought out my boyfriend for assistance. I looped the line through the inside bit ring, over behind his ears and clipped it to the outside bit ring. I would give the commands, then boyfriend would obey and if Perry didn't follow, boyfriend would take up the outside rein and pull him along. Perry was starting to get the idea....but he won't stay on the circle!! Boyfriend could let go of the rein after a few steps, and Perry would follow but... If boyfriend left his outside, I would try to prompt Perry with a wiggle of the lunge whip and he immediately spun his hindquarters away and faced me. Dead stop. More wiggling or cracking of lunge whip, and all he did was back up. I have NO idea what I am doing wrong. I raise my "lead" arm to about shoulde height to try and indicate direction, and I hold the lunge whip low until I need to increase intensity of the aids. I am looking at either his rear feet or his hips the whole time. I am not really good at teaching horses to lunge...the other horses I've worked with just kind of understood. Spooky came to me already fully understanding Parelli's "circle" game, so I don't even have to turn to lunge her! Tips? Suggestions? The rest of his training is going well...I even sat on him bareback this weekend and he was curious but not terribly bothered!

07-09-2007, 08:34 AM
Cappysmom Long Yearling Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgian Bay Ontario Posts: 1,393	Oh Boy, do I feel your pain. My Cappy does the same thing. What I do is start by keeping the lunge line short and tap your lunge whip on his bum not hard but just lightly and keep tapping, it will keep him forward and at a walk only, slowly increase your lunge line out and keep using the lunge whip tapping on his bum. Once he is far enough out ask for your trot but keep your whip up and when you start to see that Perry might swing his bum around, give him a tap on his bum and yell NO. It worked for Cappy although if I get distracted at all, he swings him bum out. You have to keep your eye on him, it sounds like Perry is smart and can read you really well. Good Luck.

07-09-2007, 08:45 AM
David Long Yearling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,069	I have had this happen a few times... what always seems to work for me is to use your lunge whip like parelli uses his stick and string. When he turns his butt away, slowly swing your string at his withers and neck area to get him to move his front end. When I do this I rarely have to make contact, just the swinging rope will make him want to move away. As soon as he starts moving stop swinging then give him the command to move again. At the first sign of him swinging his butt away go back to his withers. For me this will get them longing the way I want in about 10 minutes. You may have to use this method for several sessions before he does it correctly without spinning away. Hope this helps David __________________ "If you see your stirrups slap together above the horn, you're probably bucked off". Dave Stamey.

07-10-2007, 11:42 AM
Eagles Nest Long Yearling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,021	very astute David! So many focus on the rear, when the handler's body position and making the horses's head move away from you are much more important! It sounds to me like he is "playing" with you. Go with the "shorter line" and concentrate on sending his body forward but both pushing his head and sholders away and applying pressure behind his shoulders. __________________ You earn your blue ribbons at home, you just pick them up at shows!

07-10-2007, 11:49 AM
KatieMae Seasoned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: C.FLA Posts: 4,139	Sounds like your boyfriend is well trained at least I kid. I would suggest the shorter line, as well... I've always started out (just at the walk for younger horses, too many tight trotting circles can cause injury) on a circle small enough to create a triangle with myself being the one point, the lung line being one side, the whip being another, and the horse being the bottom. I make the circle small enough to tap the horse to move forward. If the horse does not move forward, consistent tapping causes an annoyance to the young horse and will cause them to move away when they finally give in to your tapping... Very similar to what David said, as soon as he moves, stop tapping.. If he stops again, go back to square one. As far as turning in goes, I suggest tapping at the shoulder until he moves away... It could take up to 15 minutes, depending on how tolerant the horse is.. __________________ You can only blame your problems on the world for so long Before it all becomes the same old song.

07-11-2007, 11:21 AM
HotxtoxTrot Yearling Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 768	This is the way I taught my horse how to lunge: Start with the lunge line only about five feet long When first asking the horse to go foward stand almost behind it, to the rear Instead of making the horse walk a circle around you, walk in a circle yourself, always staying slightly to the rear of the horse As the horse gets the message, you should be able to lengthen the rope a bit If he stops, step to his rear and make him get out of YOUR space! Good luck!

07-11-2007, 11:35 AM
annem Coming two Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parksville, B.C. Canada Posts: 1,748	You shouldn't be looking at his rear feet or hips as this is pushing his back end round so that he faces you. You should be as someone else said, standing further back so that you are behind the shoulder. You have to look at the shoulder to keep the horse out and moving forward. I know it is easier said than done, but once you get it, it seems to click. Sometimes you may have to move your self with some assertive movements as they can be pretty quick and smart with the turning in towards you. Especially if they have learnt that you are not sure what to do once they have done this. Smart little critters these horses. Thats why we admire them so. __________________ Anne

07-11-2007, 03:07 PM
AlbertaGirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 3,431	Are you in a round pen when you're trying this? Also, can you just use the halter to lunge? I haven't read through all your posts to know exaclty where you & Perry are at, but I've never started out lunging a horse with the bridle, always just on the halter, and mine all move out really well, and will turn to change directions in a continous motion. When I was a training assistant, that's how I was taught to do it, and it's worked really well for me. Have also lunged using a bridle, but I prefer to hook onto the halter, and once they get all the basics, use the bridle and reins to teach them to keep their head down. I'm not sure if Perry's still up by Fort McMurray or down by Edmonton, but if he's down by Edmonton, and you end up wanting some help, let me know... __________________ Some people say horses don't have a sense of humor... they obviously haven't met mine yet ;o)

07-12-2007, 03:40 PM
Perrys_mama Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 887	Naw, we're still in Fort McMurray. Spooky still lives in Edmonton, but I don't We don't have a round pen, so I am stuck in a square corral on a lunge line. I usually lunge him in a halter, but he was wearing his bridle to get used to it. I think that might have been one of the problems...he wasn't really used to it yet! I think that I was maybe focusing too hard on his hip...I was always taught to do that, but then again, what little I know about training was from an unruly arab who had a lot more trouble stopping than starting. Calm little Perry sometimes gets me pretty confused. We'll try again later on this weekend...