Lunging???

HorseLVR · 08-13-2008, 03:23 PM

I have a mare that is 9-10 years old. She's 15.2-15.3 hands and well mannered....usually. Since I am a 1st time horse owner (recently), I try very hard to cue consistently. This is as much for me as it is for Ruby. Bit by bit it's getting harder and harder to get her to go where I want to go. Sometimes with patience, I can convince her otherwise.

Last night she was determined to go to my neighbors place (her former home) to see her buddies and absolutely REFUSED to do anything I asked of her.

This was a first. She would crow hop a bit when I'd ask for any change in direction other than the way SHE wanted to go. I ended up dismounting and walking her home after my neighbor came out to see if I was ok and then told me to ride her only in my pasture until I could control her. What are your thoughts on lunging? Ground work and basics would help us both, right?

What do you suggest?

kshnooks · 08-13-2008, 03:26 PM

sounds like she has won too many times...so yes, ground work would help to get her to respect you.

Also, maybe taking some lessons would help? Could be you are also confusing her with signals you don't even know you are giving.

HorseLVR · 08-13-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kshnooks

sounds like she has won too many times...so yes, ground work would help to get her to respect you.

Also, maybe taking some lessons would help? Could be you are also confusing her with signals you don't even know you are giving.

Until last night, I had gotten my way. It might've taken some tight circles and doing patterns around the trees but I've always managed to get her refocused on me and the work at hand. I have been getting some lessons and the biggest thing I've had beaten into my brain is BE CONSISTENT. LOL. Is there the possibility that I'm giving mixed signals? certainly.

I think the rain has finally stopped and my lunge line and whip are waiting.
(insert an eeeevil giggle here)

ruffian · 08-13-2008, 03:31 PM

Yup,
Back to the basics, establishing that you are the alpha leader of this herd!
If you are not comfortable with lunging or round penning I'd get some help as this can go south on you too. Start with leading and ground handling, make sure that she listens to you, leads properly picks up feet etc, all the basics.
Move on to lunging and/or round penning. She must walk, trot , canter and halt on comand. No turning towards you or stopping.
Your commands must be clear and firm and she must learn to respond to them without fuss. For example if she is dissrespectful while lunging, make her work! Canter until she's ready to settle and listen. If you have a difficult ride like you just did, if you have to return to the barn, into the pen she goes and works until she figures out that bad behaviour equals much more work than it's worth. You can never lose your temper or even make a big deal of this, just simple cause and effect, "act like a jerk and you will work like a jerk until I say stop" She will probably escalate her behaviour at first, to see if you are serious or can further intimidate you.

HorseLVR · 08-13-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruffian

Yup,
Back to the basics, establishing that you are the alpha leader of this herd!
If you are not comfortable with lunging or round penning I'd get some help as this can go south on you too. Start with leading and ground handling, make sure that she listens to you, leads properly picks up feet etc, all the basics.
Move on to lunging and/or round penning. She must walk, trot , canter and halt on comand. No turning towards you or stopping.
Your commands must be clear and firm and she must learn to respond to them without fuss. For example if she is dissrespectful while lunging, make her work! Canter until she's ready to settle and listen. If you have a difficult ride like you just did, if you have to return to the barn, into the pen she goes and works until she figures out that bad behaviour equals much more work than it's worth. You can never lose your temper or even make a big deal of this, just simple cause and effect, "act like a jerk and you will work like a jerk until I say stop" She will probably escalate her behaviour at first, to see if you are serious or can further intimidate you.

When leading her she will sometimes walk faster than me and get into my space and I can usually back her off by pushing her out to at least arms length and she'll stay there. I can handle her all over and pick her feet up pretty easily. She has good ground manners on a whole but is trying to take advantage of me and I know this. I am asking about the lunging as a preventative measure. She acted like a do-do noggin therefore I'm gonna work the poo out of her. Like you said, simple cause and effect.

skippersmom · 08-13-2008, 03:48 PM

I feel your pain as a first time horse owner

I am just getting back after a twenty year hiatus. My mare is an appendix with potential to try to be the "leader" however, I started her on Parelli's program and invested in a natural horseman halter. I actually purchased a John Lion's halter and 12ft rope. We have accomplished the seven games(look online if you aren't familiar with natural horsemanship) and all i can say is that I have a different horse. She too likes to crowd at times but now she has earned a great deal more respect for me and I have learned soooo much by the program.

I would encourage you to go online to check it out. Lunging is great to get the extra energy out of her but it won't make her respect you necessarily. The key is to get her to see you as the alpha mare and have her keep her attention on you and you alone.

Good luck!! Enjoy your new found love

ruffian · 08-13-2008, 03:50 PM

I had a huge Appy mare that I raised from birth who got really pushy. It was my fault as I let baby behavior become scary adult pushiness until the night she came at me in her box stall when I was feeding. I returned with a stock whip and would not let her near her feed until she backed up and stood quietly. Leading her became almost impossible, I had to get a stud chain and short crop and work her up and down the road until she decided tromping all over me wasn't worth it. To ride though, she was a dream, go figure.

HorseLVR · 08-13-2008, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippersmom

I feel your pain as a first time horse owner

I am just getting back after a twenty year hiatus. My mare is an appendix with potential to try to be the "leader" however, I started her on Parelli's program and invested in a natural horseman halter. I actually purchased a John Lion's halter and 12ft rope. We have accomplished the seven games(look online if you aren't familiar with natural horsemanship) and all i can say is that I have a different horse. She too likes to crowd at times but now she has earned a great deal more respect for me and I have learned soooo much by the program.

I would encourage you to go online to check it out. Lunging is great to get the extra energy out of her but it won't make her respect you necessarily. The key is to get her to see you as the alpha mare and have her keep her attention on you and you alone.

Good luck!! Enjoy your new found love

See? This is exactly why I've come to my HT family for help. Great suggestion, I will look online to see what this is all about. Thank you!

HorseLVR · 08-13-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruffian

I had a huge Appy mare that I raised from birth who got really pushy. It was my fault as I let baby behavior become scary adult pushiness until the night she came at me in her box stall when I was feeding. I returned with a stock whip and would not let her near her feed until she backed up and stood quietly. Leading her became almost impossible, I had to get a stud chain and short crop and work her up and down the road until she decided tromping all over me wasn't worth it. To ride though, she was a dream, go figure.

This why I don't want to be responsible for raising a colt/filly. My dogs are spolied rotten but they're not big enough to kill me!

I guess work, consistentcy will help bring a bit of respect.

Crookedblaze · 08-13-2008, 04:12 PM

Groundwork is key. Rondpenning really is a great way to bond and earn respect.

Good luck with your new girl!

HorseLVR · 08-13-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crookedblaze

Groundwork is key. Rondpenning really is a great way to bond and earn respect.

Good luck with your new girl!

Thank you. She really is an awesome horse and has been really patient with a bumbling beginner but I am, after all, the lead mare and her behavior has starting tipping towards the unacceptable. I don't have a round pen but she will get lunged.

CatsTack · 08-16-2008, 01:59 PM

Maybe look into a trainer/instructor to come to you and help train your horsey, but also teach you.

I agree with ground work and gaining respect.

Good Luck

Equestria · 08-16-2008, 02:10 PM

Groundwork,lunging and trust will help alot.

HorseLVR · 08-16-2008, 02:44 PM

The bad part is my horse is pretty well trained already. The worst part? She waaaay smarter than me!

Fortunately I am surrounded by very experienced people and one of them is a trainer.

XtendedTrot · 08-16-2008, 03:43 PM

I have a TB Mare that is headstrong as well...whatever you do DON'T ever let them get away with it...especially in instances where they are gate bound and barn sour. Trainers always will tell you to "end on a good note". I understand that when you're frusterated you want nothing more than to get down and end your frusteration; however, you can't let them win. The last thing that your horse remembers from this ride is if she acts up and carries on you will get down and let her be done for the day. My suggestion is ground work to gain respect as well as riding her OFTEN. I'd have to say that arenas have a purpose but if she's only acting up in certain places (ex. gate entrance, neighbors place, going toward barn etc) then you have to work her in that area to overcome the problem. My horse was trying to bail at the gate in the arena everytime I rode her...guess what I did? I didn't shut the gait, I opened the gate and rode her past it time and time again. I must say eventually she learned she wasn't getting out no matter how hard she tried to...I would not let her win! Good luck

Stay calm too...I know it's difficult.

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08-13-2008, 03:23 PM
HorseLVR Yearling Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Robertsdale,Alabama Posts: 682	Lunging??? I have a mare that is 9-10 years old. She's 15.2-15.3 hands and well mannered....usually. Since I am a 1st time horse owner (recently), I try very hard to cue consistently. This is as much for me as it is for Ruby. Bit by bit it's getting harder and harder to get her to go where I want to go. Sometimes with patience, I can convince her otherwise. Last night she was determined to go to my neighbors place (her former home) to see her buddies and absolutely REFUSED to do anything I asked of her. This was a first. She would crow hop a bit when I'd ask for any change in direction other than the way SHE wanted to go. I ended up dismounting and walking her home after my neighbor came out to see if I was ok and then told me to ride her only in my pasture until I could control her. What are your thoughts on lunging? Ground work and basics would help us both, right? What do you suggest?

08-13-2008, 03:26 PM
kshnooks Coming two Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,865	sounds like she has won too many times...so yes, ground work would help to get her to respect you. Also, maybe taking some lessons would help? Could be you are also confusing her with signals you don't even know you are giving.

08-13-2008, 03:31 PM
ruffian Yearling Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 979	Yup, Back to the basics, establishing that you are the alpha leader of this herd! If you are not comfortable with lunging or round penning I'd get some help as this can go south on you too. Start with leading and ground handling, make sure that she listens to you, leads properly picks up feet etc, all the basics. Move on to lunging and/or round penning. She must walk, trot , canter and halt on comand. No turning towards you or stopping. Your commands must be clear and firm and she must learn to respond to them without fuss. For example if she is dissrespectful while lunging, make her work! Canter until she's ready to settle and listen. If you have a difficult ride like you just did, if you have to return to the barn, into the pen she goes and works until she figures out that bad behaviour equals much more work than it's worth. You can never lose your temper or even make a big deal of this, just simple cause and effect, "act like a jerk and you will work like a jerk until I say stop" She will probably escalate her behaviour at first, to see if you are serious or can further intimidate you. __________________ There is something about the outside of a Horse that\'s good for the inside of a man (Will Rogers)

08-13-2008, 03:48 PM
skippersmom Halter broke Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mt. Juliet, TN Posts: 77	I feel your pain as a first time horse owner I am just getting back after a twenty year hiatus. My mare is an appendix with potential to try to be the "leader" however, I started her on Parelli's program and invested in a natural horseman halter. I actually purchased a John Lion's halter and 12ft rope. We have accomplished the seven games(look online if you aren't familiar with natural horsemanship) and all i can say is that I have a different horse. She too likes to crowd at times but now she has earned a great deal more respect for me and I have learned soooo much by the program. I would encourage you to go online to check it out. Lunging is great to get the extra energy out of her but it won't make her respect you necessarily. The key is to get her to see you as the alpha mare and have her keep her attention on you and you alone. Good luck!! Enjoy your new found love

08-13-2008, 03:50 PM
ruffian Yearling Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 979	I had a huge Appy mare that I raised from birth who got really pushy. It was my fault as I let baby behavior become scary adult pushiness until the night she came at me in her box stall when I was feeding. I returned with a stock whip and would not let her near her feed until she backed up and stood quietly. Leading her became almost impossible, I had to get a stud chain and short crop and work her up and down the road until she decided tromping all over me wasn't worth it. To ride though, she was a dream, go figure. __________________ There is something about the outside of a Horse that\'s good for the inside of a man (Will Rogers)

08-13-2008, 04:12 PM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,447	Groundwork is key. Rondpenning really is a great way to bond and earn respect. Good luck with your new girl! __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab

08-16-2008, 01:59 PM
CatsTack Halter broke Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NC Posts: 106	Maybe look into a trainer/instructor to come to you and help train your horsey, but also teach you. I agree with ground work and gaining respect. Good Luck __________________ Handmade tack including rope halters, leads, barrel reins, trail reins, and rhythm beads www.catstack.com

08-16-2008, 02:10 PM
Equestria Halter broke Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 93	Groundwork,lunging and trust will help alot. __________________ Proud to be an American!

08-16-2008, 02:44 PM
HorseLVR Yearling Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Robertsdale,Alabama Posts: 682	The bad part is my horse is pretty well trained already. The worst part? She waaaay smarter than me! Fortunately I am surrounded by very experienced people and one of them is a trainer.

08-16-2008, 03:43 PM
XtendedTrot Halter broke Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 103	I have a TB Mare that is headstrong as well...whatever you do DON'T ever let them get away with it...especially in instances where they are gate bound and barn sour. Trainers always will tell you to "end on a good note". I understand that when you're frusterated you want nothing more than to get down and end your frusteration; however, you can't let them win. The last thing that your horse remembers from this ride is if she acts up and carries on you will get down and let her be done for the day. My suggestion is ground work to gain respect as well as riding her OFTEN. I'd have to say that arenas have a purpose but if she's only acting up in certain places (ex. gate entrance, neighbors place, going toward barn etc) then you have to work her in that area to overcome the problem. My horse was trying to bail at the gate in the arena everytime I rode her...guess what I did? I didn't shut the gait, I opened the gate and rode her past it time and time again. I must say eventually she learned she wasn't getting out no matter how hard she tried to...I would not let her win! Good luck Stay calm too...I know it's difficult.