Having problems lundging?

Question

yea im not quit sure how to spell that. lol, but anways i was wanting to do this with my horse before riding to see if it would solve any of my problems we have been having. so i bought a lundging rope, and that long whip thing [again i dunno the name ] but i dont have a round pen, so i just do it in my feild, i dont hit my horse with the whip i just kinda softly crack it on the ground behind his hind legs, i try to stand 20 feet back lining up with his flands and keeping the whip behind him, but he acts scared of the whip or something, everytime i turn to get lined up with his flanks he just turns and faces me the whole time! even if i say whoah he only stands for a minuete then starts turning when i begin to move, do you have any tips, i hope that made since its kinda hard to explain, but thanks.

Answer 1

Hi

When your lunging him face him squarly and make sure you have a fierce stance as in dont slouch and stare intensly at hm and dont look scared, your horse is smart!He knows he can get away with it with you. dont do to much because you dont sound as if yo have much experience with lunging equipment! Sorry!

There are bach flower remedies that will increase his attention etc. look on the web for bach flower rescue remedies, you  can mix them in the feed whenever you want!!!

Good Luck i hope i helped!!

Alice L

Answer 2

Smart horse! You need to stand behind his sholder about where his saddle would be.  You need to make a triangle with the line being one side the horse then the whip the last side. He is turning to face you because then you are not behind him.  You need to get him to turn his head and sholder away and him to move forward.  You need to take the lunge whip and tap him on the sholder to get him to move it away.  When he does stop tapping and move the whip behind him.  Do no crack it just sort of hold it and jiggle it.  Start out slow and even just getting him to walk on a circle.  You may need someone to show you what to do it is a lot when you are learning and your horse does not want to coroperate.  I would ask a friend that knows how to help.

Answer 3

i had the same problem untill i was helped.. you dont need to stand soo far away if u cant get him to do what u want stand closer. i was told the the farther away he phisically is to u the farther away he is mentaly also like said before u need to stand behind his shoulder so that your not blocking him by standing behind the shoulder you will be driving him foward.. when trying to drive him foward with the whip or whatever u use start with little presure then build ask, motivate then comand. rub him with the whip if hes afaid of it show him that it isnt gonna hurt him. i dont think that he is afraid of the whip unless he has a reason to be otherwise he is just playing a game with you, whitch is "who will move first" but if u hold him closer to you, it shuld be easier to get the whip behind him and then lead him off with your hand that is on the lunge line... but dont let him stop unless he give the cue to your going to have to get good timing... u really have to watch and learn to recognize signs of him slowing down... i was also told that when he turns tward u he is  looking for direction keep leading him whith the hand holding the rope...hope that helps it is not in a very logical order i just kinda typed what ever was popping in my head...good luck

Answer 4

YES, make better use of your body position in relation to his...plus, I am a big advocate of just popping lightly on the rump with the whip, or the next stage or just touching with it, use it as an extension of your arm...popping and snapping it behind the horse or at the heels just encourages the kicking habit, and I wouldn't do that.  When you want your horse to go forward, guide him with the lead, stand waaaay back behind, almost parallel to his hind quarters to get started, and "lay" your whip on his rump...no popping, nothing, just lay it on...remember, you want to keep your aids as subtle as possible, starting in the round pen and progressing to the saddle.  I don't know what you mean by a "lunging rope", but that sounds heavy, I would use as light a lunging line at possible, flat nylon webbing is ideal.  When you say whoa, step up toward the front of your horse, not over to him, just in ratio to where you are working from, walk to where it feels to him that you are ahead of him...stay there until he settles and knows that he is not to go until you ask him to again.  If you have said whoa, and he does, then acts like he is going to move, take a step more forward to his front end, use your body language along with your whoa command...it works.The fact that he moves and/or turns when you change your position in relation to his, illustrates my point...good luck, be patient, be consistent, and you will get it done.

Answer 5

I have had the same problems. It may help to have someone pulling him out on the circle (on the other side) with a short rope, to get him used to it. Try lunging without the whip. Just use the end of the rope. The most important thing is patience.

Answer 6

the best thing to do is get your instructor to show you how to lunge your horse, because if you do it wrong then you could end up making things worse

Answer 7

U could try having some one hold the lunge line close to the horses halter and walk with him why u show him NOT to be afraid of the whip. And have someone there so every time he tries to face u they poke him in the sholder with their finger to put him in the right position again. Hope this helps and good luck

Answer 8

whoa means stop just put the rope in the hand u want your horse to go put the hand up and point right if he needs to go that way make a kissing or clicking sound if he does not go then put your left hand out and stomp towards him with your left foot while clicking if he is still not listening then keep the rope in your right hand and twirl it in a circle at him on the opposite side that he needs to go but do not hit him with it only after a while then to stop him say whoa if he does not listen pull on the lead rope GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!