I am trying to start lunging my 7 year old gelding and need some advice on what kind of whip to use?

Question

I am trying to start lunging my 7 year old gelding and need some advice on what kind of whip to use?

Answer 1

You don't need a whip to get a horse to move and change directions.  Body language is the best tool you can use and you have that with you all the time.

Answer 2

try lunging without a whip, use your body language and voice to lunge your horse is you normaly use voice commands when riding use those when lunging like clicks and kisses. i never use a whip when i lunge my 7 year old quarter pony, sometime i have to chase him but then he gets the idea.

    good luck

Answer 3

first try to only use the tail of the line, and spank your leg with it. if that doesnt work, throw the line just behind them. (make sure you are standing behind their drive line [their shoulder]), i've heard it said " a horse is only as soft as you start it". then if it doesnt work try a dressage whip, the ones with the long shaft part but only like 3 inches of tail, then if that doesnt work, go to a normal lounge whip, but don't spank them with it, unless they are realy misbehaving

Answer 4

My suggestion? Try it without a whip.  Lunging a horse with a whip uses fear of pain to create obedience.  I have taught several horses, from a weanling to a green 14 year old how to lunge, and my goal is always to make obeying easier than disobeying.  I use a 20' rope, and sometimes use the tail as more like an extension of my arm, but I really don't like whips.  Pick up a book by Pat Parelli or John Lyons. Most of the newer clinicians use a show, ask, tell method of training that works amazingly well.  And it's not just for lunging.  All of my horses are so much lighter since I started using these principles.  Good luck!!!

Answer 5

You wil need a long snap whip to start him out with...........Then you use just a reagular short lunging whip     Hope this helps

Answer 6

i use the longer one in the picture.

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/preview...

but please remember this. a 'whip' is not meant to actually do as its name. i only lightly 'crack' my whip so it makes a small noise. that or i very gently tap my horse's hind quarters with it. i NEVER 'whip' my horses.

Answer 7

A nice long lunge whip? Maybe start with a dressage whip if she is a little scared of the other whip.

Answer 8

a large longe whip.

when my horse started longing the whip had to be long. so a long handle and the whip is long, u could reach the horse and snap it too get ur horse running. just go to ur nearest tack shop and where u wuld find ur riding crops there should a really tall/long whip and that should be it. after u have longed him jsut so he isnt scared of it just stand in front of him but somewhat off to the side so he can see u and fling it over his head, slowly increase ur speed so it kinda snaps when it comes to the ground, rub it along his neck and down his body, rub it down his legs, and if he moves let him move but keep ur lead rope short so he doesnt just walk away. after about 15 minutes of that ur done.

Answer 9

Use a lunge whip. They're designed for lunging, which should work, no? Other than that, just look for something within your price range.

Answer 10

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Answer 11

I don't think all horses need a whip. You could use a lasso that is coiled up and slap it on your leg. I have seen that work well. And, a lunge line is good. You can twirl it  with your right hand and point with your left if you want the horse to go left, for example. And, let me tell you, nothing works better that the mecate lunge line that Clinton Anderson uses. That material is absolutely wonderful. My other lunge lines were like a limp noodle. But, I got a mecate line and it super good. .. And, I would not rule out a whip because with lazy horses it is an extension of your arm.  Again, I would recommend the mecate material for the end of the lunge whip. It is sturdy and makes a great whoosh sound. It really motivated my lazy horse when my other whip with the "wet noodle" line did not. The mecate line of the end of C.A.'s whip is thinner than the lunge mecate line. I highly recommend it. It is worth the money.