Lunging question?

Question

My mare is 17, and has never once been lunged. At least that i know of. We got her when she was 15. She didnt listen well, like its my way not yours. And now i havent riden her for a few months. So im going to start lunging her when i get home. But do you have to use a whip? What are somethings i can do to get her to listen to me better when she is in the saddle. And i want to start teaching her to jump. I have read on how to do that, and i know exactly how to do it. Exept for the lunging part. so please help!

Answer 1

i always use a whip for safety reasons. My mare hates whips so i had to teach her to trust the whip first.

I would do some natural horsemanship and teach her basic commands.

Answer 2

i don't think u even have to lunge them! my horse barley ever lunges and he can jump as good as any other horse!

Answer 3

I hear your concern about whips.  Understand the whip is a tool.  It is to help guide and drive your horse.  Think of it as an extension of your arm and your voice.  The length of the whip is your arm and the popping is your voice.

My horses were never afraid of the whip, but they respected it.  That being said, you can do it without a whip, But it will be harder to teach a strong willed horse to lunge without the extra assistance of the whip.

It is easier to show then to explain, I'll try:

When you start her -- send her out with one hand and while encouraging her with the whip in the other hand.  Don't be tentative, picture in your mind what you want.  Talk to her, let her know if she is doing what you want.  Start with just moving in a circle as you drive her and move with her. (the end of the whip about waise level) You will be doing a small oval shape and she will be doing a big one.  If she stops, raise the whip slightly and closer to her hindquarters. When she starts moving again return it to waist level.  If she refuses, then make the popping sound back by her heels. If she move forward encourage her with words and lower the whip to waist level again.  Repeat as needed.  I don't worry about the speed they go at first, I just interested in them going the direction you want. Then when she is good at going both directions, then add your words or sounds.  Walk, trot, canter or what ever you choose.

Lunging is an excellent tool to teach your horse command, direction, head set.  You can also get them use to walking and jumping over obstacles.   Remember safety is always first!!  Don't work your horse without someone knowing that you are.

Good luck.  you can email me if you like.  This should at least get you started

Answer 4

will it lounge off the loung line?  my horse doesn't like to lounge either.  i had to teach him myself. when i tried putting him on the lead and use a whip he would come at me instead of running away.  Then i had to double line him.  which is u hold one line from his halter to your hand and one line which hooks on to the other side of her halter, goes around the but, and to your hand forming a triangle with the two lounges.  then make him go buy pulling on the lounge lines and clicking to him.if he pulls away from you, pull back with the first line to make him straight again, if she turns toward you pull on the second line to straighten her out again.  Do this for the next few times and then try doing it without the second line.  This worked great for me!!! good luck :-D

Answer 5

I never had a problem teaching my old boy Tom this! I had a whip just in case but never had to use it, I would simply follow him with it, as he will keep his eye on it if he knows what it is, and within a month never had to even hold it again!

Answer 6

If she hasnt been lunged before make sure you have gloves, boots, no spurs, helmet and in a fairly inclosed area (not ness a round yard). use your voice to help understand commands and elongate them eg: ttttttttrrrrrrrrroooooooottttt (use the same ones each time eg not halt, then woooo, stand) and if she starts to gets scared of the whip at all just drop it and start again. You dont have to use a whip but most ppl who dont use a whip on the horse is because the horse already understands what they need to do eg:stay out on the circle. I use a whip if i was starting out a horse do some ground work with it eg: pat her with it and let her smell it. If she is really scared of it try a dressage whip to give her the idea, or the end of the lunge rope. dont use any lunging equipment eg: roller and side reins this needs to be used only when she knows what she is doing and you are confident in how and why you are using it. if you use this without her understanding or ill fitted she can rear and flip on you. you can use the saddle but bear in mind the stirrups can flap around if they come undone and some horse react to this thinking it someones kicking them.

do activities like lunging long lines eg: your lunging with her then you run along side her.

you can do poles on the ground first then make your way up higher with time bear in mind they love to dart so think about putting poles which lead her into it (two poles either side which direct her to jump). watch the height of wings as large ones can be tricky as they can get caught on them.

when you are lunging act like you are riding with reins- you can half halt a horse lunging jst like you close you hands when you half halt on the horse- this takes lots of time though. when you grasp this you can lengthen or shorten you canter and trot and this helps with your riding

good luck!

Answer 7

Yes!  Always use a whip.  It is just an extension of your arm, nothing more, and keeps you safe.  I am a big fan of longing, it gets the horse more responsive and much more respectful, which is what yours needs.  Put her through her paces, change directions often, and just generally get her light and responsive (dont be afraid to use your new, shiny whip if she needs it).  Get her used to the whip first though, make sure you can scratch her all over with it.  Good luck!