Trouble with lounging...?

Question

I have a two and a half year old filly that doesn't have a lot of manners. I have no round pen. I have seen lounging done and have done it before, but she gives me trouble. I can get her waking in about a half a circle, and she gets to a point where she crosses her outside leg in front of her inside leg and turns, so that she is facing me, or sometimes switching directions. I don't want to make her scared of the whip, and just waving it in front of her face doesn't work, and tapping her doesn't work. My last resort is flat out whipping, and I DON"T want to do that. Any ideas???

Answer 1

Chances are, that if she doesn't have a lot of manners when working her on the ground (grooming, haltering, etc), it's going to reflect on everything else. Start back with those and work your way up. However, to answer your question, you are probably sending her mixed messages. You might be looking at her face, her rump, anything that might be body language. When you are lunging, the position that you should be, is at her rump, with the whip pointed at her tail - use that as a means to drive her forward and direct her speed. Also, I advise working on some voice commands - even if it's just walking her in a circle for 5 minutes. I know it seems silly, but it helps.

P.S. Please don't lunge her.. I know she needs her exercise, but can you just turn her out? Lunging is really hard on horses legs and joints - and I can't imagine how hard it is on a horse that is still growing. :(

Answer 2

Make sure the lead is attached correctly-to the side of the halter facing you.

You may also try either having someone walk with her in a circle and reward her or

Tie the lead to a post in the center of the area and walk her around it at the distance you want and then reward her.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Don't think of the spot you are standing as a fixed place  (you always want to position yourself behind the horses shoulder)  Move with her and keep encouraging her to go forward.

Answer 4

Forget the whip - this isn't a whip issue....

When you are holding the lunge rein, before she has an opportunity to head in towards you, lift your hand up and down quickly, this will cause ripples up the lunge rein towards her and she'll step away.

Alternatively the moment she goes to step in, take one or two steps out and speak firmly to her 'get up' growling.

Make sure you don't loose eye contact with her. You've got to be dominant, but don't frighten her with the whip hitting her.

The flappy bit of the whip can be used like a snake on the ground heading out towards her front legs to hold her out.

Have you thought of putting up some electric fence tape in a circle to free school her. My youngsters in the past have enjoyed this.

Another trick is to keep the lunge rein very short, but step out closer to her and keep pace with her without loosing eye contact, that way you can stand slightly behind her shoulder and use your body in a driving forward and away from you manner.

And lastly you could look into purchasing the lunge system that has the ropes around the hindquarters to encourage the horse to move forward.

Just watch lunge rein around you holding hand/feet.

Best of luck. I hope something here is of help.

Answer 5

You should be standing across from her flank area, driving her forward.  Use the whip as a means of directing her.

Answer 6

You're right not to whip her.  When you notice that she is about to turn in the wrong direction you should show her the whip and tell her to walk. When she does well make sure to lower your whip to the gound and praise her.  It takes a lot of patience on your part (and her's) but just remember not to hit her, it won't do you any good.  Check your local library or bookstore for some books on training horses.  Good luck!

Answer 7

whip her so it stings on her butt. she's showing dominant signs and you're letting her get away with it...don't do this, it's an accident waiting to happen...you told her to lunge in a circle so let her know that you're SERIOUS!

Answer 8

redial said: whip her so it stings on her butt. she's showing dominant signs and you're letting her get away with it...don't do this, it's an accident waiting to happen...you told her to lunge in a circle so let her know that you're SERIOUS!

Whipping her is NOT the answer.  Sometimes it takes a little more communication with your horse to get them to do what it is you want.  Horses respond to pressure and praise, but that doesn't mean pain..........I carry a buggy whip with me when I'm working with my horses but have NEVER had to hurt them with it.  I may crack it which gets their attention or just shake in their face.  Each horse responds differently.  Your job is to learn what works best with her and move on from there.  It takes time and patience.  Good luck.

Answer 9

smack the ground w/ your whip. do you have a chain on her nose, give her a yank and back her, then send her the right way. but giving her a good w*p wont hurt her, really have you seen horses play? and as long as you do it to correct her i doubt she get scared of the whip.