Turning towards me on the lungeline?

Question

when I lunge my horse-who lunges easily to voice cues-everytime I sat "whoa" and he stops he faces into me and walks towards me. I can just say "other way" and he goes off in the other direction easily,but I am questioning the walking towards me after we have stopped lunging-is that a bad thing?

Answer 1

You're right on target. You don't want the horse to walk towards you when you tell him to stop. This is him invading your personal space, which is a sign of dominance. When you say whoa, you want him to stop, face you with both eyes, and wait for what's next.

Next time you tell him to stop, if he starts walking toward you, send him around again a few laps. Ask him to stop again. If he walks toward you, immediately get him moving a few more laps. Eventually he'll be begging to stop (don't drive him to the point of exhaustion though) because adult horses would much rather stand than move.

As soon as you say whoa, and he stops, faces you, and waits...let him stand. Take the pressure off with your body language. Lower your eyes, turn away, kind of make yourself deflate. Go over and praise him. If he ever walks towards you again, just immediately send him around a few laps and he'll understand that you want him to stop.

Keep practicing with this and good luck! =)

Answer 2

Some people think it is a bad thing others train them to do just that. I guess it depends on what you want the horse to do.
I think if they turn and face me that is ok but not move in to me unless I ask them to.
When he turns in to face you just before he starts to step forward shake the lead rope from side to side. This is a cue to back up. You don't really care if he backs but just does not step forward.
If you know the yo-yo game (one of Parellis i think) you wiggle the lead rope back and forth and the horse backs up until you stop the rope. Then you kiss or cluck the horse to come forward to you. Then shake the rope for him to back up. If you practice it some it makes it very easy to back up the horse with out any effort.

Answer 3

I don't think it's a bad thing, it's just the way he's been trained. At my stables we encourage the horses to walk towards us when they've stopped so that we can reward them for working well and so that we can change the direction.

Answer 4

Many trainers that I am familiar with teach the horses to turn toward them when they complete a task. It is a showing from the horse that he/ she is listening and ready for the next command, and that they are submitting to the handler's requests. It is not a bad thing if you are ok with it, as it lets you know the horse is ready for the next task.

Answer 5

i wouldn't think that it is, horses are herd animals, they don't like to be alone for long periods of time. i would think that the reason that he walks towards you on the lunge line is that he is pairing up with you again looking for that conformation that he did a good job. and waiting for your next command.
excellent job on the training by the way.

Answer 6

coming into you is the horse's way of "hooking on" or being submissive. You can stop it by either wiggling the rope under his chin until he backs up to where he started. Teach the wiggle means back up on a lead rope, then when you lunge him he will know what to do.

Answer 7

my QH mare does this too, and my colt...well i wish he would even go in a circle right now!! but anyways, i dont think its a big issue. he is probably expecting to be done, and turns to you as a cue to say "good enough, lets get going!". when he does this, tell him woah, walk to him, and put him back in line. take him around another time or 2, and do the same until he does it right. repetition is the best way, and lots of rewards!

Answer 8

It depends if u asked him to then no but if he just decides to then yes......did u train him to change directions on comand if so well done...its hard to do that