my horse won't lunge for me?

Question

she is 16 years old and is very hard to ride. i dont have a round pen to lunge her in so i have to do it in my pasture but all she does is turn her head towards me. when i try to go around her to get her moving she just stays facing me. i ride western i am also having problems putting the bit in her mouth. i have tried the "finger" trick but it dosent work. i dont have the money to hire a pro. trainer so i need so help.

heres my email if you have any more suggestions:
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Answer 1

I taught my horse to lunge by standing in the middle holding the lunge line and having my dad walk the horse in a large circle in both directions for a few days then we got her to do it on her own and then when she understood we got her to trot and canter

my horse did the exact same thing as yours my mare would look at me cuz she just had no idea why I wanted her to go away so try showing her to help her understand

also for your bit problem you could try a hackamore... most horses that dont like a bit behave perfectly with a hackamore

Answer 2

Does she seem confused? Or defiant? If she's confused, the previous suggestion of having someone assist you would probably help her. If she's defiant, I would recommend getting a good training book to help you work with her. The goal is to stay behind her "drive line" (basically her shoulder) to keep her driving forward. Even if you are basically leading her with a long line at first, you want to get her moving, keep her moving, and THEN worry about the direction. If she's moving, she's less likely to be able to figure out something else to do (buck, rear, kick, etc). I do not recommend a lunge whip or any other accessory if you're not experienced at using them. They are good tools, however can be abusive and confusing if you're applying them incorrectly. If she's generally difficult to ride, her personality may be coming out in these (and likely other) training issues that I would recommend getting assistance with. The bitting issue is likely a defiance issue as well. Make sure you have a properly fitting bit (I use a french snaffle and like that, but whatever gentle bit you have) and headstall. You have to be patient with her and not let her get away with anything. Ask her to bring her head down, and wait her out until she's calm. Ask her to open her mouth, and wait her out. She's likely going to protest alot, and it's just a matter of you making the "wrong" answer hard, and the "right" answer easy. It's alot harder than it sounds though, so while I agree with alot of the other suggestions, I think she's going to take her frustration and defiance out in some other manner if she can't take it out while bridling or lunging. Best of luck with her. If you have questions, feel free to contact me, I'd be happy to give some other ideas, or give you suggestions for where you can turn in your area.

Answer 3

Wow! you got some great suggestions! With your lunging, start with small circles, and keep the whip at a 45 degree behind the horse. I mean, if the horse's head is at 12o'clock, keep the whip at 3o'clock as she moves. Don't forget to lunge both ways, horses need to be trained on the left and the right side. She sounds confused (or spoiled) so don't blow up at her. Make the wrong choice hard, and the right choice easy. Don't let her "buffalo" you, be firm and consistant. My 28 year old gelding would never accept a bit, but loves his hackamore. Good luck!

Answer 4

They make bit wraps.
They are a small piece of paper like stuff that melts when in the horses mouth and they are sweet. They also make a bit wash that is sweet and you rinse the bit with it.
Or just smear som molasses on the bit and let the horse taste that. Should make getting the bit in easier.

As for lunging get a whip and tap the horse on the butt with it to make the horse move forward away from you. Make your line short so you can reach the horse. As the horse learns to take direction you can let out more line.

Answer 5

The pony I lease knew how to lung, but then his owner stopped lunging him both directions. So when we got a new round pen, i wanted to use it, but my horse wouldnt leave me and go out to the rail. so what he did, is he had a lung whip, and the lung lne, and when he didnt want to go out, he would tap the pony right behind his ears (on the side of his neck) nd force him to go out, and whe the horse did go out, he stoped tapping him. At one point, we had to hit him kind of hard, but it didnt hurt him at all. now i can just take him on a lead rope, and lung him in the parking lot of our barn.

Answer 6

do you use a lunge whip? they help a lot!