Lunging????

Question

hey do u have any tips for trying to lunge a stubbon mare? We worked with her all summer to the point she would at least be fine in one direction, but the other direction she will just stand facing you and refuse to move, now she does this with both sides since we stopped being able to work with her so much when she was at local barn after school started. But now she is at our house and we have more time to work with her. Any suggestions?

Yup I have a lunge whip.

Answer 1

She is just a special mare. She goes to the left great I bet, but not the right?
Ignorant is not the same as stubborn:) If a clinic appeals to you, you would love it. For now,hire a instructor you like to show you how to handle this wonderful mare.She is worth it!
You can read up on these sites too: very good ideas.
http://www.horsedata.co.uk/ClaireLilley/Lunging.htm
http://www.todayshorse.com/Experts/LauraPhelps-Bell/AskLauraPhelps-Bell.htm
http://www.equusite.com/articles/ground/groundLungingDifficulties.shtml

Answer 2

Hi there.
My pony mare is exactly the same lol. I'm assuming you have a lunge line and lunge whip? Using a dressage whip doesn't work quite as well, I found, lol.

All these years I was thinking I was doing something wrong, so I watched trainers and Parelli DVDs with the 'Circle game' and had people tell me how to do it, but I never REALLY pushed her to do it because I thought I was doing something wrong.

Recently we bought another horse, an ex-trotter SB and he goes fine with lunging so I realised, it wasn't me, it was my stubborn pony. So I pushed her harder...

You should stand in the one spot, if she wants to stand and stare at you, that's fine, just jiggle the lunge whip beside her. I don't know how quiet your mare is, but even if she's dead quiet, she'll still have a good look at the whip and consider moving, if she's real quiet and doesn't get scared, bring it closer to her while you jiggle it. If she starts walking sideways, that's good, even if she's still facing you. You move it faster up and down until she moves, even a few steps, then stop when she listens. As soon as she begins to disobey you, jiggle again. Persist with whip that she must move, never actually hit her with it, but throw it around near her, even right beside her if you must. Try to get the end of the whip near her hind quarters, when you're jiggling it. She won't be able to go forward, because you're there, she can't go to the side, because the long, scary, moving stick is there, she only has one way to move, and that is in the direction you want her to go.

Good luck and hope this works as well as it worked for me. My un-moveable pony is now jumping on the lunge line, within only a week of this practice! :)


EDIT: Oh, and if you don't have a lunge line nor lunge whip, you do need a long rope or something to use as a lunge line, it is very hard to teach a horse how to lunge with a lead rope because they have to do very small circles. If you don't have a lunge whip, it is a fantastic investment to buy one. But if you don't want to buy one, maybe try to create one yourself. Get a long straight stick and tie a thin rope or something of the sort to the end and use that. Stick should be about a metre and a half, or so, and the rope should be just as long. :D Hope this helps!

Answer 3

I have a yearling stallion that I am fitting for halter and he did the same thing. I started lunging him in the barn and round pen so he couldn't back away. When he would back into the barn wall or side of the round pen he had no choice but to go the direction I wanted him to. Then I would make him change directions about every other circle just to get the point across that when I wanted him to got the other direction he better do it. Now I can lounge him in our 10 acre pasture with no problem.

Answer 4

If she is fairly reasonable about ropes and people you could try a surcingle and a second lunge line. (the surcingle can be homade it just needs to prevent the 'reins' from sliding down) Run a lunge line down each side and ground drive her. You'll be able to stand in the center of the circle but the outer 'rein' will keep her from turning in to face you. The outer rein should be positioned gently around her hind end to your hand not too tight or loose it will help encourage her to move forward not back or refuse. You'll form kind of a triangle the outer rein from her butt to your hand the inner rein to her mouth. You might practice on a horse who lunges well to make sure you know how both lines work. Good luck

Answer 5

All horses know how to lunge naturally in a circle. You just have to work off of her shoulder, if you get too ahead of her she won't go, if you have trouble with a line, try to build a round pen, you can buy inexpensive fence posts and fence wire or tape to temporarily construct a circle round pen inside another enclosure with sturdy fence for safety so you have a circle to work off of. Stand in the middle of the circle and use a whip to encourage your mare to move forward (you do not have to hit her) you may have to chase after her if necessary. You can try raising your arm and using your voice to motiviate your horse as well, if you step into them and lean in towards their shoulder they may stop and ever reverse. Some horses prefer to be free lunged with no line verses with a rope. If you are worried about her being bored or ring sour introduce poles, cavaletti and obstacles to get her mind working. good luck, persistance is key.

Answer 6

If your horse still isn't lunging after you have tried the above recommendations you could always try an equine massage, Your horse may be more flexible in the direction that she was going and it may just be a little harder for her to lunge the opposite direction, she may just be to sore and uncomfortable we all know what its like to have a pulled muscle and horses are no different. good Luck..

Answer 7

Like whats already been said use a lunge whip and when she doesnt want to move whip the groud which should get her going. If not give her rump a tap, hardenough she'll feel it light enough she'll be willing.

Answer 8

Mistyrox has a good answer.

You could try going in small circles than gradually getting larger.

Answer 9

Um sorry to all the other people but I dont agree with them.... I think you should probably try doing join up with her. Most likely she is bored with the lunging, personally I am against it.

Answer 10

do u use a whip?If no get one dont hit her,but get behind her and snap!And if that doesnt work after u quit hold her halter and bop her on her neck,not hard but just so she gets it!