Lunging advice

[Peanut]

Could someone please give me some help on how to get my mare to come to a standstill on the lunge without turning in to me. Also how do I help her not to fall in?

This is one very forward going youngster who is full of bounce. Once she has got rid of a bit of energy, she settles down well and works nicely stretching through her back, although you can't take your eye off the ball for a moment as she's the greatest opportunist ;) . Bringing her back to walk and basically all downwards transitions takes a little time and I always have to bring her in on a smaller circle to achieve them. She understands the command for stopping which for us is "stand" very well indeed when she wants to. :rolleyes:

This is not a horse who ever needs a whip behind her to send her forwards but if I point the whip anywhere near her (back end or shoulder) she shoots forward and usually puts in a whopping buck.

How do I get her to stop further away from me than 3 feet ??? :o

[Choocychoc]

my mare does that sometimes, i just point the whip @ her and tell her to 'get out' and she has learnt to do so. as for the stopping, try burning all her enery up so she's a bit nakered and then, if your mare's anything like mine, she will eventually stop.

Hope this helps!:)

[Peanut]

Anyone? :o

[dophi_arno]

Maybe take her back to basics and get a friend to help you lunge if you can. While you stand in the center have your friend walk beside your mares head (outside of the circle I think is best) and then as you give the voice command (stand) you friend helps to stop her and then reward her. This would help her learn that the voice command means stop and should encourage her to stop without turning in. After a while increase the distance between your horse and your friend until your mare no longer needs the support of your friend. And then try it at a higher gait. My horse walks, trots, canters, halts and backs up on the lunge, and I've found it really good for transition work (walk to canter, halt to trot etc) and at first he was difficult to stop on the lunge too. Going back to basics and working at a slower pace until it was established really helped!

[Peanut]

Thank you. :)

[dophi_arno]

Not a problem, let us know how it works out :)

[welshcob]

if you are good enough try lunging with two reins you have much more control

[JoBo]

It may be a bit controversial but have you thought about using the fence to stop her? It’s a bit difficult to explain in writing but I have found that if you hold the whip so it almost boxes them (using you body) in they have to stop and then as they get use to it you can start doing it further away from the fence. If they are faced slightly away from you towards the fence they are less likely to turn around to come in. However it does depend on how wound up your horse can become because I know it can confuse some horses. Also you need decent fencing.

[Joyscarer]

I used the fence when I first started lunging Joy but not as an actual physical barrier, more of a mental one. But then I have to say that Joy must have been lunged in the past because she knew what she was doing even if she was a bit rusty or didn't want to! Going back to basic by getting in a helper would have been the next step if I couldn't sort her myself.

When coming in towards the fence I would ask for stops or downward transitions and upward transition coming away from it. I could thenstart asking for them in slightly different places until I could get walk and trot transitions anywhere, canter is still a different kettle of fish. :rolleyes:

[Flony_Pony]

Mine does the same, i just do HUNDREDS of transitions with her even from canter to trot then to walk, it still takes time but it make sher listen! I bring her in smaller circles and if she turns in she has to walk on again! i point my finger at her nose as she comes towardcs me and tell her out. I must say i have been doing it for about a year and we are getting there, think youngsters just take patience! Good luck