Poll: what do you do when your horse runs off on the lunge?

[thingstodotoday]

I have a question that I'm hoping you can help with.

Sometimes, and only sometimes, my mare runs off on the lunge.

Like last night for example, she worked lovely on one rein, no running off, and then when we changed rein she started cantering round and round.

What should I do when she does this? I've added a poll.

she's lunged in a bridle with the lunge rein over her head and clipped to the other side of the bit. She doesn't always do this, and it's not always on the same rein.

THanks

[HJ]

Mine is actually mixed, sometimes if he being an arse then ill make him keep cantering round until he or i get bored. Other times if he does it for another reason, then Ill drop my whip, take the line with both hands pull him in, until he stops and then start again :)

[Clover22]

My instructor always told me when they are youngsters make them keep going when they want to stop they soon learn to respect your voice and go in the pace you want

good luck

[Wally]

I step in front of the movement and slow them down and ask them to stop.

Gently wind them in.

[YASMiN___X0]

I usually just try "whoa" and hold on to the lunge line quite firmly and attempt to bring their head in to the inside more... works, but might not be the best way to do it :rolleyes:

[cinammontoast]

Spiral them in and out at your pace. Use a whip as back up.

[nicolawx]

When Springer does that i just let him get on with it, he gets tired within about 5 laps so he'll stop by himself.
If that doesn't work i'll say Woah and steady whilst keeping a good grip on the lunge line and he normally stops that way too. :)

[Louki]

Step in front of the movement, put some slack on the line, give your woe command and send them straight into a walk.

[coblet]

I would pull the circle in but keep them going forwards until they 'come back' to you. Never step in front of the movement or encourage them to turn in.

[Lacetti]

I step in front of the movement and slow them down and ask them to stop.

Gently wind them in.

That's what I do.... once walking nicely, I then let them out again..... I repeat until I get what I'm asking for....

[Joyscarer]

I tried the keep her going method with Joy but I'd get bored before she got tired. I like to keep lunging to 20-30mins tops and Joy would happilly keep going dripping in sweat if the mood took her :rolleyes:

I now stand in front of the movement and give the commands for a downward transition and then shorten the lunge line to bring her in smaller and smaller circles. Once she goes how I want in a smaller circle I'll give her more line. :)

With Littles I could get away with the make him continue to run method but not with Joy.

[Keket]

It's Coquette's play time, so I let her go. Probably bad of me, but she needs to kick up her heels now and then, and she settles after a few minutes, so I don't see the harm in letting her go.

[HashRouge]

I no longer lunge, as I am beyond shocking but also Lou isn't really supposed to as she had a nasty atlas rotation sorted by the chiro a year or so back an I don't want to do anything that will cause her to keep the odd muscle tone she built up when she had it (she leans on the lunge). When I used to though, Lou never ran of in a circle, but just bucked and then went of in a straight line until she reached the fence. I usually just followed her (told you I'm hopeless :D)

[Billy]

Make her keep going when she tries to stop. If they're going to go, then make them go and don't let her stop on her terms (a little bit like join-up theory). It sounds more like she's just letting off steam rather than being frustrated or naughty, if it doesn't happen every time.

Maybe reduce what you lunge her in, perhaps the bit is tugging on her mouth too much and getting irritating. Maybe try lunging her in a cavesson or something instead so her mouth is free, less is more. A lady at my yard lunges her horse usually in his tack, then one day she added side reins (badly attached, making him over-bend his neck). Then she was surprised when he went cantering round and round, frustrated!

[Dizzy]

If I've asked for walk and they trot, I ignore the trot, and gradually reduce the circle as trotting in a small circle is hard work, and as soon as they drop down to walk I praise and gradually increase the circle.

I do this in all paces, if they tend to be on the lively side, I lunge in the corner of the field/school so that I have a right angle of fence that acts as a visual and physical barrier.

We all use different methods, I tend to keep them going and make ignoring me harder work by reducing the circle and giving lots of verbal praise when they respond.

Before I send any horse out on the lunge circle I do do inhand schooling so that they already have a good understanding of what I'm asking first though.

[wundahoss]

It depends. I'd first want to ensure she absolutely understood & had no fear of what I was asking. Make sure there's no physical stress either.

It's possible lunging in a bridle is causing discomfort or pain & I don't advise it. While you're looping the rein over her poll, which may take a little of the leverage force of such a long rein out of it, the weight of the rein, even if there's slack will cause constant substantial pressure on the bit. That it is connected to only one side and going over her head may also make it confusing for her too, especially if she's been taught to yield to pressure. Therefore she may have had enough of constant & confusing discomfort/pain & in frustration trying to run away from it.

If you're sure she's comfortable, confident and just full of beans, needing to run off some steam, I'd allow or encourage this at the start of the session before settling down.

[sancho]

If you lunge with a whip, try lunging without one.

My mare used to lunge like she was on the wall of death and it would take ages for her to calm down and work properly.

I tried recently (expecting the usual) but didnt take a whip in with me and the difference has been amazing.

I know have a completely relaxed and listening horse!

Not sure whether its all down to the lack of whip or maybe shes mellowed but it cant help to try!

[joey_olop]

My boy used to do this-I was told its a lack of respect & I have been using the perfect manners book by Kelly Marks to get him to respect me more.

When he did do it I used to push him on & then bring him back when I felt it was right to do so-no point trying to pull them in straight away as usually they wont listen!

Good luck!

[Julz]

Poll: what do you do when your horse runs off on the lunge?

stop lunging.

or if you're clever enough, lunge with two reins not just one... after all... they cant be expected to balance properly with only one rein.. you wouldnt ride with just one rein would you?

We had an AC out to my oldie share... on being asked what he thought of lunging, his reply was "it sucks" . we never lunged him again after that, but did loose school him, which he loved, esp over jumps! he would change rein when you asked him, but also prefered his left rein.. to which he would always try to change back too after a couple circuits...

Sometimes, and only sometimes, my mare runs off on the lunge.

she may be trying to tell you something, but isnt in her nature to be bossy with you - she'll do what you wish, but sometimes it gets too much for her and she tries to tell you this by running off.... Incidently do you get dizzy at all when lunging? Do you think your horse might?

[Julz]

My boy used to do this-I was told its a lack of respect


If you think horses didnt have respect for us, do you think we'd be able to get on them and do the things we do to them?

If we're talking "respect" I think it's probably the other way about.

[wundahoss]

or if you're clever enough, lunge with two reins not just one... after all... they cant be expected to balance properly with only one rein.. you wouldnt ride with just one rein would you?

Agree with the 'feel' of your post Julz, but just had to comment, that I do often ride with just one rein myself.:p But whether on lunge or ridden, I don't expect them to lean on the rope, for balance or otherwise.

We had an AC out to my oldie share... on being asked what he thought of lunging, his reply was "it sucks" . we never lunged him again after that,

I too dislike the idea of lunging for the sake of lunging - for exercise or to 'run off some steam' before riding, etc, but I do use it to establish, reinforce & then occasionally check my horse's responses to me when at a distance.

Incidently do you get dizzy at all when lunging? Do you think your horse might?

I don't, because I stand still & it's the horse that goes round. I only turn to face them when I want something. If they're doing as I ask, I relax my bodylanguage & allow them to do it.

If you lunge with a whip, try lunging without one.... My mare used to lunge like she was on the wall of death and it would take ages for her to calm down and work properly.

I would suggest making sure the horse has no fear of your toys & movements before you even start asking anything of her. Rather than avoiding the things she doesn't trust, first desensitise her & teach her she can trust you 100% regardless of what you have in your hand.

[wundahoss]

If you think horses didnt have respect for us, do you think we'd be able to get on them and do the things we do to them?

If we're talking "respect" I think it's probably the other way about.

Just have to comment on that too... On the first question, undoubtably yes. I believe true respect from a horse to it's handler/rider is a rare thing. On the second question, I agree thoroughly. I also believe true respect & consideration from a handler to their horse is perhaps just as uncommon. While I like to think most people love their horses & want the best for them, I think much of this 'disrespect' comes from lack of understanding of the way they think & act, along with lack of understanding & skill in the principles of behavioural training.

The whole subject of 'respect' & 'disrespect' actually makes me grind my teeth, because it usually seems to mean obedience, submission, dominance, etc.