Lunging help needed....

[Miss MoneyPenny]

I lunged Penny on Monday, and we have spent a lot of time teaching her the lunge, as when I first got her, and lunged her, Penny didn't have a clue - she cantered around, and around, and around forever - but after a year of short lunge sessions she has learnt that it isn't that scary! We are still only at the basics, halt, walk and trot (and halt on a good day!lol!)

I only used a schooling whip on Monday, as she freaked out the first time she saw a lunging/driving whip! So I didn't want her to get scared by the longer whips, but now that she is calmer, I am going to re-introduce the long whip. (I do wonder if she was ever badly treated with one - making her fearful of them????)

But now my problem is that she is awful on the right rein, left rein - brilliant (well, brilliant for Penny - she stays out, and walks calmly, and a few bursts of trot when I say so), but on the right terrible! I ended up feeling dizzy, trying to get myself back 'in the middle' I felt like I was being lunged too!

An instructor pal said that she might be stiff on the right rein, and so some stretching exercises before lunging might help. Like pushing her against a wall, and making her take a bit of apple from you - if you stand next to her bum, and so she must stretch her head to nearly touch her belly??? Also a good massage brush to groom before lunging - but most of all, perseverance!

Is this something that you guys have experience of????

Hubby took piccys of us - http://manxcolouredcobs.iomonline.co.im/lunge

[galadriel]

One-sidedness is pretty common. A horse is often stronger on one side until you make the effort to really even them out; lunging helps that a lot. If she's really stiff, then it'll probably be a little while until she lunges easily both ways, but when she does you'll know you've accomplished something :)

[Tootsie4U]

Every day before work we do carrot stretches (what your instructor was talking about, but with an apple :D). Nothing less than ten minutes.

I hold the carrot by his flank on each side and he must stretch and HOLD before he gets the carrot. You can also put the carrot between the front legs and make them stretch down to get it. Bon's really good at this, he can pull his head straight between his legs while still balancing and not stepping out. This stretches the topline and neck. You can also hold the carrot out and above the head to make them reach out and go long for the carrot.

There is so much stuff you can do, you are only limited by your imagination. :)

[Miss MoneyPenny]

Thanks - at least it is common, and with work and experience she should improve!

I will get those stretches started....