Pony in a very bad mood!

[Drummers mum]

Wow was Drummer grouchy today!!

It started when I went to catch him, HE TURNED HIS BUM ON ME!!!:eek: But when I eventually got to his head he was all smiles and "what me mum!":rolleyes: little b****r!

Then he tried to take a chunk out of one of the girls up the yard!!

Then I went to lunge him and he was a NIGHTMARE! He started OK but after once on each rein and he decided he'd had enough. He did some lovely disengaging of the hind quarters but not when "I" asked!!:rolleyes: and then decided when I got cross that he would try a little rear (actually it was soo pathetic I think even he was embarassed 'cos he didn't try it again!)

The end result (much to everones glee) was an irate mum yelling at and chasing after (not really lunging) a very cross Drummer who wouldn't do a full circle!:o

After managing one full circle we finnished on a good note???:confused: :rolleyes: and Drummer was happy as larry eating his tea, knowing that work was over for another day!!

These things are sent to try us!:D

PS Any advice on the turning in would be much appreciated!

[rocklanenancy]

Hi, do you mean turning in when being lunged? as in coming towards the middle?

nicola

[Drummers mum]

Kind of, sorry I wasn't very clear, to evade he turns in suddenly to but doesn't come towards me. Then when I walk towards him to set him off again he backs up!

I don't lunge in the conventional manner, I walk a smaller circle level with his bum while kind of driving him on the larger circle. I got this method from the book dancing with horses. I use my 12ft parelli line and no whip.

He hates lunging, he always has and I'm not keen but at the moment with the dark nights I have been doing it to try to get him fitter and lose some weight! I also thought it might get him listening to me a bit better but it just seems a disaster!:(

[rocklanenancy]

hi, I see now! My pony does that but only on the right rein, she sometimes turns back onto the left rein. She loves being lunged if there's a jump there, in summer I often lunge her over small jumps. If there isnt a jump there she gets bored and makes her own entertainment. I sometimes lunge in the way you describe, but make squares or surpentines instead of circles to add variety.

Have you tried lunging with two reins? (one normal position, on on the outside running from head, through stirrup, round hindquarters to you) I found it very useful as you have more control over bend and speed and you can create more impulsion from the hindquarters. Maybe that would stop him turning in on you? What about long reining have you tried that? I find that useful too. I can only lunge in the summer when the fields are dry so in winter i usually ride her out and when my harness arrives from e bay I'll be long reining her out too in the hope of having a driving pony at the end of the year.

hope hes less grumpy next time! :)
Nic

[Drummers mum]

Hey thanks, I might try the two rein thing, but do I have to put a saddle on or will the rein just slip straight down? Could I use a surcingle?

Drummer just seems very ploddy at the moment, he tries it on all the time and is NEVER interested in work, I thought if I could get him fitter and slimmer, he might enjoy it more!:rolleyes:

How do you do serpentines etc do you need 2 reins? I find him hard to direct as he always naps towards the gate!

[rocklanenancy]

hiya, You could probably use a roller with rings on the sides instead of a saddle, I've always used a saddle though, You need to use a spare stirrup leather or similar (a strong piece of string will do) to attach the stirrups together underneath his girth so that the stirrups dont move about. you can have both lines through the stirrups one on either side, or the inside one running straight from the bit to your hand. It is probably better to have both running through the stirrups as it is a lot easier to change reins then! You lunge as normal but keep a loosish feel on the second line and use it when needed to correct him by steering him further out with it, using half halts down it, or taking up a firmer contact on it ect. be careful not to have outside line too tight though. It is best to do this in a bridle with a bit as the signals would get muffled with a cavesson. If he misbehaves,(or for a change) as long as you have both lines through the stirrups you can move position and long rein him instead! serpentines are best done with 2 reins as you can change direction easier. I sometimes do serpentines with one line but it involves me quickly moving to the other side of her which isnt that easy apart from in walk :rolleyes: so I wouldnt recommend it!

hope this makes sense! if you search for "double lunging" on google you might come up with some articles on it.

Nic:)