Lunging Dilemma

[Demson]

My pony is pretty forward going ...except when lunging.. :rolleyes:

He plods round like a cart horse on the lunge or long lines. I have tried various techniques to get him moving with more energy including working on a smaller circler making it larger and bigger with transitions. Once back onto a reasonable sized circle he will go about 5 strides then go back to Mr Plod..

He is fully fit and has no reason to be so lazy...as that is what it is ..being lazy...If I took him out in the carriage or under saddle he'd soon wake up but in the arena he gets bored..

Oh I also work over poles, figure eights up the long and short side, deviations etc all to make it more challenging, but go onto a circle and he plods again.

Any suggestions big or small may help :D


Someone suggested ankle weights (padded) to make him pick up his legs but that sounds mean ..what do you think... :)

[Millymum]

You have probably tried this but

have you tried walking closer to him. Instead of staying near the middle and making him go round, come a few feet closer and walk a larger circle yourself. Stay further behind the shoulder than you would usually.
I make it sound if you are to chase him but i hope you know what i mean.

Do you flick the schooling whip at him or just point it (if you know what i mean) Maybe if you give it a flick he might go forward more.

You have probably tried this mind!!

We did have a dog that was helpful during lunging, it liked to chase them!!
***we did not do this on purpose and i dont suggest you do this ** :)

[shirley]

My only question is does he need to be lunged at all. Is there anything you want to do on the lunge that you cannot do under saddle?
I lunge my horse to see how he is coming on etc, but could do this with you on him and someone else lunging you.
Alternatively I would go back to basic circle and get someone to walk alongside at an even walk pace to reteach him what you want.
Perhaps when he is within range of the lunge whip you give him a reminder to walk on faster.
The surface on our school is quite heavy going so it does make them a bit slower as it is hard work on all three paces at times, so that may need to be considered as well.
Other thing is to use your body language, if you make as though you are about to step towards him looking bigger and in firm voice tell him to walk on more and then when acheived praise him, this you may need to keep on doing until it sinks in what pace you want.
As long as the pace you want is active and tracking up, they need to be relaxed and even though. But this I am sure you know
Hope any of these helps - they are tired as I have a slower cob who thinks snails are sports cars!!!!!

[Demson]

I can't always ride due to my ill health and lunging then helps or long reining.

I have tried working him on a smaller circle which does help but I don't always want to work him on a small circle if you know what I mean.

Also he is 17 years old (and extremely fit being a HDT Pony) and knows very well how to lunge so haivng to teach him is lunge is not an issue. He also knows that I won't actually flick him with the whip so maybe he is thinking why should he put extra energy in...(I have been tempted to flick his hocks with the lunge whip)

[Kris R]

Maybe it is your body language - have you ever watched Monty Roberts ?

You may well be slowing him down by without realising it, truly believe me I have experienced the same. A pity we cannot view a video of you. It is rather difficult to suggest a remedy otherwise.

[Demson]

Hi I managed to fathom out what I was doing wrong, It wasn't anything I was doing with my body language but more on teh fact I wasn't using my phases strong enough so he had no reason to try. (I am pre Level 2 PNH) Once I realised this the change was amazing.

(I tried Monty Roberts even with instructionand it jsut wasn't for my fella)

I think I slipped into allowing him to go forward at his own pace for too long thus he thought he was doing as I asked.

He is now going extremely well, and working so much harder within himself and his self carriage (with no gadgets) is coming on in leaps and bunds. He listens more and as everything comes together it is so rewarding

[Kris R]

Glad to hear you have found the cause and you can go go go :-)