more lungeing adventures!

[notpoodle]

ha! i think we're getting somewhere :D

still only lunge her in a headcollar, still walk and trot only ... but she now takes a lot less time to go from trot into walk and actually stays on a circle!!

when i tried to lunge her last year it was a complete desaster with the pony joining me in the middle at any given moment or the pony making a beeline for the gate with me still hanging off the lunge :rolleyes:

so yes, i am pretty darned pleased :D

julia
x

EDIT: forgot the question!

what sort of stuff can i do on the lunge with her so she doesnt get bored (shes very eager at the moment but i know what she's like and the novelty will wear off sooner or later!)? so far i have only tried making the circle smaller and bigger

[jacstar]

If you add trotting poles, small jumps, canter poles it can break up the feeling that they are going around and around for ever

doing lots of transitions is also good
walk,trot,walk,trot, canter,trot,walk, then back up again. etc etc

also when your horse does something right change direction it gets them thinking and waiting for your response
and also is a praise that your horse has done something right.
(and doesnt get them dizzy)

Jac

[Tangle]

Don't stay on a circle ;)

Start at one end of the school with her lunging on a circle. When she's moving nicely and in good balance on the circle ask her to continue in the same rhythm and stride on the straight (so if you want to go up the long side, just as she comes onto the straight you need to start moving up the centre of the school). You can do this in walk (easy), trot (a little harder - you might need to run ;)) or canter (if you're really fit :D). The important thing is to only keep going on the straight as long as she's balanced - as soon as she starts to rush ask for another circle so she can balance. That might mean you can only manage two strides of straight at a time and you have to do 15 circles up the long side, but you should get there over time. It's a fantastic exercise for getting the horse working in self carriage - they can't lean on the reins (they're not their) or on the lunge (they wouldn't go straight) so they have to balance themselves :D

Once she's got that down, you can start mixing and matching. Ask for walk on the straight, then go for a circle on the corner - ask for trot before she's around the first quarter and walk somewhere in the last quarter so you can carry on up the next side in walk (don't ask for trot every corner or she'll anticipate).

In general this is all easier for you if she's on a smaller circle - but it should work on a longer rein as well.

I'd also introduce poles and jumps on the straight if you can before putting them on a circle. Angel will have more time to see them coming and so should do a better job of sorting her legs out ;)

Sounds like you're doing really well. Good luck :)