lunging trouble..

[dressagegirl17]

A few years ago I just bought a thoroughbred gelding... He's about 4 now. I've been training him myself, but he is having trouble with lunging. I started a few months ago by clipping the lungeline on and then leading him around, and then having someone walk him around in the circle and everything... He also knows voice commands, walk, turn, stop, etc. But every time i lunge him without someone walking with him, he freaks out and bucks, rears, etc. He also won't listen to the voice commands when on the lunge line. Any tips on how to get him used to the lunge line, and get him to listen to my voice commands on the lunge line?

[holiday]

Can you get someone to help you still? If you can i would have them behind him and sending him quietly forward with a lunge whip rather than leading, if you can "fence off an area that is smaller it would be easier. Dont let him onto a long line keep it very short so you can reach the back of him with the lunge whip and he cant get to strong by being a long way from you.

Another suggestion is to teach him to long line, as then once he has the idea it is easier to control them in a circle on two lines as they cant spin away from you. Good luck

[SA rider]

My 14.2 used to go mad on the lunge, bucking, rearing, trying to drag me around, galloping when she was learning to lunge. One day she even fell over and gave herself a terrible shock. I always made sure to be very watchful as she also tried to run at me sometimes, ears back etc. All I did really was keep pushing her round very firmly, using the lunge whip, flicking gently on her flanks sometimes, (but talking calmly to her) until she was exhausted and once she was exhausted make her work for a decent amount of time afterwards, she always behaved herself eventually but sometimes I was just as tired as her. Now she only has a few minutes of madness occasionally but I don't take too much notice and actually find it quite entertaining to watch her buck. (hey at least I'm not on her back). While she's being naughty I dont be too rigid regarding standing in one place and walk a little to make the circle bigger (means I don't have to have the line too long so can keep more control over her) then become more disciplined once she's calmed down. (Don't allow the horse to move you out of the zone that you want to stay in though).
Sometimes it helps to get a very experienced colleague or pal to lunge your horse for a few minutes so you can see what methods they use to keep the horse moving on. I had someone do this with mine and it helped enormously. I realised I hadn't been assertive enough.
Do you use a cavesson or lunge from the bit?

[dressagegirl17]

I lunge from a cavesson. Someone at my barn told me that maybe I should have someone ride him while I'm lunging him, to keep him calmed down a bit. But I'm not sure if this would help, or if maybe it would make him worse.

[SA rider]

Someone gave me that advice once too, about riding my horse, but it just so happened that the problem was sorted within the next few days so I didn't actually do it. It's probably worth a try if you feel you're not getting anywhere.
But I definitley think that sometimes just being a little firmer does the trick, so that's when an experienced mate can help. It can help you become more confident if you see that someone being a bit firmer doesn't have the same degree of problem. Your horse is probably feeling a bit insecure so if you are have your confidence boosted then this might help.
The woman who helped me, literally walked up, gave my pony a good FLICK with the whip once across the back legs, told her off in no uncertain terms to TROT ON, and off she went lunging about 100 percent better than if I was doin it!!! (little sod).
I tend to lunge with the bridal, but cheat a bit as I attach a Newmarket clip (I think its called that, you get them in Rideaway and Shires) to the bit and attach the lunge line to that so you don't get that pinching effect. I always feel a bit more in control lunging from the bridal.

[sheryl]

I have the same trouble with my 3 yr old part T/B. Hes generally much better on the left rein than the right though. He seems to have good days and bad. Sometimes hes as good as gold but mostly he likes to have a moan about it. Would be happy if he could just do 10 mins without messing about! :rolleyes: Sometimes hes quite aggressive. Doesn't help because I don't have use of a school. I have to lunge in an open field. What a nightmare! Do you think hes too immature still? Thought I'd leave it while and hope he grows up quick! He does still seem very babyish.