Longe line issues I don't understand

[Greentchr]

I have not longed Kona for months, as I normally only use it when there is something to learn, or else when she is acting too fresh in the spring.

Yesterday, I started her on the 10 ft rope to just walk and trot her around a few times, checking her willingness to turn and halt before I got out a few scary items to desensitize to. She did just fine, perfect lady, etc., etc.

Then, I switched her to the 20ft line and the minute I sent her out (asking for a walk), she just went ballistic- racing around like a hornet stung her, bucking, wouldn't slow down. She stopped when I asked, but then took off again and ran 7 or 8 circles before she slowed down. I just let her, keeping relaxed and watching her be a ninny. By the time she was done, she was blowing and snorting and prancing and looking like I had done something terrible to her:rolleyes: .

Then she was back in control. We had a few controlled circles at walk and trot, though she was definitely not 'right'.

She has done this before in the arena, but usually when I am trying to get her to canter on the line. She once got away from me by pulling the line out of my hands (ouch- rope burn, now I wear gloves), and learned immediatly that she could do it again. I put the line on her bridle, and she quit that little trick after a few trys. She did not seem like she was trying to pull away this time, just acted spooked.

Any ideas why this should happen?

What should I do differently, if anything? Should I longe more often?

[galadriel]

Blowing and snorting and prancing sounds like play. Maybe she was just trying to blow off some steam, or feeling more playful than usual.

When horses invite other horses to play, they run by/around them at full blast (often kicking up as they go by, but not always). When horses are playing together, they get very energetic and prancy, often lift their tails, and may do a lot of blowing and snorting.

Sometimes horses just aren't quite in the right mindset for the work we want to do. There have been a few times I've just dismounted & tied up reins, or unsnapped lunge lines, backed off, and let the horse play until she was done. Once she'd bounced around to her satisfaction, I could get her attention back and actually move on with whatever I was trying to do.

[Jessey]

I've got one ike that, Bo loves to play, he will be doing some really nice work and then KAPOW and he takes of bucking and jumping and will try to get me to join in and play with him (biggest mistake playing with him in the field as a baby :rolleyes: I just let him get on with it and when he is done get on with the lesson :D

[Greentchr]

Thanks for your replies!

I took her up again today, and she was back to her old lazy self again- no snorting no running- a little bit boring after yesterdays excitement.

I realized she had her tail in the air yesterday also- I think you are right, Galadrial, she just needed a bit of energy released, and she was having fun. Good thing I didn't over-react and just let her do her thing...

Jessey- when we first moved out into the country, my husband insisted on getting calves. He would go out and play with them, pushing them around and all. It was cute for awhile, but when a full-grown steer wants to come up and play with you, it is very dangerous! I refused to care for them after they reached 700 lbs, and only went out in the pasture with a bit of hose to whack 'em with when they come bouncing (I'm not kidding!) up to play!
I really enjoyed my steaks that year...:p

It was a really good learning experience-I'm glad I learned my lesson on the disposable steers, so I did not have to learn it with dogs and horses!

[galadriel]

Greentchr--I heard a similar anecdote from a woman who had *Longhorns* (complete with horns). She raised them as pets. Apparently it got particularly dangerous when they were competing for her attention puppy-dog style, because they'd be swinging those horns all over the place. Each one wanted to be closest to her to get the most attention...can you imagine those 6 foot horns swinging around casually?

Glad your girl is more herself again today :)

[rabbit]

My horse does the same thing!!

Sometimes I'll free lunge her and she will be well behaved (but will go right out to the fence in the soft sand)

I tried to free lunge her last week and she took off, flat out round the edge of the round yard. I figured that she would stop eventually, but as she was going so fast I was worried she would fall. I ended up holding the whip out in front of her and she came to a quick stop with a small rear. Voice commands were ineffective.

Two days ago I tried to lunge with a lunge line, but she was in a hyper mood and kept bucking and trying to take off. I got her moving forwards in trot, but mistakenly asked for canter before she had burned enough energy, so she took off so fast that the lunge line ripped out of my hands and went trailing behind her. I was terrified that she would step on the lunge line, pulling her head down and making her trip. It was difficult to work out if she was scaring herself or just having fun - everytime she passed a certain spot in the round yard, she would speed right up.

[Lot1983]

Please be careful if you've got the lunge line on the bridle! xx