Rolling on the lunge.... Input please! :D

horsesforever

horsesforever

x.x.x
Apr 21, 2007
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uk! :)
First of all, this is a very silly question so sorry in advance! :o Would really appreciate some input though!

Whenever I try to lunge my horse, he tries to roll. I cant say I blame him, he is rugged up all day (he is turned out though) so when he's in the arena with no rugs, Im sure the sandy surface looks very appealing to roll and scratch in. But the thing is, we are not allowed to loose school or let them off the line in the school. I'd love to just let him off so he can roll and get it out of his system so then we can get on with work, but its outdoors and not particularly safe. Dont want to get in trouble for breaking the rules anyway!

So my question is... is it safe to allow a horse to roll on the lunge? I've always assumed NO and whenever he attempts to go down while we're lunging I reel him in and hold him inhand. Thats usually the end of the lunging because he just tries again and again. Not good when you're trying to get the horse some exercise! (hes not being ridden atm) There is some element of respect issues but I am dealing with that through groundwork lessons. He just gets fixated on rolling and doesnt listen to me. So am I right in not allowing him to roll or would it be ok to let him, while standing well out of the way and keeping the lunge line away from his legs? Or too much of a tangle risk? I suspect the answer is no, and that I just need to gain his respect so he concentrates on me no matter how strong his urge to scratch! Sorry again for the stupid question!
 
not a stupid question!

I'd worry that if you let him he'd get into the habit of associating lungeing with doing what he wants (rolling!) = becoming harder to lunge. Maybe let him have a roll prior to lungeing? Shame you aren't allowed to loose school him, much more fun :)
 
If he is predictable when rolling then I'd keep him on a short length of lunge and stand at his head rather than to the side and let him have a roll before you start work :)
 
Yes, he is fairly predictable. I might give it a try letting him roll before we start with a short length of line standing at his head like you said and see if that helps his work ethic!

Any other views on the safety aspect of this?
 
When my horse gets tired at an event or wherever, he just tends to lie down for a rest(makes showing in hand a bit of a spectacle...:o) and rolls occaisionally. I'd personally rather not stand too close since those legs kind of go everywhere, so I just let out a good long rope and stay back, and if he's got a leg over the rope when he gets up, I just don't pull it because that'll make him panic, then untangle him and try not to make a performance about it. My advice is just to let him do it, then put him to work.
 
i make my mare go forward as soon as she indicates shes going to roll as she started doing it when i was lunging her with a saddle on too:eek::eek:

not good for her back and very expensive:eek:
 
If you are going to do this at the start of a session then it is very important you get your body language right.

I would go for an inoffensive posture posible with lowered head and not meeting my horses eyes and slightly hunched shoulders.

Then when it comes to work time there would be a definate change in my stand. I would square up and be business like.

There most be no misunderstanding on the part of your horse as to what is free time and what is work time :)
 
Joyscarer said:
If you are going to do this at the start of a session then it is very important you get your body language right.

I would go for an inoffensive posture posible with lowered head and not meeting my horses eyes and slightly hunched shoulders.

Then when it comes to work time there would be a definate change in my stand. I would square up and be business like.

There most be no misunderstanding on the part of your horse as to what is free time and what is work time :)
Click to expand...

What she said ^---- :D
 
Joyscarer said:
If you are going to do this at the start of a session then it is very important you get your body language right.

I would go for an inoffensive posture posible with lowered head and not meeting my horses eyes and slightly hunched shoulders.

Then when it comes to work time there would be a definate change in my stand. I would square up and be business like.

There most be no misunderstanding on the part of your horse as to what is free time and what is work time :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for those suggestions, will definately bear them in mind!
 
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