Training a 10 Year Old to Lunge *ADVICE NEEDED*

[michickenwrangler]

If he's been a ranch horse, he's probably been used for roping and is doing what he's supposed to do--or at least what he thinks he's supposed to.

As someone else said, if you really don't need to lunge him, don't.

I worked at a small ranch for a few years and their horses were never lunged. They worked them in a round pen if needed, but no rope was involved.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

I'm going to be a pain and say that the two driving lines are probably going to get a lot more snarled up when this animal starts stopping, turning and backing up, and he may do that with her in a ground driving OR double longeing(off to one side) position, even if she tries to run to his hip. I'd like to resolve the first problem with as little equipment on the animal as possible. Basically I would be teaching that if the horse hears a command to giddy up, he needs to giddy up.

hmm. Personally I am thinking that because of the way this fellow was originally trained, there is very little likelihood that he ever had any groundwork. Ranch horses are generally not started that way, so he doesn't understand what is being asked of him. Plus by age 10 he is getting set in his ways a bit and not so open to learning new things taught by methods he does not understand. Unlike their English cousins, ranch horses are often started from up on their backs. He understands very clearly what his job was as a roping horse/ranch horse, but these new demands are confusing him completely.

Taking that fact into consideration, there is yet another way to get him started, but it takes 2 people WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. Again, saddled and wearing his usual headstall over his halter, one person rides and the other is on the ground holding the lunge line. The person on his back starts him circling and transitions through the various gaits. Then the person on the ground asks him to repeat this work while the rider basically sits very still and does not offer any cues UNLESS and UNTIL he gets confused about what is wanted. The lunge whip is used solely as an extension of the ground person's hand, so that he is cradled between the lunge line at his head and the lunge whip moving along the ground just behind him to encourage him to move forward. When he needs the support of the rider to reinforce what is being asked, the rider gives that support, but the goal is always to transition his attention to the person on the ground. Eventually, you lose the rider, and still later even the saddle and headstall a bit at a time.

Most good ranch horses have been taught to perform many tasks without much in the way of input from the rider. The rider is busy doing other things. This fellow is confused now because he's being told that what he knew how to do--and do pretty well apparently-- on his own is now suddenly wrong. Frankly, I feel badly for him.

So, yes, I do think this can be done and without inflicting pain, but I still question the need to do it. Unless there is a very good reason for lunging him, why put him through all this stress and confusion? Please do watch him for any signs of developing ulcers. Stress will do that to a horse. I've seen it happen.

Good luck and take care.

Rusty​

 

[welsummerchicks]

Agree, though the 'forward please' training worked very well for me, it's always hard to change a very, very fixed habit.

The two people - one in the saddle, one on the ground - might be able to pull it off if they communicate very well and react very quickly to each other....me, I like to fix problems like this with as few people as possible, and as little equipment as possible. I also take off the chain shanks, control halters, and everything else, with problem loaders...as well as suggest everyone 'trying to help!!' convene at the farthest pickup truck and have a beverage and listen to a CD.

Rather than being something the horse does on command, it's a set habit he does every time he's around a person. Even people, if they do something over and over one way, find it awful hard to change a habit, even when they consciously want to.

The 'turn and face me' behavior is something that is for every single interaction with the horse - every single day, every time he moves in his stall or field or pen, basically in all training sessions. Even if the horse gets no formal 'ground training' at all, every single time a person is around him he is expected (and made to) turn and face the person.

Behavior is a lot more flexible and adaptable if it is 'command based', not routined and made a rigid habit. So say, instead of getting the horse so he always does some thing when he is in a given place, position or place related to whre his handler is, it is on command, and other behavior can be commanded too. So I teach my horses to face me when they hear one command, and to turn and go forward when they hear a different command.

 

[txredneckmedic]

I dont know why people think that all horses have to be lunged. My wife has a barrel horse that she has to lunge to get her ready to go....but my ranch horse I dont have to. She gets mad at me trying to get me to lunge him and I refuse. Hell the horse dont know how to lunge lol. She still mentions every couple weeks that I need to teach my horse to lunge but at this point I just ignore her. Out of curiousity....why would u want him to lunge? The less time im screwing around trying to get a horse ready is more time I can be riding.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Quote:
Lunging is a great way to teach communication to a green horse. It is often the first time a youngster discovers how you are "talking" to him through the line. It is always my first step in teaching him to work under saddle. Then later, when I am out showing, it is a great way to get the "edge" off a nervous youngster and remind him to pay attention to ME no matter what else is going on around him.

For an experienced horse, though, I'm like you. I wanna just get on and ride. For a low-key breed like my QHs, this works fine. But I can see that a lot of breeds are "hotter" than mine so they may need the chance to get that edge off every time they are ridden.

 

[geebs]

I can work with this.... First of all.... He is nervous and TOO compliant... Get rid of the whip... You will hold the tail of your lunge line... all you will likely have to do to start is slap it lightly against your side... Now for the tough part... the facing and walking into you... okay... you need a line with no snap and a rope halter... when he stats to face you you make a LOSER sign with your leading hand (still holding the rope and you shake it... at eye level in front of him to the side you want to break away from you...) causing him to move away... you are teaching him to look at your fingers and then you shake the rope as lightly or as violently (affecting the jaw of his halter) until he responds with the proper shouldering out... you then very carefully drive the engine (rear of the horse) with the driving hand.... This is a waltz and it is a practice practice practice... It ususally isn't pretty until he figures out that the L shape of your hand and the violent shaking under his jaw are related to the direction he must move...

Then you will use the L position of your hand to point... it will now serve as a guide to direct your horse.... you will be able to use this for years when asking him to go somewhere..you will simply point... and drive with your driving hand... a opening and closing of your hand later on will be the goal for the driving hand... a rather "flashing" of your fingers to indicate movement is necessary. Good luck

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Why do you want to lunge him?

 

[geebs]

The OP wants to lunge the horse... maybe for fun.. maybe just to watch him... It really matters not.... If you have any great Ideas to help the OP lets work with that... I am sure they have a reason... could just be "habit". Lunging is seldom ever a bad idea. If there is an undesirable trait such as a horse that faces you when you don't want him/her to, then you have a small degree of something greater...like getting run over by a horse facing you... I agree with getting rid of habits that are undesireable and a good desicion by the OP. I only wish I had a video to offer.. I may see if I can't put one together just for the OP...

 

[welsummerchicks]

There are basically two groups of horse people, those who think longeing is useful, and those who don't.

Heaven forbid they should marry.

 

[geebs]

Welsummerchick..I didn't say it was useful or not useful.... Just seldom a bad idea...

The OP would just like some HELP...