How to lunge horse freely?
Lead the horse using a head collar and lead rope from the near side.
The near side is the side you would mount a horse.
Carry both whips in your left hand, pointing them downwards to the floor and behind you.
Walk the horse to the outside of the circle. Most horses prefer the left rein so I always begin in this direction first.
Ask the horse to stand still, remove the lead rope and step backwards towards the centre of the circle.
Keep an eye on the horse when you release him as you can easily get kicked.
To get the lunge horse to walk on, you need to be standing just behind or inline with his flank, standing in the centre of the circle.
Use your voice command “And walk on!” in a high, positive encouraging way.
The horse should have been taught voice commands when teaching it to walk in hand.
If the horse starts running around, stand still until it becomes calm and settles down.
If the horse is excited or worried, it is not going to listen to the voice commands you have already taught it.
Shouting at the horse will have no effect other than to make matters worse.
While the lunge horse is messing around keep the whips still unless the horse is coming to close and you think the horse might kick you.
Remain clam at all times talking to him in a calming voice.
When the horse finally calms down or stops, try to take control by using a familiar command “whoa”.
If you need to slow the lunge horse down try to stand in line with his shoulders.
If he does not respond to this move further forward so you are almost in line with the horses head.
If you move past the horse’s head he could end up changing direction, so watch the horse closely for any signs.
Training a lunge horse to slow down using whips
If the horse is moving around on the left rein, then the front whip should be in your left hand raising your hand high up in the air.
The back whip should be pointing downwards to the floor and behind you.
Observe the horse as it begins to slow down.
If you want the horse to halt then keep the whip up and still until the horse obeys your signal.
When it stands still lower the whip and put both whips in one hand, pointing downwards behind your back to approach the horse.
If the horse appears frightened when you walk towards it take your time and approach slowly, stopping if necessary.
Remember to talk to it, praise it “good boy!” and stroke it.
If you want the horse to slow down but continue moving forward, gradually lower the whip in your left hand.
So the “driving position” to encourage the horse to go forward is to stand just behind the horse’s flank.
The slowing down position or stopping is to stand in line with the horse’s shoulder.
To change direction to the right rein you need to turn the horse around to face the right direction; change your whips around so that the short whip is in your right hand which is the front and the long whip is in your left hand which is the back.
Again step back from the horse, which is on the outside of the circle with the whips facing down and behind your back, keeping a close eye on the horse at all times in case it kicks.
Move into the driving position which is just behind the horse's flanks, and use your voice command “And walk on!” only move the long whip if the horse does not respond.
The “Aaaand” before walk is to act as a warning signal to prepare the horse and draw his attention that you are going to ask for something.
You need to feel as if you are working the horse between two whips. The long whip (back whip) if necessary to go forward.
The short whip to slow down.
You are using your vocal and body commands to give instructions, the slightest possible aids, only increasing them if you receive no response from the horse.
<< Scrole down to find all the information you need on this subject - Training a horse from the ground >>
Lunge horse -11 > > Home
Longing -1
longing- 2
lunging- 3
Lunging- 4
Lunging- 5
Lunging- 6
Lunging- 7
Lunging- 8
Lunging- 9
Lunging- 10
Lunging- 12
Lunging- 13
Lunging- 14
Long reining- 1
Long reining- 2
Long reining- 3
Long reining- 4
Long reining- 5
Long reining- 6
Training a horse to move over and back in hand
