Horse fighting the lunge line

Dawn11 · 06-23-2007, 04:56 PM

I am so annoyed, my mare has not been listening when tacked up with a rider on her so I have gone back to the ground work. She doesn't like to stop ( no matter what speed) and she likes to go fast. I myself like to go fast also but I have beginner people on her so want her to slow down to a walk or trot "at most".
When I free lunge her she just wants to run so I put her on the lunge line. She "walks on" when I tell her to and "trots" when told, but as soon as she gets to the trot OFF SHE GO'S. It doesn't matter what speed she is going if I tell her to stop "whoa" or stand she won't. I give a quick pull on the lunge (standing at her back end in a bit) and she tries to pull me around a bit till I give a harder jerk and tell her to stand then she slows and stops facing me. this is what she does every time.
I am sure alot of you will tell me to get a trainer to work with her but we have none around where I live (I have looked for my other mare who is not broke) so if you could give me some suggestions that would be great!

She use to be a riding stable horse and according to the man I bought her from her "SAYS" he has never had this kind of problem with her, I wonder myself if this is true. I was told she is very calm and easy to handle his words were "you could stick a kid on her back and have no problem."

sparkler · 06-23-2007, 06:05 PM

Don't you love that - I bought one of those horses that the owner said "yup, anyone could ride him" Well he has been at the trainers for 45 days and probably will stay another 30. I'm to blame also, but gosh, I would never sell a horse and lie about it. I should have gone there and rode him more, but with 2 little ones and a 3 hr. ride ...... He was fine at previous owners, once I got him home he evaded the bit and took off on the lunge line.

My trainer said she doubted whether he ever had any training.

I can't give you any advise, I am sure the trainers here will help you out. But you aren't alone, I wish I could have handled my horse, but I would probably make it worse. Good luck.

shakti21 · 06-23-2007, 06:09 PM

well then let her run on the line, and as soon as she slows down any make her go again. Keep her runnig until you decide to let her slow down. One you'll build endurance and two the horse will realize that if they run when told not to that they will just make more work for themself.

sidewinderrr · 06-23-2007, 06:36 PM

What shakti said! My old horse was the same way. Very very disrespectful. So I consulted with a trainer who was boarding at the barn and she helped me. Basically let them get the energy out really in a way, and show them what shakti said, that disobidience just makes more work for them.

When my horse did what she was asked of her I then gave her a treat and let her have a break.

shakti21 · 06-23-2007, 06:38 PM

i worked a sorrel app this way. Which the owner complained to me when I took him on that he would do this. I got this setlled in about 7 days of work (not all together) and the owner loved that the horse now had gaits instead of speeds.

dockeramb · 06-23-2007, 06:52 PM

I recommend using a rope halter, it's built better to lunge with and has nice pressure points on it to get a horses attention.

If that doesn't work, I've lunged horses with the same attitude, and a chain under or even over the nose, gets the point across.

I would also recommend working her only at the walk and trot for now on the lunge line in both directions, when you see her body relax and ears twitching to listen to you, when you ask to whoa, and she faces up and licks those lips, you know you got her attention.

firefly881 · 06-23-2007, 08:17 PM

With horses that have this issue, I have found it useful to be able to get a little bit ahead of them (not so far that they stop) and bump them under the chin with the lunge line while saying whup. It was something I learned from the trainer I used to work for and have found it works really well. I use it a lot when riding and driving, too. I also was taught to never let a horse face you after they stop while lunging. It's bad manners and it makes it easier for them to be able to take off in the other direction when they decide to be naughty. When the horse stops, it should stay facing forward. It should also not walk toward you. With horses that turn in I walk toward them and position them where they should have stopped. I ask the horse to whoa where I positioned it and to stay in that position as I back up a little way. After they stand where they are supposed to for five seconds or so, I continue with the lesson. The suggestion to have her work until you ask her to stop also helps with this problem. Good luck!

PurpleX15 · 06-23-2007, 08:27 PM

i agree with what what shakti said. however i do not agree with bumping them under the chin or using a stud chain while lunging. you should be lunging with a bridle on, most of the time, especially if you want to have control. about the turning in thing, i have actually heard differently. the trainer working with my horse has him walk into him when done lunging. having a horse face you, (this is how i have been taught and what has worked with my horse) means respect. forexample, my horse used to take off when going to the turnout, before i even had the halter all the way off. now, all i have to do is have him face me before i let him go and he just walks away instead of almost kicking me to run. everyone has their own veiws on things though, so what works for you works for you.

i would suggest not cantering right away on the lunge, trot and walk for at least 20 minutes before asking for the canter. and if she does the same thing, then do what shakti said. until the horse respects you on the lunge line, i would not put any beginner on him. and it could be you have a horse thatisnt for beginners

shakti21 · 06-23-2007, 08:30 PM

I have to ask. IS this a relatively young horse?

horseyfrk145 · 06-23-2007, 08:31 PM

i would say , well, if u absolutely cannot get a trainer, then i would advise to 1st try what the others said about makin gher keep going, also dont get her above walk and trot 4 now...also, reward EVERY effort she makes
ex - if u ask for a whoa, and she slows, licks her lips, tunes in and listens, etc, etc, reward that!

let us know how the training progresses! good luck with her and sorry i couldnt be any more help!!!

06-23-2007, 04:56 PM	#1
Dawn11 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 360	Horse fighting the lunge line I am so annoyed, my mare has not been listening when tacked up with a rider on her so I have gone back to the ground work. She doesn't like to stop ( no matter what speed) and she likes to go fast. I myself like to go fast also but I have beginner people on her so want her to slow down to a walk or trot "at most". When I free lunge her she just wants to run so I put her on the lunge line. She "walks on" when I tell her to and "trots" when told, but as soon as she gets to the trot OFF SHE GO'S. It doesn't matter what speed she is going if I tell her to stop "whoa" or stand she won't. I give a quick pull on the lunge (standing at her back end in a bit) and she tries to pull me around a bit till I give a harder jerk and tell her to stand then she slows and stops facing me. this is what she does every time. I am sure alot of you will tell me to get a trainer to work with her but we have none around where I live (I have looked for my other mare who is not broke) so if you could give me some suggestions that would be great! She use to be a riding stable horse and according to the man I bought her from her "SAYS" he has never had this kind of problem with her, I wonder myself if this is true. I was told she is very calm and easy to handle his words were "you could stick a kid on her back and have no problem."

06-23-2007, 06:36 PM	#4
sidewinderrr Full Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 90	What shakti said! My old horse was the same way. Very very disrespectful. So I consulted with a trainer who was boarding at the barn and she helped me. Basically let them get the energy out really in a way, and show them what shakti said, that disobidience just makes more work for them. When my horse did what she was asked of her I then gave her a treat and let her have a break. __________________ "A horse is only as good as it's rider." -TSC

06-23-2007, 06:52 PM	#6
dockeramb Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Almost Heaven West Virginia Posts: 1,710 Images: 128	I recommend using a rope halter, it's built better to lunge with and has nice pressure points on it to get a horses attention. If that doesn't work, I've lunged horses with the same attitude, and a chain under or even over the nose, gets the point across. I would also recommend working her only at the walk and trot for now on the lunge line in both directions, when you see her body relax and ears twitching to listen to you, when you ask to whoa, and she faces up and licks those lips, you know you got her attention. __________________ You live, You learn, You RIDE!!!! Cowgirl Up!!!!!!

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06-23-2007, 06:05 PM	#2
sparkler Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 20 Images: 1	Don't you love that - I bought one of those horses that the owner said "yup, anyone could ride him" Well he has been at the trainers for 45 days and probably will stay another 30. I'm to blame also, but gosh, I would never sell a horse and lie about it. I should have gone there and rode him more, but with 2 little ones and a 3 hr. ride ...... He was fine at previous owners, once I got him home he evaded the bit and took off on the lunge line. My trainer said she doubted whether he ever had any training. I can't give you any advise, I am sure the trainers here will help you out. But you aren't alone, I wish I could have handled my horse, but I would probably make it worse. Good luck.

06-23-2007, 06:09 PM	#3
shakti21 Banned Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: on the dark side of the moon with my lovely mare Posts: 1,123 Images: 22	well then let her run on the line, and as soon as she slows down any make her go again. Keep her runnig until you decide to let her slow down. One you'll build endurance and two the horse will realize that if they run when told not to that they will just make more work for themself.

06-23-2007, 06:38 PM	#5
shakti21 Banned Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: on the dark side of the moon with my lovely mare Posts: 1,123 Images: 22	i worked a sorrel app this way. Which the owner complained to me when I took him on that he would do this. I got this setlled in about 7 days of work (not all together) and the owner loved that the horse now had gaits instead of speeds.

06-23-2007, 08:17 PM	#7
firefly881 Full Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 112 Images: 1	With horses that have this issue, I have found it useful to be able to get a little bit ahead of them (not so far that they stop) and bump them under the chin with the lunge line while saying whup. It was something I learned from the trainer I used to work for and have found it works really well. I use it a lot when riding and driving, too. I also was taught to never let a horse face you after they stop while lunging. It's bad manners and it makes it easier for them to be able to take off in the other direction when they decide to be naughty. When the horse stops, it should stay facing forward. It should also not walk toward you. With horses that turn in I walk toward them and position them where they should have stopped. I ask the horse to whoa where I positioned it and to stay in that position as I back up a little way. After they stand where they are supposed to for five seconds or so, I continue with the lesson. The suggestion to have her work until you ask her to stop also helps with this problem. Good luck!

06-23-2007, 08:27 PM	#8
PurpleX15 Full Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 60	i agree with what what shakti said. however i do not agree with bumping them under the chin or using a stud chain while lunging. you should be lunging with a bridle on, most of the time, especially if you want to have control. about the turning in thing, i have actually heard differently. the trainer working with my horse has him walk into him when done lunging. having a horse face you, (this is how i have been taught and what has worked with my horse) means respect. forexample, my horse used to take off when going to the turnout, before i even had the halter all the way off. now, all i have to do is have him face me before i let him go and he just walks away instead of almost kicking me to run. everyone has their own veiws on things though, so what works for you works for you. i would suggest not cantering right away on the lunge, trot and walk for at least 20 minutes before asking for the canter. and if she does the same thing, then do what shakti said. until the horse respects you on the lunge line, i would not put any beginner on him. and it could be you have a horse thatisnt for beginners

06-23-2007, 08:30 PM	#9
shakti21 Banned Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: on the dark side of the moon with my lovely mare Posts: 1,123 Images: 22	I have to ask. IS this a relatively young horse?