Horse Pulling

Luna9 · 10-31-2008, 06:28 PM

I no longer have a round pen to lunge my horses in si I have to do it on a line. But they pull really bad. It is the first time that I have ever done it on a line. Is it normal for a lot of pulling or is it cause they arent used to the line??? How do I correct it?? Any tips would be great thanks

Dancers Mom · 10-31-2008, 08:11 PM

Mine does that at least for me but for my BO she is fine. I think it is more to do with us then with them.

mustangDJ · 10-31-2008, 09:26 PM

I know people are going to curse at me, but i use a stud chain. You wouldn't let your horse do that when he is walking/trotting next to you? My trainer got me used to have my horse wearing a stud chain, but it works.
When i first started my boy with lunging on the line, he pulled soooo much. As soon as i ot him under control with the chain, it was a diff horse.

buddytink · 10-31-2008, 09:47 PM

i use a rope halter and bump on it everytime they lean on it, my horse use to be really heavy and lean on it now he's super light. The clinton anderson gaining respect and control on the ground series has some really really good lunging techniques, it does wonders for your horse, i had no idea there was so many different ways your could lunge your horse

StarfireArizona · 11-01-2008, 04:27 AM

Definitely a rope halter with a good quick tug when they pull & release when they stop, with maybe a verbal command. My gelding doesn't pull, but he has a habit of looking away when longing, and I tug & say loudly "ME" until I get that eye back on me. He catches on quickly

Circle C · 11-01-2008, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustangDJ

I know people are going to curse at me, but i use a stud chain. You wouldn't let your horse do that when he is walking/trotting next to you? My trainer got me used to have my horse wearing a stud chain, but it works.
When i first started my boy with lunging on the line, he pulled soooo much. As soon as i ot him under control with the chain, it was a diff horse.

I usually use a rope halter, but if they get too pulling real good I will throw a chain over their nose for a little bit. They get the idea real quick! It doesn't take long and I can put them back in a rope halter. But, you gotta watch the bone in their nose. You can't be jerking real hard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarfireArizona

Definitely a rope halter with a good quick tug when they pull & release when they stop, with maybe a verbal command. My gelding doesn't pull, but he has a habit of looking away when longing, and I tug & say loudly "ME" until I get that eye back on me. He catches on quickly

Then, I follow this procedure.

Luna9 · 11-01-2008, 07:59 AM

She was using a rope halter and I also put the line over her nose like you would with a stud chain, but its not a chain. Neither helped. I guess I need to get a stud chain. Thanks.

bnwalker2 · 11-01-2008, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddytink

i use a rope halter and bump on it everytime they lean on it, my horse use to be really heavy and lean on it now he's super light. The clinton anderson gaining respect and control on the ground series has some really really good lunging techniques, it does wonders for your horse, i had no idea there was so many different ways your could lunge your horse

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarfireArizona

Definitely a rope halter with a good quick tug when they pull & release when they stop, with maybe a verbal command. My gelding doesn't pull, but he has a habit of looking away when longing, and I tug & say loudly "ME" until I get that eye back on me. He catches on quickly

Yep, this is exactly what I do, and it works very well!

Graceful Landin · 11-01-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarfireArizona

Definitely a rope halter with a good quick tug when they pull & release when they stop, with maybe a verbal command. My gelding doesn't pull, but he has a habit of looking away when longing, and I tug & say loudly "ME" until I get that eye back on me. He catches on quickly

yep thats what i do. also this might be kinda confusing but you need to not only tug her head, but also need to get the butt farther out on the circle than the head, instead of vice versa.

Pally · 11-01-2008, 02:50 PM

I'm thnking if you had a round pen, they got used to just glueing themselves to the outside of it of guidance. Now they have to use you and the line. Did you ever use a line inside the round pen?

Anyway, I would definitely treat them as if they had never been lunged before, which doesn't mean just sending them out and thinking they will make perfect 40 foot circles. Start by going slowly (they are less likely to lean at the walk, and if you can't keep them in control at the jog, you won't have a hope at the lope). Start with small circles (yes I know the leg joints, but since you are starting very slowly it is not a big deal).

They need to learn to give to the pressure of the line. Hopefully they already know how to give to pressure from your hand and the halter, so this is just an extension (if they don't, go back and teach them). The key is you don't teach giving by just pulling in a tug of war with them, which is really easy to fall into on the lunge line. You need to do your best to give a little release when they comply, consistently. For a horse pulling out of the circle, the best timing to tighten up the line is when the inside front is off the ground, but if you aren't that coordinated, don't worry to much.

If the problem isn't an all around lean, but rather a bulge in one part of the circle (for instance toward the gate), then it's very important that while you aim to get them in, you keep them moving very forward (just like riding, doesn't have to mean fast, just forward) through that spot.

10-31-2008, 06:28 PM	#1
Luna9 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,075	Horse Pulling I no longer have a round pen to lunge my horses in si I have to do it on a line. But they pull really bad. It is the first time that I have ever done it on a line. Is it normal for a lot of pulling or is it cause they arent used to the line??? How do I correct it?? Any tips would be great thanks

10-31-2008, 08:11 PM	#2
Dancers Mom Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: La Mesa, CA Posts: 4,222 Images: 347	Mine does that at least for me but for my BO she is fine. I think it is more to do with us then with them. __________________ *Native Star aka Dancer = 7yo OTTB mare* If you are going to teach a horse something and have a good relationship, you don't make him learn it - you let him learn it. http://blossomvalleyequestrians.webs.com/

11-01-2008, 04:27 AM	#5
StarfireArizona Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Arizona Desert Posts: 1,179 Images: 74	Definitely a rope halter with a good quick tug when they pull & release when they stop, with maybe a verbal command. My gelding doesn't pull, but he has a habit of looking away when longing, and I tug & say loudly "ME" until I get that eye back on me. He catches on quickly __________________ Horses of a different color - Shiloh, Desert Ghost, Valentino & Rusty

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10-31-2008, 09:26 PM	#3
mustangDJ Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SE, MI Posts: 371 Images: 181	I know people are going to curse at me, but i use a stud chain. You wouldn't let your horse do that when he is walking/trotting next to you? My trainer got me used to have my horse wearing a stud chain, but it works. When i first started my boy with lunging on the line, he pulled soooo much. As soon as i ot him under control with the chain, it was a diff horse.

10-31-2008, 09:47 PM	#4
buddytink Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 390 Images: 57	i use a rope halter and bump on it everytime they lean on it, my horse use to be really heavy and lean on it now he's super light. The clinton anderson gaining respect and control on the ground series has some really really good lunging techniques, it does wonders for your horse, i had no idea there was so many different ways your could lunge your horse

11-01-2008, 07:59 AM	#7
Luna9 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,075	She was using a rope halter and I also put the line over her nose like you would with a stud chain, but its not a chain. Neither helped. I guess I need to get a stud chain. Thanks.

11-01-2008, 02:50 PM	#10
Pally Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,267 Images: 12	I'm thnking if you had a round pen, they got used to just glueing themselves to the outside of it of guidance. Now they have to use you and the line. Did you ever use a line inside the round pen? Anyway, I would definitely treat them as if they had never been lunged before, which doesn't mean just sending them out and thinking they will make perfect 40 foot circles. Start by going slowly (they are less likely to lean at the walk, and if you can't keep them in control at the jog, you won't have a hope at the lope). Start with small circles (yes I know the leg joints, but since you are starting very slowly it is not a big deal). They need to learn to give to the pressure of the line. Hopefully they already know how to give to pressure from your hand and the halter, so this is just an extension (if they don't, go back and teach them). The key is you don't teach giving by just pulling in a tug of war with them, which is really easy to fall into on the lunge line. You need to do your best to give a little release when they comply, consistently. For a horse pulling out of the circle, the best timing to tighten up the line is when the inside front is off the ground, but if you aren't that coordinated, don't worry to much. If the problem isn't an all around lean, but rather a bulge in one part of the circle (for instance toward the gate), then it's very important that while you aim to get them in, you keep them moving very forward (just like riding, doesn't have to mean fast, just forward) through that spot.