lunging help

arabianlover15 · 03-11-2009, 11:02 AM

my older horse tends to pull alot on the lead line when i lunge him and is really stiff turning i tug on the rope for him to bring his head in and it doesnt seem to work any suggestions??????

this problem just started and i dont have alot of time since im taking care of many horses and training two young foals and one upcoming two year old(not really trianing just a refresher and brush down) . the older horse has actually made me fall when he canters because he pulls so hard against me and it gets frustraiting!.

. how can i pick up his backing up speed?? he is really slow on that too.

HappyJoy · 03-11-2009, 11:11 AM

When you say "older" how old do you mean? It could be stiffness. It's hard on horses to canter in a small circle like that for very long, let alone if they are older with any arthritis or joint issues.

If it's attitude, then there are a couple things to check. What do you lunge him in? A rope halter is good for horses who pull, because it has a little "bite" to it. Also, what do you do when he pulls? Has he always lunged well in the past?

Demanda1904 · 03-11-2009, 12:24 PM

HappyJoy asked some good questions. without someone steering an older horses staying
in a perfect circle at all gaits can be a challenge and potentially very painful. lets get some background on this guy

arabianlover15 · 03-12-2009, 10:24 AM

around eight years old im real good at teaching the horses how to lunge but lately i have not dealt with this head issue and trying to solve it

CaliLove1994 · 03-12-2009, 10:30 AM

There are loads of things it could be ..

*unsound
*stiffness
*unbalanced
*athritis
*unbalanced shoes
*being a juurk
*back problems
*just pain from being old.

I would stop lunging him until you find the problem though

CaliLove1994 · 03-12-2009, 10:31 AM

eight year old ... haha i thought you were talking about 15-20 years old.

It could still possible be all of those except for the one about him being in pain because of being old.

arabianlover15 · 03-12-2009, 10:32 AM

i havent lunged him in a month...... he is super stiff at his neck and bending he feels all crunched up not relaxed and smooth its weired

sarahhowen · 03-12-2009, 10:36 AM

I in that case would want to get his back checked out, it may well be that he has something "out" which is making him reluctant to bend through his back and neck. Once this has been eliminated you can then start to address it as being a behavioural issue.

arabianlover15 · 03-12-2009, 10:37 AM

where can i go to get his backed checked out? a vet/chiropractor?

CaliLove1994 · 03-12-2009, 10:39 AM

use a chiropracter .. they specialize in it, most vets just take a course on it.

03-11-2009, 11:02 AM	#1
arabianlover15 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 942 Images: 13	lunging help my older horse tends to pull alot on the lead line when i lunge him and is really stiff turning i tug on the rope for him to bring his head in and it doesnt seem to work any suggestions?????? this problem just started and i dont have alot of time since im taking care of many horses and training two young foals and one upcoming two year old(not really trianing just a refresher and brush down) . the older horse has actually made me fall when he canters because he pulls so hard against me and it gets frustraiting!.. how can i pick up his backing up speed?? he is really slow on that too. __________________ you come running with grace and elegance, in your eyes i see the real bueaty of your breed, the arabian horse. known like no other!

03-11-2009, 11:11 AM	#2
HappyJoy Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 2,064 Images: 56	When you say "older" how old do you mean? It could be stiffness. It's hard on horses to canter in a small circle like that for very long, let alone if they are older with any arthritis or joint issues. If it's attitude, then there are a couple things to check. What do you lunge him in? A rope halter is good for horses who pull, because it has a little "bite" to it. Also, what do you do when he pulls? Has he always lunged well in the past? __________________ Becca

03-11-2009, 12:24 PM	#3
Demanda1904 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SOcal. Posts: 992 Images: 90 Blog Entries: 8	HappyJoy asked some good questions. without someone steering an older horses staying in a perfect circle at all gaits can be a challenge and potentially very painful. lets get some background on this guy __________________ Chancingit+longitudes&attitudes= LOVE keep mahh feet on the ground && my head in the clouds [matisyahu]<3

03-12-2009, 10:24 AM	#4
arabianlover15 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 942 Images: 13	around eight years old im real good at teaching the horses how to lunge but lately i have not dealt with this head issue and trying to solve it __________________ you come running with grace and elegance, in your eyes i see the real bueaty of your breed, the arabian horse. known like no other!

03-12-2009, 10:32 AM	#7
arabianlover15 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 942 Images: 13	i havent lunged him in a month...... he is super stiff at his neck and bending he feels all crunched up not relaxed and smooth its weired __________________ you come running with grace and elegance, in your eyes i see the real bueaty of your breed, the arabian horse. known like no other!

03-12-2009, 10:30 AM	#5
CaliLove1994 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,160	There are loads of things it could be .. unsound stiffness unbalanced athritis unbalanced shoes being a juurk back problems just pain from being old. I would stop lunging him until you find the problem though

03-12-2009, 10:31 AM	#6
CaliLove1994 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,160	eight year old ... haha i thought you were talking about 15-20 years old. It could still possible be all of those except for the one about him being in pain because of being old.

03-12-2009, 10:36 AM	#8
sarahhowen Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cheshire, UK Posts: 980 Images: 71	I in that case would want to get his back checked out, it may well be that he has something "out" which is making him reluctant to bend through his back and neck. Once this has been eliminated you can then start to address it as being a behavioural issue. __________________ Proud "mum" to her three beautiful girls (mares) Tally, Maria and Varla

03-12-2009, 10:37 AM	#9
arabianlover15 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 942 Images: 13	where can i go to get his backed checked out? a vet/chiropractor? __________________ you come running with grace and elegance, in your eyes i see the real bueaty of your breed, the arabian horse. known like no other!

03-12-2009, 10:39 AM	#10
CaliLove1994 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,160	use a chiropracter .. they specialize in it, most vets just take a course on it.

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