[SaveTheHorses]

I have taught horses how to lounge before, but this one is a bit more difficult or maybe all the other horses I've taught have been really easy!?

I use the neck line thing, not sure what its called, but you stay behind a line to drive them forward, and step in front to ease them..
Well, this mare has no concept of this, at all. nothing I do effects it. I can drive her with tapping the whip on the ground, but its not terribly effective.
She is getting better at her voice commands as well, but still not 'good'

Also, she is terribly unresponsive to just a lead rope. Most of the time she is great, leads at my side like a gem, but then every once in a while, she is unruly, and just *stupid* pushes me with her head, dances around, and no matter what I do, she wont stop.
I try to understand, see if there is something in common each time, but there really isnt. I have put a chain on her, and it's 'better' to get her to respond, but it doesnt do anything when she starts being naughty.

Most of the time she ties just fine, she does paw at times, but we are working on that. but the she does the same thing, she just pushes me with her head, and dances around.

She isnt mean at all, she is usually calm and fun, but the theres *whatever she's doing* and I need to figure out, what is causing it.

I do flyspray, and sack her out everytime I work with her, brush and touch her all over --no problems ..
I am just looking at what would cause that behaviour, knowing what she is like most of the time.
any ideas/advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Auzzie Honey]

More details please

Age? How long have you had her?
How is her ground work? What kind of lunging do you do (long lining or single rein)? Do you lunge in a roundyard or in an open field?

[SaveTheHorses]

she is only two (maybe 3, I dont quite remember)
I have been working with her for about a month. First I just had her in a round pen, to see how she would do, then put a line on her in there and she did much better.

[Auzzie Honey]

Aww only a bubby This is a fun age

Don't be afriad to be assertive with her .. if she does something wrong, let her know it was wrong, and ask again until she understands what it is that your asking. When she does it right, biiiiig praises, and continue either onto something else, or end the session. Keep the sessions short and sweet to help her stay interested and not overwhelm her

I'd continue with ground work, stepping forward, back out of your space, moving the quaters, etc.. this should then carry into leading. If she decides to have a spazz attack, and there is nothing provoking it (scary dog for example), get her to disengage her hindquaters (if she's "dancing") and then back up (if she pushes with her head/or spaz). Get her out of 'your space' and out alone .. not far, a few good steps back and let her think about it. Tell her off verbally "no rubbing on me" or w/e. After a moment to think about it, invite her to come back in to you, and carry on leading

Hope this helps some. Off to do some assignments

[sarahhowen]

I had a mare that just didn' get the concept of lunging (yes she really is that stupid) I brought a Monty Roberts Duelly to work on another horse and this was great on my mare as she got the idea a lot quicker, with this if she refuses to move forward you can open your arm and put forward pressure on the nose area, she will understand this as she can already be lead. Just an idea though

[SaveTheHorses]

That does seem to be the case with this mare, she simply doesnt get it, and I dont know how to help her!

[Goonhorse]

I think it sounds like she needs to be sensitized to the whip.

I like to point in the direction the horse is going to get them to speed up. If that doesn't work, I use my training stick w/ string and smack the ground behind her. If that doesn't work then I put it to whack them on the behind. Depending on their level of training, I'd start out with a tap and get harder. If my mare waited that long, she'd get it harder right away, because she would know she should have responded to the first cue.

As for the leading thing, if she got into my personal space like that, and started rubbing on me, she'd find herself backing very quickly out of my personal space. That's what I would do--back her up with energy. Stop, and if she tries to creep back into your personal space (I like Clinton Anderson's "Hula-Hoop" which is an imaginary circle with a diameter of approx. 6 feet, just to give you a slightly better boundary for your horse), back her out of it again.

When you're ready to go, point with the lead rope hand, forward. If she doesn't move up, reach behind you (don't turn around) with the lunging whip or training stick or whatever you have and tap her until she moves up beside you.

[Goonhorse]

Oops, I said 6 feet in diameter. I meant 12 feet--6 feet in front, six behind and six to either side.

[sarahhowen]

Originally Posted by SaveTheHorses

That does seem to be the case with this mare, she simply doesnt get it, and I dont know how to help her!

Try the duelly if you can get your hands on one, my mare soon got the idea and once she understood she has come on in leaps and bounds, it was just getting her to understand in the first place - Geez - Mares!

[SaveTheHorses]

I do agree, sensitizing to the whip is probably going to help.

I am noticing, when she pushes me with her head on me, I think its always the one side of her head (her right side)
It is more like she is pushing me, ... is it possible she is more head shy on one side? just a thought. because when I go to put the chain through on the one side, she pushed me harder. (maybe because she knows she doesnt like it?!)