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  Discussion on Beginning Longing
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Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004 - 6:03 pm:

When the time comes to teach your youngster to lunge, what I did worked really well and you can use this now to prepare him. Teach him verbal cues to associate with moving forward (walk, trot). When he is solid on this, start moving away from him while repeating the command until he is walking alongside but several feet away. Before long he will continue on a circle around you. It took my horse about an hour to learn (broken up into two sessions) but he's older and more mature. Your baby still has the attention span of a nat.

I teach all my horses to move forward with just verbal cues. The tone is very important. Upward transitions indicate and upward tone - trrrot, can-ter. Downward are the opposite, whhoooa. Hope ya'll getting a good laugh here.

Good luck with your baby.
New Member:
Dovene

Posted on Saturday, Sep 3, 2005 - 10:09 pm:

I have a ten year old gelding, who we believe is not very familiar with lunging. Any suggestions on how to begin. My daughter was able once or twice to get him to trot in a circle, but we really do not know what we are doing this is our first horse. Also how often should you really lunge your horse?}}
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Sunday, Sep 4, 2005 - 10:20 am:

Welcome Dorene!!

There are many different ways to go about this, but I think Clinton Anderson's Lunging for Respect is the best. You can do his method alone. You do need, in my humble opinion, a few key pieces of equipment: a "be nice" halter, which is a rope halter. Different lengths of ropes, 14' to start, then I go to a 30'. I make these myself but you can use a "lunge line". These though are usually a webbed line and I find these are a pain that they get tangled up easily. A pair of gloves for you, a helmet too, and a whip. Usually about 4'-5' long with a sash. That's a great size to do alot with and easy to handle.

Have you horse face you, stand back maybe 6' at first. Point with your left hand. Your thumb is facing him, your little finger is the direction. Put your hand up and out the way you want him to go. Then start swinging the whip at him, a circle overhand motion, go towards his shoulder. You are walkin straight at him, giving direction with your other hand. He may back,that's o.k., go with him. Just keep doing what you are doing til he moves off to the left. If he goes the wrong way, tug him back. Keep 2 eyes on you when he's facing you, that's keeping his attention. Point, and try again.

Once he moves out, you can let him circle around you. It takes some coordination because you do have to feed the rope out, and sometimes pull the slack back. Plus you have the whip. Which you keep the end on the ground except if "pointing, or swinging it at him". I find letting the extra rope lay on the ground works better than trying to keep it coiled in my hands. That's where the 14' rope is nice.

There is more to this, which CA explains in his book, and I've seen on tv. Like to stop, you need to step towards his butt, swing whip overhand again at his butt, pull his head in towards you, 2 eyes on you again. Butt facing away.

This was a little aggressive I thought when I first taught myself to do it. But now I think it is the best way. I have 4 horses of different breeds and personalities. One I just point, and zoom, she's gone!! Another looked at me, and "huh?" then liked to back, and back. But I think it makes more sense than say, point the whip up to stop, or have someone else lead the horse in a circle with you. I don't think a horse can focus on 2 people at once! Some can't focus on 1 at a time even.

I do this stuff, but can't explain it well enough to teach so I'll say again, find the book CA has, videos, check if you get RFD-TV and his shows.

And how long & often to lunge? 6 outa 7 days won't hurt a 10 yr old. Don't be surprised if your first session is an hour, you are working on technique. After that, 20 min is plenty if you are working on perfecting techniques. 10 minutes before riding, or anytime introducing something new. I lunge before rides, over poles, when trying a different bit, etc. But that's me, I always figure I do ground work better than I ride!!
Member:
Lhenning

Posted on Thursday, Sep 8, 2005 - 10:02 am:

Hi Dorene,

One other thing in addition to Angie's good advice is to position your body toward the horse and imagine a string extending from your chest to just behind his shoulders. To keep him moving you need to keep "aimed" in that fashion. If you move your chest toward his neck or head, that will stop him.

I don't think the point of lunging is to just move a horse around and around, nor is it to wear them out. It is to build strong skills on the ground which are then transferred to the saddle. I lunge my horse every time before I ride him to help get his mind focussed and prepared for what I will then teach him in the saddle.

I also think Pat Parelli has excellent books and videos teaching lunging and ground work. His games not only teach but also help to build a strong bond between you and your horse.

Happy trails,
Linda
New Member:
Dovene

Posted on Sunday, Sep 11, 2005 - 11:10 pm:

Dear Angie and Linda,
Thank-you very much. I will definitely look for those books and videos, but what you have stated should help me alot. Thanks again and wish me luck.
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