horse people..? re: lunge-lining

[Ginevive]

I have a question about lunging (on a line.) I took Emma out for awhile today and she did pretty good, as she has not been lunged in over a year, and never on a line! I did it in a roundpen before but never on line in a pasture with the other mare as a distraction..
Well, Emma paid attention pretty well, but I am trying to figure out how to get her to stop. She is not big on verbal commands; she reads body language well though, but if I stop spinning, she will generally stop when I give a pull on the rope sideways; any hints? I had her going about 15 feet away from me, in a circle. Finally used that lunge line for something besides a blockade rope in the barn aisle, or a long dog leash!
And how do you avoid getting soooo dizzy!? I was about to fall on the ground, lol!
I did not overdo it; I trotted her for a few minutes but she was breathing a bit heavy so I slowed her and stopped.
Any other tips would be appreciated! I will get a video soon.

[wolfy-hound]

About getting dizzy, instead of turning constantly, walk a small circle while facing her or even slightly ahead of her, and if you want to stand in one spot, turn halfway, pause, turn halfway pause, rather than constant turning. Looking only at the horse helps, don't be tempting to look beyond at the horizon going by... and by and by...
The stopping is deendant on how you have her hooked up. Using a chain under her jaw, you can pull and it puts pressure there. Just snapped onto a halter, body language and verbal are about the best you can hope for. Stepping "behind" and giving a sharp pull while giving the verbal also can help. Shaking a lunge whip in front for the determined lunging horse to distract them from the repetive motion and make them pay attention to you, and/or the surroundings sometimes works. They can get "bewitched" by the round and round too, and the shaking of the object in front of them usually breaks that trance(if your animal is prone to it).

[TekWarren]

I visited my wife at work today about mid day and she was lunging one of the many horses she has in for training. I don't know squat about horses but I can back up what wolfy said. In watching my wife work she walks in a small to medium circle herself to avoid "sitting and spinning". I've not seen the full process but she uses voice commands and has a whip in one hand ...not that I've ever seen her use it. The little monster as she called it that I saw her working had come a long way I guess. Started out a real freak and had to be on chains to start but none of that is needed anymore. Again I have no about horses myself but my wife went to college for equine management or something like that and has been training them for years...she knows her ...horse poo LOL

[Ginevive]

Wow; sounds like Emma a bit Tek She was never worked when we got her; last year, she had her colt at her side so working her was futile and would have been too hard on her; but this year is her year to put her nose to the grindstone.
I definately want to avoid the mindless trancelike lunging; thanks for the tips Wolfy. I was using the loose, coiled end of the line as a whip because honestly, Emma is deeply terrified of whips for some reason (hoses too; she was probably clobbered by one..) So until I can work on that; I wrapped it neatly so it was not something we could trip on.. she responded well to my body language and I only needed an occasional flick of the LL end and things went better than I thought; I plan on getting another line so Mark can work one of the mares while I work the other; Cuesta is a deadbeat at times so it will be fun to get her going!
I am using a white "Weaver" brand line.. I had actually just clipped it to her big halter ring but I think I will try the chain-nosing thing.. I seem to have remember someone having a foam-like one before; like an inner rope covered in a tubular foam; I wonder if those exist anymore (this was the 1980s lol.)

[Laooda]

If you face and focus (actually look) on the flank of the horse, this will promote movement. Horses move away from pressure/obstacles..... Same goes for asking them to stop or slow down. If you take a large step towards her nose..basically suggesting that your are getting in front of her...(even though you are not close) and hold your hand up and say "whoa" or "ho" or what ever your stop word is, while gently pulling her head towards you... she might instinctively stop for you.

[Laooda]

I just haft to add, *not trying to contradict Wolfy*... but I would never use a chain on a mare in an open pasture... if like you say she shys from lunge whips etc... then there is a good chance that she has also had a chain used on her improperly as well.... Under the chin = head up... sometimes waaayyyy up. If she bolts from the shock of a unexpected chain tug, then you could loose her in an open field dragging a line that could get tangled etc... not good. (not to mention I've seen several fingers get broken that way)...
Again... no Wolfy bashing, just my opinion...

[Blu Mongoose]

I use a line with about 1 ft of chain at the horses end. I run it through the loop of the halter on the side I'm standing, then pass it under the chin and hook it to the loop on the far side. Gives you much more control of an untrained horse. When attempting to stop an untrained horse I say whoa while tugging the head repeatedly towards me . Turning the horses head slows them down, With a little work she will get your drift. For safetys sake never step in front of a moving horse. Also I may never use it , but I always keep a whip in hand. If a horse comes in too close you can ussually wave it and they will move out and away from you. No whip in hand can be a bit dangerous with an untrained animal. You don't have to use it on them the wave will ussually make them turn away. As far as circling myself, I just stay in one spot and take lrge pivot steps. Also when you reverse the direction, change out the direction of the halter chain.

[Blu Mongoose]

I just haft to add, *not trying to contradict Wolfy*... but I would never use a chain on a mare in an open pasture... if like you say she shys from lunge whips etc... then there is a good chance that she has also had a chain used on her improperly as well.... Under the chin = head up... sometimes waaayyyy up. If she bolts from the shock of a unexpected chain tug, then you could loose her in an open field dragging a line that could get tangled etc... not good. (not to mention I've seen several fingers get broken that way)...
Again... no Wolfy bashing, just my opinion...

As far as fingers broken, Please DO NOT wrap the lead around hands or any body part while working her. Allow it to slide thru your hands, then grab and tug.
May have to tug several times while you get her back under control. I have seen a person dragged at high speed when they wrapped it around their body. WHY, I DON'T KNOW!:eek:

[Ginevive]

As far as fingers broken, Please DO NOT wrap the lead around hands or any body part while working her. Allow it to slide thru your hands, then grab and tug.
May have to tug several times while you get her back under control. I have seen a person dragged at high speed when they wrapped it around their body. WHY, I DON'T KNOW!:eek:

OMG.. scary thought!
Soon we plan on creating a roundpen-like enclosure for holding and working purposes, inside our pasture; it is about three acres. I really like free-lunging more; we worked on that when Em was at the trainer's last year, since he has a roundpen..
I do not know if she has had a chain on her ever (looped thru halter).. her past is shadier than mine! But should I try it as a default, or, since she is responding by using the one ring, just go for that?

[Blu Mongoose]

If she responds well to just one in the ring that's great. I myself don't like free lunging. I feel you gain more control and teach a little restraint on their part when they know you are in control. Sometimes when they are free running and not reined in a certain area I have seen them spook and try to scale a round pen wall. One such incident the horses chest was deeply gashed. If your horse is already familiar with the pen it is likely not as much of a risk.Good luck with her training. It builds a great bond with your animals to work with them on a regular basis.