Lunging?

[ciarafog]

Hi,
I know lunging is slightly frowned upon in these circles and yes I would agree that it can be very pointless at times.
However, my question is can anyone tell me what can replace lunging at the beginning of a session between playing games and being ridden, I generally use it to just get the freshness out and let her shake off all the butterflies, for want of a better phrase... before settling down to being ridden. As soon as she starts listening to me on the lunge I know she is ready to work, but I am interested to hear whether anyone has any other methods they use with a young horse?
Thanks

[Elaine]

I'd look for my horse to listen to me during the games I guess. The goal of my playing of the games/do groundwork would be to supple up horse, teach new things, polish up old stuff, see how my horse was, and work on leadership.

The way I'd approach lunging is first:

1. Figure out what the issue is:

(a) my horse is too fresh to ride i'd prefer if he wasn't jumping about so much

(b) my horse isn't listening to me and is going to be a bit of handful

(c) something else

2. Figure out best way to get solve (for example) 'a' or b'.

For 'a' I'd probably see if I was giving him too much food, giving him too little turnout or if he was unconfident and on his toes I'd do some exercises to specifically work on his confidence issues, or maybe the problem is he hasn't been taught to stand still and needs to work on that.

For 'b' there might be a leadership issue, a herd bound issue or maybe a confidence issue (or maybe others) so for leadership I'd take control of his feet and run through some very precise exercises in various directions, for the herd issue I'd come up with a plan (maybe Steve's H's solution) and work on that or confidence I'd work on specific exercises to improve that.

If I had a specific problem where lunging would be the best option to fix the cause of it I'd use it. But to be honest cos it's just one of 1000000 exercises you can do with a horse, I'd use it rarely. If a vet needed to check horses wind or something then it'd be useful.

Also worth remembering - a circle is actually a very advanced exercise for a horse if he is to do it properly. It incorporates a LOT of things together. It's something you work up towards, not something to start off with.

Also worth noting lunging due to its nature can damage growing bones (up to age 5.5 till 8 years for bigger horses) due to the stress factors involved: (info here)

irishnhsociety.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=usefulinformation&action=display&thread=831

I'm sure others have much better answers though

- also depends on your type of lunging.. repetitive circles in the same place or do you change stuff about, make it interesting, move around with horse, go over obstacles, through stuff, etc.

[ciarafog]

Hmm thats very interesting elaine thanks.
I think the problem is a mixture really.
She can be quite fresh but its not beacuse of hard feed(she doesn't get any) or because of being cooped up all the time, the only time she's in a stable is when I bring her in for work. She can stand still, that is not a problem any more. And so far has been very quiet to ride.
The (B) part is interesting, because it does take a while for her to start listening, now I think that this is because she is young and has the attention span of a goldfish.
If you get a chance maybe you might run through some of the specific exercises please I would be very interested to hear them..
I must go and look up this Stevie person you speak of too.

I really only lunge for about 10minutes so she can kind of let loose for a bit before settling down, if you get me? As I would prefer for her to let it all out before I get up there.
Thanks for taking the time to help!

[Elaine]

Stevie is Steve Halfpenny ;D

Here are the links from last years clinics in UK with Steve, worth a read:

irishnhsociety.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=horsereports&action=display&thread=500

irishnhsociety.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=horsereports&action=display&thread=448

And here are the links for some exercises Steve has used in the past which would be worth practising:

irishnhsociety.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=usefulinformation&action=display&thread=423

irishnhsociety.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=usefulinformation&action=display&thread=501

Exercise wise, any of these: irishnhsociety.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=usefulinformation&action=display&thread=1033&page=1

but to be honest doing them for the 1st time particularly with a youngster, it really helps to have someone run through them quickly for you... you need to 'obtain' a horsebox and come up to Sean lol!

The not listening bit, (same as my horse at times) doing ex1 (friendly) as a base, then running through moving their feet sideways, forwards & backup with:

1. instant release when they get it right, even just a tiny bit at the start
2. know what you're doing (hard at the start) and correct every look away by your horse, and show great leadership and consistency.
2. lots of praise to build confidence and short sessions as horse only young

....... but again it's not something really you can advise over the net, you gotta see the horse, figure out the story behind the current responses and then figure out a plan to improve the situation. Have a read of some of the horse blogs up here maybe.

My circles were messy but I found when I worked on the simple basics (leadership, control of feet) my circles just fixed themselves.

Didn't have a prob with fresh tho, cos every time I sit up on Oz we stand in the same spot for 1 to 2 mins before we move anywhere. Best bit of training I ever did with him.

ps - agree about being happy your horse is listening to you and happy before you get on No point having a cowboy moment lol!

[ciarafog]

Oh great thanks elaine will look through those later on.

The horsebox is a work in progress, turns out I have been insured on my boyfriends van thingy for the last year but nobody told me. What a waste of valuable learning time.
So now just have to learn how to drive properly with the box and grab somebody to come with me to supervise and a trip to Limerick will be in order!
The quicker option might just be to grab somebody to drive me!
Actually when you have a chance would you pm me seans phone number?

[jimmy]

Hi Ciarafog,
I most young horses have high play drives and can get great fun out of a bit of boisterous behaviour. I play a rather energetic game with my fille off line when she is full of spirit and she loves it...I send her out, she gives me her arse and runs off leeping and jumping and comes back in for a rub, when she is ready for another bit of fun she lets me know somehow and I send her out again...etcetera. She really seems to both need and like this. Of course I do this in a small arena

Regards
Jim