| "My horse won't lunge" is a common complaint of | | | | tenderness. Some soreness may notshow up as |
| many horse owners. Lunging can be a positive and | | | | obvious lameness, but could be enough to make it |
| effective way of working with a horse, but only if it is | | | | uncomfortable for the horse to work on a circle. |
| done correctly. Unfortunately, many people do not | | | | 4) Improve your technique. Once you have eliminated |
| understand how to correctly lunge a horse and then | | | | any environmental or physical causes that may be |
| blame the horse when he or she does not go forward. | | | | preventing the horse from going forward, it is time to |
| Horses, being prey animals, are programmed to move | | | | look at your lunging technique. |
| - to run. If a horse refused to go forward a good | | | | When you are lunging, you are sending or driving the |
| horse person will look for the cause and ask "what | | | | horse around you in a circle. The horse will mirror the |
| could be stopping a flight animal from moving | | | | alignment of your body and the circle you are walking. |
| forward"? | | | | The correct position for lunging a horse is to stand |
| 1) Check the environment. Are you trying to lunge the | | | | facing towards the head with your core (belly button) |
| horse in an area where he or she does not feel safe? | | | | aimed at the girth, your shoulder furthest from the |
| Horses will not go forward into areas they perceive as | | | | head open, and your hip nearest to the horse aimed |
| potentially dangerous. Because they are prey animals, | | | | towards the horse's inside hip. Picture a maitre d' or |
| they need to be able to see an escape route. They | | | | usher guiding someone to their seat. The near arm |
| are so claustrophobic that even going forward into the | | | | guides the person from behind while the far arm is |
| corner of an arena can be stressful for them. That is | | | | open showing the guest where the seat is. If the "guide |
| why so many horses cut corners and/or counter ben | | | | were to put their arm in front of the guest, he or she is |
| when they are ridden through the end of the arena | | | | blocked from moving forward. Another way to get a |
| furthest from the barn. Try lunging your horse in an | | | | feel for this position is to push a one wheeled wheel |
| area where he or she feels less stressed like the end | | | | barrow in a large circle. If you want the wheelbarrow |
| of the arena closest to the barn | | | | to move in a circle to the left, you must angle your |
| 2) Check your equipment. Horses are so sensitive that | | | | body slightly into the arc of the desired circle. Your left |
| they can feel a fly land on their skin. Check all your | | | | shoulder (on the inside of the arc) will be open or |
| tack to ensure there is nothing causing any discomfort | | | | slightly behind the right (outside) shoulder. Your hips will |
| or pain. An ill-fitting halter, bridle or saddle can cause | | | | be aligned with your shoulders. Your right foot will step |
| pain that may not be obvious at first glance. The bit | | | | forward and slightly out of the arc. Your left foot will |
| should be the right length and width for your horse's | | | | step forward and slightly towards the outside of the |
| mouth. Wider bits are often thought to be "softer" but | | | | arc. Try taking the same position and stepping in the |
| will be uncomfortable for a horse with a narrower | | | | same way when you lunge your horse. Picture lines of |
| space between his or her upper and lower jaw. A bit | | | | energy coming from your body as you do this. Make |
| that is not the right length will either move around too | | | | sure none of the lines of energy go directly towards or |
| much or pinch the corners of the mouth. Check for | | | | in front of the horse's head. |
| any sharp areas on the bit that may have developed | | | | Tell your horse to go forward by swinging the end of |
| over time due to wear & tear. If the bridle's brow | | | | your lunge line or the lash of a lunge whip towards the |
| band is too tight, it will cause discomfort by putting | | | | flank area. The flank is the "button" where one horse |
| pressure on your horse's sensitive ears. Make sure | | | | pushes or bites another horse to tell him or her to "go |
| your saddle fits correctly and is not creating an | | | | forward". Move the rope or the whip's lash from the |
| pressure points. Look for areas of wear on both the | | | | ground upwards towards the horse. For more push, |
| saddle and girth that could be pinching or poking the | | | | continue with this movement increasing the RPM's |
| horse's body. | | | | (rounds per minute) of the lash in this circular |
| 3) Check for lameness. Make sure your horse is 100% | | | | movement. This movement is much less aggressive to |
| sound. Palpate along his or her neck and back for any | | | | the horse than snapping the whip. |
| signs of soreness to pressure. If your horse flinches | | | | Once you have ensured the horse's physical and |
| when you apply light pressure on the muscles along | | | | psychological comfort, are working with the correct |
| the spine, you might need to get him or her a massage | | | | alignment between yourself and the horse, and pushing |
| or chiropractic treatment. You definitely need to | | | | the right "buttons", your horse should go forward in a |
| determine the cause of the soreness. Check the feet | | | | relaxed, willing and cooperative way. |
| and legs for any sign of heat, swelling, bruising or | | | | |