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lunging issues

2K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  loosie 
#1 ·
I as wondering if anyone can give me a tip on what to do with my mare and lunging. I had my mare staying at a friends when I first got her, I adopted her, and didn't have anywhere to keep her, I have room just no pen. I kept her there for 2 months and we finally had the place cleared but needed an extra month to build the pen and set up for for her. I was going over to work with her 2-3 times a week and she was coming along great, but the last 2 weeks before I brought her home I didn't get over there and my friend decided to work her for me.

We have completely different styles of training she's old style and she lunges with a whip and told me once, she gives them a good bite of the whip to let them know to behave. I didn't use a whip and was doing gawani pony boy training and had her lunge then turn on cue and face me, she followed me perfectly was perfect but after her training sessions with my horse I haven't been able to lunge her, she fights me hard. She had a gash on her side when I went to see her a week before I picked her up but my friend said she ran against something, I didn't believe her, I've seen her punch her horse in the nose for nipping at her. Could this be causing my problems with her lunging and all together trust issues? Sorry I ran on, just upset about my girl becoming a monster, I ain't giving up just wanna know if you can undo a lunging fear of whips. I know you have to be bigger and badder than your horse but she hit her for doing what I told her to do so I think she was confused and I've tried to start from the beginning but she ain't having it. Did I mention that she is a rescued, very smart and now spoiled arab mare, who knows she's beautiful. Thanks for any help.
 
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#3 ·
I don't think she's ruined. I would desensitise her to the whip first then go back to what you were doing. She's an Arab so she is smart & she will figure out that you have a new game plan. She'll be happy to go back to your gentler ways.
I have Arabs & have found that less is more with them. They work much better when asked than told.
Your girl will be fine.
No comment on your friend.
 
#4 ·
I don't think she's ruined. I would desensitise her to the whip first then go back to what you were doing. She's an Arab so she is smart & she will figure out that you have a new game plan. She'll be happy to go back to your gentler ways.
I have Arabs & have found that less is more with them. They work much better when asked than told.
Your girl will be fine.
No comment on your friend.
Thanks, I agree,I have tried but she just bites at the whip and has become nippy. I guess I will go to ground zero. By the way the horse she punched I now own(bought for my hubby, they adore each other, 16 yr old crabbet/polish) and she has never bitten us in 6 months, she bit her old owner all the time, I wish I could get her daughter too.


ThatNinjaHorse: What exactly is she doing when she "fights you hard"?

We go in circles with her trying to stay in front facing me, she won't expose her side or backend to me staying as close as possible, I have tried to use Chris Irwin's lunging technique but she gets a step ahead and I am facing her again. My husband tried and he got her out, but she reared and ran. She doesn't trust anyone with a whip in hand, I tried lunging without and she just stands looking at me like, What now, even a rope like I used to use makes her mad.
 
#5 ·
Hi,

Oh, your poor horse sounds like she had a scary couple of weeks! I'm glad you were able to take your friend's other one too. If you had already got a good thing going with her before your friend started, it shouldn't take too long to get that back.

I'd forget about lunging for now & go back to the basics. I'd use 'approach & retreat' methods to desensitise her first to you, gradually getting her comfortable & confident with you being in whatever position. Then use a&r with a whip/stick, ropes, etc & get her gradually confident & desensitised with you being close & holding, swinging & eventually touching her with them. You'll need to gradually *prove* to her that you're not like your friend & not ever going to kill her with your 'toys'.

Once you've basically desensitised her & she's trusting of you again, then you can start asking her to do stuff like lunging. I would also use a whip/stick/rope in this instance, to teach her(again quietly, not stressfully with a&r) how to *respond* to signals from these aids & learn not to fear them in this situation either(because horses don't generalise well). I would start out with her on a rope & small circle and get her good at walking calmly first, before I'd ask for further away/faster gaits.
 
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