Conference noted::equitation

JoAnne,

How about long lining?  Does she understand that?  I've taught older horses than
yours (remember Amos?) to lunge using a second line/rein on the outside, coming
around the hindquarters, so you and the horse and the lines create a pie-shaped
wedge.  That way, when they swing their hindquarters out, you pull on that
rein/line and it acts like your outside leg and pulls the hindquarters back in.

That second (outside) line can really help with the directionals.


kathy

    When I first got my mare 10 years ago she was 9 and untrained except
    for driving.  She had no ideas about lunging or being ridden.  I taught
    her to lunge in a very short time by having a friend lead her around
    the circle I was asking her to move on.  After only a few times around
    she caught right on and was fine.  I couldn't use a whip with her,
    though, still can't. As a harness racer she'd learned that whips meant
    punishment (maybe they are not intended as such by the drivers, but
    this particular horse certainly saw them in that light).  So instead
    of a whip I just used a ton of verbal encouragement.
    
    This method may not work for everyone, but it's worth a try if you
    have a volunteer who can help out.
     

    I've used both methods described in .1 and .2  to teach horses to
    lunge.
    
    My biggest hurdle is getting the Fjord to canter on a lunge line.....
    seems she's been taught not to canter.....and boy can she trot!
    
    
    
    

    Michele,
    
    I had THAT problem with my mare, too! Spending 6 years as a harness
    racer taught her that cantering was a big no-no, and she was terrified
    of being punished for 'breaking' her gait.  It took time, patience,
    time, patience, and more time and patience.  The biggest part of the
    problem was her mental fear.  She had to learn to trust that I would
    not punish her, and the only way she could lean this was by doing it.
    On the lunge I gently and quietly encouraged tons of forward movement 
    at the trot.  When she did break, she stop dead in her tracks and
    shake for fear of the anticipated whip.  I would praise her to high
    heavens, pat her, tell her how wonderful she was, and take her out
    for a trail ride (which she has always loved).  Eventually she
    stopped acting afraid and began 'breaking' more and more frequently
    and holding the canter for longer periods of time.  I rewarded her
    lavishly every time she cantered, now matter how short a period of
    time she did it for.  For her, it was all a matter of trusting me.
    Cantering under saddle was not all that difficult once she'd learned
    that it was acceptable, and had done so enough that she was able
    to balance herself properly without a rider first.  Actually, now
    (10 years later), I can't get her to trot like a racer for anything.
    :-)
     

    Sigrid will canter under saddle....but on the lunge.....it's almost too
    comical.  I'm fortunate that she is not afraid of the whip....that's
    the other mare.
    
    By the way Linda, my two 13 yr. old helpers are trying to convince
    their mom and dad that they can handle the responsibility of horse 
    ownership.  I found them an ex-trotter pony.  She's 14hh, 18 yrs old 
    and has been retired for 12 years.  She's real sweet too.  I hope their 
    parents let them get her.....and she'll be coming to my barn....

I went home last Friday nite and tried the 2 line approach. I used a surcingle
and brought the outside line around her hind quarters. I worked like a charm!

By Sunday - we were "walk"ing and "whoa"ing without a hitch. If the weather
cools down this week - we'll start "trot"ting ;-)

	Thanks for the suggestion Kathy, and everyone's help.

Ironically - I went home last night and found my August issue of Practical 
Horseman in the mailbox - one of the features was training your horse to
longe!