Horse Training Success

"My horse doesn't like to lunge. He always tries to kick at me when I try to lunge him. He has had no bad past experiences with it but he just doesn't like me lunging him. Do you have any suggestions?"

Does your horse like to kick at you while you are trying to lunge him? Like this:



Kudos to the girl who got her horse going nice in the end.

Here's 10 suggestions to get you going smoothly...
1. Have patience and persistence. Keep your temper under control. If you get frightened, draft in someone else to help or take over while the problem is being sorted out.
2. Lunging in a confined space, such as the pen in the video, is a great idea if you have access to one.
3. Keep sessions short so your horse does not get bored and start acting up (15 mins all up).
4. When your horse starts to turn outwards to face his rear end toward you to kick.... use the lunge line to counteract. Pull his head back around.
5. Hold a lunge whip in the hand nearest his rear, and the lunge rein in the hand nearest his front. NOT the other way around. Your horse may be kicking out trying to say,'I'm confused. Do you want me to go or not?' A whip closer to his head than his rear is confusing.
6. If he starts kicking out, threaten him by flicking the whip at his rear end! (Not on him). Let him know this kicking is unacceptable.
7. If he starts kicking out, use a growly tone of voice and tell him NO.
8. Make sure you are ALWAYS standing in a position that encourages your horse to go forward, ie 'behind the shoulder line', or so you can see more of his rear.
9. Talk to your horse in a calm, praising tone when he is going well.
10. Reward your horse for good behaviour by ending the session. And always end on some kind of positive note.