As many of you already know, BamBam was our first rescue pony.He's had many issues mainly with his feet, plus he's got a strong Arab personality.
I think I have tried every possible kind method to help him to lunge, including me being inside a circle and him on the outside, but he just isn't getting it. We've even had him watch the others being lunged.
Today I tried him in our nearly finished round pen, to no avail. He'd follow me in circles, when I tried to send him away he took it as a challenge and came in to accept that challenge lol, so we just had quality time in the pen instead.
so I'm open to ideas please guys.
On Bambam's feet side of things, I've been doing more and more studying and found it interesting that the farrier had never separated the white line from the wall of the hoof, so the inner laminae was being stretched out with the hoof wall, which must have been causing him discomfort. Today he eventually stood still for me to release that pressure, once he felt the relief he stood still. Amazes me how with all of the training video's out there explaining how to do things, that not everyone teaches the whole thing just bits of what they know.
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Always learning :D
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Horse Behavior and Training
Getting BamBam to lunge
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Hi Mel, do you mean single line lunging? Have you tried longlining, how does he respond to that? What are you lunging him with (if it's single line) - halter? cavesson nose band or...? What do you use to send him away? Sorry for the interrogation - just trying to get an image of what is happening
Hi. You do mean loose lunging I hope. Humphrey came from a traditionalist! He was entire, 2 years old & had his bottom left teeth kicked out, presumably by a shod mare as he had been causing havoc so I was told. I taught him to stand so the farrier could see to his feet. However, we did not do join up until later due to his physical state & even plastic on a stick failed to move him! I used an empty feed sack, white. Flicked it in front of me, like getting the creases out of a wet pillow case. That worked. I should add that if Humphrey was any more laid back he'd be horizontal. Actually, he's more reactive since being gelded. One never knows! Cheers, Jo
I've always been pretty strong when lunging & could get most to lunge, but my little 11hh welsh pony mare had me stumped, she got my feet moving not the other way round, i found the answer for her was to long line in straight lines to start with.
Have him led round to show him what you want, then the leader gradually move away.He shouldn't see that as a challenge. Long rein off the Dually with loose side reins.
With Libby, loose in the round pen, i had to use a lunge whip as she would NOT move otherwise, i didn't use it on her, she just had respect for it & moved away from it.
Thanks Guys
On the dually have tried single and double lunge lines. For double lunge lines I've never seen a horse try to spin as much as he did and he totally wrapped his legs up. Thankfully he listen to my 'stand' command and I was able to unravel him. Tried to long line him from behind, as soon as the lunge line got near the back legs, again he spun till it got wrapped around his legs, so we stopped that.
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Remember we were his 5th owners at the age of 21 months, so we have no idea fully what he's been through.
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Single line lunging on the dually and he either stands still or takes a challenge at my suggestion to walk on and point the direction I want him to go using my hands and head.
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Loose lunging is the same as single line, he'll take it as a challenge and comes to argue with me. Thankfully he's only 13.3h and I stand my ground.
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His back legs have always been an issue. He's densities though with everything possible, he'll even have bright cuddly toys sit on him, tarpaulin not longer an issue. Lunge whip not a problem I can stand next to him and swing it all over the place and he just stands still watching it. He's bold as brass and even comes up our steps into the tack room that we've had to put a gate across. Very good on the dually, walk, trot, canter, back up etc...
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He knows the pressure of moving away as I group free lunge the herd around part of the field for their exercise, bit too much to do 5 horse exercised in a day lol, so he knows what the lunge whip is for and my body language for moving them forward and turning when asked.
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I've had Darrell running around with him in a circle and he'll go find until Darrell lets go, then he turns in and stands.
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I generally work lunging from one side of the dually as I teach them to bend their heads/neck correctly, also to see if they are tight to one side of the neck and if they're left or right sided for thinking. Sometimes use the roller and double line lunge depending on the horse.
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My round pen is nearly finished so I've had a go again with him, in hope that he realises he needs to go in a circle lol.
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I don't know the history of your horse but i allow me to suggest something i would be focused on:)First i would learn him to respect your personal space at all times even when you ask him to do things he disagrees with. In the Wild the leading horse is the one who makes the others move:) So learning him to yield to pressure you provide is a good start in my opinion. I would spend some time on backing him up, sending him in different directions and when backing him up , don't allow him to move towards you before you ask him to do so. After he reacts to your suggestions, back him up, send him to the left (e.g.) and all you have to do is make him walk:) I would also start lounging him with halter/rope and i wouldn't use a whip cos it looks like he has some negativ associations with it. Good Luck and greetings
Hi. Max spins in the long lines when he thinks he's had enough. Judging from his expression this is his idea of a joke! For an ' incredible bucking pony ' he's so compliant. He's met every challenge I've brought to him. We have a new one now - cart & harness arrived about a week ago. This is new territory for me so we will be taking really baby steps. Do you think Bambam has welsh in his breeding? These are very intelligent with a great sense of humour & a huge chunk of curiosity. Max is a good, burly A. I've seen him excited & dragging an 18 stone man around on a normal head collar. Not bad for less than 12 hands! He was returning to us after recuperation from laminitis & was desperate to rejoin the herd. Ditch the whip. Have you tried plastic on a stick? Introduce a saddle so you can tap on it with the plastic. If the challenge is increased the distractions will cause him to concentrate elsewhere. Enjoy your round pen. Jo
Hi Mel, you do have a problem don't you! those back legs do need desensitizing don't they. In that case perhaps just work with one line on that issue for the moment, not trying to lunge him, just put the line on one training ring & walk round the back of him, let the line gently touch his hind leg to see if he can work out how to come off it. That is the place to start i think.
Hi Mel - a couple of thoughts
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(1) I think there is an interesting point that you make "I've had Darrell running around with him in a circle and he'll go find until Darrell lets go, then he turns in and stands". He is still very young. When you run him in a herd he has someone to follow. When Darrel takes him, he has someone to follow. In a round pen, he has the pen to 'lean' on for security and goes round to where he first started. In an open area they need confidence to go forward with you not leading - don't forget, we have been teaching them to follow at our shoulder - now we are asking them to go out on their own - it's a big step. I suggest waiting for the round pen to be finished or trying longlinging in a smaller, enclosed area. Failing that, longline him with Darrel at his head to follow and then Darrel can slowly drop away but watch both your body positions so you don't confuse him and make him spin or stop.
(2) As others have said desensitise those back legs but if he does move forward and kick out at them keep going - he will settle down, otherwise you accidentally teach him that kicking the lines is a way to stop.
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Jo - a couple of tips you might find helpful for cart training.
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(1) It is one of the times where 'into pressure' should not be trained out but maintained i.e. they need to lean into the harness to pull rather than pulling away from the pressure on their chest/collar/whatever is being used (if that makes sense)
(2) A friend of mine trains to carts and it is one of the abiding principles that the horse needs to feel confident about being driven from behind. When we longline in our usual way the horse can see us but to train to cart we are behind and they have to trust our communication and feel happy to move forward. She always has a second person at the head to give the pony confidence and then over time the 2nd person can drop back.
(3) Some people use tyres for horses to pull to allow them the sensation. This can be dangerous - if the horse spooks, tyres can bounce/roll and freak a horse out - she uses pallets - not sure what Monty uses for the Willing Partners horses.
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Apologies if you already know all this - was just adding a few tips as you mentioned it was a new territory for you :-)
Thanks guys for all the suggestions, Pye taught me something yesterday I'll have to upload a video first, but I've tried what he taught me with BamBam and it's working, the challenges are reducing. I just needed to step back and see what the communication was, my mistake was walking away first. I'll post a link with explanation soon.
Have a great weekend!
Jo, BamBam is a Welsh D x Arab, I'd say a good 75% more Arab than Welsh
Cart training tips very helpful - thanks. I think Max May have done this before as it's like a duck to water & seems far too easy. Taking little steps - but more for me as he seems impatient to see the cart! Anyway, will make him wait as we need to do this progressively. Cheers, Jo
Ooh. BamBam sounds a potential honey. My real best mate, Apollo Le Sheik, was 3/4 Arab & I think, Connemara. He lived to 38, listened to all my woes, made my life fabulous & even though he's been gone since 2005, is still sorely missed. However, I have herd of 5 & they are all great although the yearling, Kirk, is a real in your face character & may well prove to be the outstanding one. I just wish he'd decide what colour to be. So far we have had smokey grey, chestnut, black & dark bay with roan patches! Actually he could be sky blue pink & I'd still love him to bits!!!
lol, what a combination of colours Jo. Apollo Le Sheik sounds wonderful and a lovely age, well done!
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