Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My daughter just acquired a rescued mini, who is a very sweet horse. We do not have any experience but friends with horses are helping us out. When we try to lunge her, she bucks and kicks and runs completely wild. We've been told to let her go and let her get tired, as well as, she is acting like this due to the coler weather. I'm not sure what we are doing wrong but my daughter is now terrified to lunge her.

Do you have a round pen? If you do, I would recommend lunging the mini in there. If your daughter is scared, you may need to have your friend lunge her or you do it yourself. If she is just learning how to lunge, make sure you do not use the whip as a weapon to scare her, just use it as an extension of your arm to create engergy behind her to make her move forward. You may also need someone to lead her around in the circle as you give her the commands so that she does not start running and bucking and such. Lead her at the walk and trot. Do that until she catches on and then when you want her to canter, she can do it without being led. It will show her what you want nice and clearly. I would also recommend desensitizing her to the lunge whip, because in her past, someone may have whipped her with it and she could be afraid of it. To do that, you just have her in a halter and lead rope with her head tipped toward you and you lightly toss the string part of the whip over her back, take it off, and over her neck, and off, and over her butt, and off, and around her legs, ect. until she is totally relaxed with it. Then go to the other side and do the same thing. If she moves, just let her move around, while you just keep her head tipped toward you so if she trys to kick, her rear isnt going toward you. So do that until she is relaxed and standing still on both sides, that eliminates the problem of her being afraid of it. When I train horses, I always do this before and after I lunge them everytime. It helps a lot! Hope this helps.

There are a few thing you can do. Put a chain on her. I normaly run over the nose but you can go under. This gives you a little more control. Use the lunge whip behind her. If she is a small mini she can stay at the shoulder and not get kicked. If anything have someone behind with the whip to mover her on. Crack it not hit her with it. If you still have problems try snapping at the heals.

Another way is to have a few people help you. Hook two lines up to her. Set up to lunge on both sides. Then have a person behind her with a lundge whip. The person on the outside is going to get exersize. Have them run with her until she starts going good. Then take the line or lead off. You may have to do this a few times.

Good luck