Lunging question

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[Wendy]

I've lunged Marley now several times, and he tends to look out of the circle a lot and he wants to come in. I'm sort of pointing the whip towards his shoulder to ask him to keep out, and to look inwards so I can get him bending correctly, but he seems to find that difficult and gets a bit stressy.

Also, if I ask him to canter on the lunge I only get a few strides, or sometimes he gets worried. When he gets going it seems fine, though.

The question is, should I leave the canter for now and just concentrate on walk and trot?

He has been seen by the physio and is a-ok physically.

[happy-horses]

I would jmo  Get the walk- halt and trot-walk ect good with perhaps a little inside flexion then build up from there.

[sixfootblonde]

Is he stiff?  Most horses are one sided.  Does he do this equally on both reins or is one rein worse?

[Wendy]

I don't think he's stiff but it does seem to be worse on one rein. I think he must find it difficult because he is generally v eager to please in everything else...maybe I am asking too much too soon.

[sixfootblonde]

Well, from what I understand, most horses are one sided and this is pretty normal.  Bit like us being left and right handed/sided.  But there are others on here with FAR more experience than me.

[issywizz]

Yes totally normal.
I would also leave the canter until the walk and trot is straight and well balanced and then begin with the transitions only-so canter a few strides at a time.
Ref the looking out I would work him close and ask him to flex very slightly and very softly whilst keeping him out with the hand at the girth  ( think of asking for SI but only enough to straighten him) then I would send him out a bit at a time and keep correcting/bringing in as necessary whilst walking the circle with him so hes still on a reasonable size circle.

[Wendy]

Ahh, good idea, Sarah, thanks. I'll try that. I suspect he's probably just never been taught to bend correctly. He clearly hasn't been worked in hand at all.

[Della]

Hi Wendy

Make sure that even when you lead him around on a circle he is paying attention to you, and therefore looking at you and slightly inclining towards you.
Then you can lead him on a gradually increasing length of line, still maintaining the attention and 'bend'. When he does this consistently you can go back to 'lunging' him. It takes great skill to 'lunge' a horse correctly if they haven't been prepared properly, so probably just as quick to go back to the beginning and start that bit again.

Call me if I haven't made that clear!

Have fun.

Della

[Wendy]

Della, you are kind.