GOOD OLD LUNGE LINE

For those readers who are experienced in round pen use or have witnessed good round pen training, you likely share my view that the round pen may be the best thing that has happened to horse training in this century. Having said that, the best trained horse I have ever produced was a Morgan stallion working primarily on a lunge line, with no round pen at all because I did not own one. For trail riders looking to produce a well-trained trail horse, do not for one minute believe that because you do not have a round pen handy that your efforts with a lunge line cannot result in true join up. While traveling through Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria last year, I do not remember seeing a single round pen. Most of their wonderfully trained horses earn their oats on a lunge line.
This article is just really a snapshot about using the lunge line for join up, for complete explanations and detail see the Blue Creek Training/Packing book at www.vistapublishing.net
The suggestions below may be helpful for aspiring trainers who are not quite getting the responses they expect from their horse with join-up when in the round pen. Some may consider using the lunge line a crutch, second to the real thing, but the purpose of crutches is to make things better, easier, safer – and they work. Trainers lacking energy, getting on in years, working with difficult, nervous, or fearful horses, can benefit by using the lunge line, preferably in a round pen, but in a square pen if necessary. If you are using a square pen, consider placing rails or boards on the insides of the corners to keep the horse from wanting to hide in the corners as you lunge.
Here are some thoughts on training your trail horse on a lunge line:
Many aspiring trainers using a round pen have difficulties with the horse turning towards them when they release pressure, finding it difficult to achieve a nice join-up. Use the lunge line to remove the confusion in your horse and yourself. Move the horse forward as you normally would (see round pen training books, DVDs, etc.). When the horse is ‘whispering’ signs that they may be receptive to ‘join-up,’ back up to release pressure as in normal join up, but now you have the line in your hand that you are bumping back towards you. Simply turn you body facing the same direction as the horse, back up while applying light tugs turning the horse towards you like a fish on a line. Back up and have the horse follow you into your space, reel the horse in to your front as you walk back and allow a rest in your comfort zone. Basically, you are mimicking the response you would expect in round pen but using the line as a crutch to help the horse understand and learn the proper response. Be sure that the horse has truly worked before asking for a release, or they will simply play the game, and you will not earn the respect that is paramount.
Once the horse has learned the idea of your bumps and backing up, and that standing facing you is a good place to be, they will often run a few more laps once you send them out again, then decide on their own to turn into you for a rest. Seems good, right.
Not good. The horse is now the one making the decision, so in their mind they are alpha. Keep the horse moving a few more laps then move back and pulse the rope again to bring the horse into the center of the pen facing you, as already explained. Let them rest. Pet them, rub your hands over them. If they take off on their own, really work them until you feel the next stop will be for real. Remember, you have that magic crutch in your hand to bring them in.
When I say back up and tug on the line lightly to reel them in, what is happening is that you have been providing a definite push as the horse moves forward, your shoulders square to the flank, your body angle not creeping forward so that your shoulders end up facing the eyes or in front of the head, which tells the horse to slow down, or worse, stop, while you are at the same time pushing the horse forward. Confusing! Likely the number one error with new round pen trainers. When in doubt, focus and square your shoulders or the rear end, even the tail, if you find yourself drifting forward too much. You need the horse to know it is a definite push, and a definite release, as you pulse them in and back up to the comfort zone.
You should be moving around with the horse, facing the horse, your feet going around in about a 6-foot diameter circle in the middle of the pen. You should not be walking around in this circle in a normal walk with feet stepping forward. If you do your shoulders and body position will automatically want to drift forward. Instead, side-step so that you are always facing the flank without twisting forward. Now, when the horse slacks off, tosses its head, cuts corners, etc., you can just quickly and aggressively step forward into the horse’s flank, say Hey! Give the whip a crack if you like, and you will be amazed at how fast the horse will pick it up from this ‘push’, and how quickly you can step your forward foot back and resume your circles without losing body position. Good stuff!
Lunging is great for the ‘whoa’ command. If the horse is moving counterclockwise with your line in the left hand and the whip in the right, and the horse is focused and paying attention, move the whip tip forward just passed the head as you step to the front of the horse and say ‘whoa’ and give a light tug on the line or lightly ‘whip’ the line to reinforce the idea of stopping. If the horse does not accept the offer let him run and do not allow him to stop until he begins to look for a release from the work. Offer the ‘whoa’ cue again, step t the front and tug the line. When the horse responds and stops with the tug or snaking of the line, allow the horse to stand for a minute or so and walk up to the horse. Pet it, give a light tug down on the halter, say ‘whoa’ to reinforce the idea that stopping was the right thing to do.
Drop the lunge line. Walk back a short distance, a few feet, then back to the horse. If the horse begins to move with you position it again parallel to the wall and tug the halter and say whoa. Do this until the horse understands that dropping the lunge on the ground means it stands still and waits. You have now trained the horse to ‘ground tie’. You will eventually be able to leave it stand for several minutes. Great for life on the trail as you often stop and get off the horse and walk away or your reins fall to the ground, etc. This is important training for trail horses as a trail horse that walks away from you as you leave the horse for a few moments is a nuisance at best and a serious problem if it walks off and does not allow you to catch it. It can be a long walk back home!
Similarly, you can use the lunge line to ground drive by running the line through stirrups and to the headstall. Attach the snap (a light snap only) to one side of the snaffle bit and the other end of the line through the stirrup and tied to the other side of the bit. Use the stop and go commands as in the article on driving. Training hour trail horse to derive has many advantages including desensitizing and working with ropes around legs and eventually using your horse to pull. (see driving the horse article). Be sure that the lune is long enough that when doubled like it is, it will not keep you too close to the horse should it kick back.
In summary, trail horses need to be respectful, willing, soft with cues, and patient. Lunging can accomplish it all! Some lunging will take the edge off of the horse but the horse needs to truly work and respect the trainer or it just becomes a game and the horse may still be disrespectful after a few rounds of the game. After using the lunge as a ‘crutch’ try achieving join up with no lunge line. Should be a breeze!
Don’t worry about not having a round pen, just get out and lunge it!

HAPPY TRAILS!