lungeing

Question
When I try to lunge my 6 yr old Q.Horse mare, all she does is turn to face me. I put her out at the end of the lunge line, and tell her(by kissing and taping her with a whip if she doesn't listen)to walk. She takes a few steps, then turns in a walks to me. Sometimes, she just turns and walks to me right away. She needs to be lunged, for other training purposes, but i don't know how to make her do it.

Answer
JoAnne,

Sounds like she's not been trained to lunge.  You will have to start her from the beginning.  Start with her only a few feet from you on the line with the rest of the line coiled in your hand.  Position yourself by her hip and drive her forward, tapping if necessary with the whip.  Get her walking in a big circle that way.  Once she gets the idea you can gradually let the line out.  This may take a few lessons for her to get the idea as far as starting her at the length of the line.  While she's on the shorter line work her with the same commands you will use when she's at the extent of the line - walk and whoa.  Commands for faster gaits will have to wait until she's figured out working on the end of the line.  Granted, you will do a fair amount of walking yourself to start so make sure you have shoes to do it in on your feet!  Once she gets the idea, you'll see it "click" in her head, then you'll be ready to continue. Just remember you need to be back by her hip at least to start and in the early stages to drive her forward.  I'm sure she'll pick it up quickly, I've never had one that didn't.

Lyn