A friend tells me my horse is behind in training

Question
Hi Bella,
I have a 2 1/2 year old  quarter/paint stallion (Socks), I got him when he was 7 months old..
My plan was to do most of the ground work myself, & when he was old & big enough to take him to a trainers to break to ride, I just want a trail horse, nothing more..  
Last spring I was planning on getting him gelded, but it never happened, my husband decided he wanted our 2 mares bred, so now Socks is going to be a daddy come spring time..
But in those first few months after getting him, I taught him the basics, he knows verbal command so well, (better than my kids) lol  He sacked out really well, the leading, backing up, the farrier work, walking on a tarp, having feed bags blowing on the ground around his feet, I have taken him on plenty of walks through the woods he's not one bit spookey at all..  He'll trot on command, & go back to a walk or stop on command while I'm leading him around, he's had the saddle & bridle on & off  for well over a year now, since day #1 he has handled them really well..  He stands really well while being tied..  & he is still a Stallion, even though he has bred our  mares, he doesn't go around acting studdy at all..  He's the only horse that comes when called for in the pasture..  The only things he has had trouble with is he's not into baths at all, I only have used the clippers on him once, & he did not like them at all, I still have to work on those 2 areas..  But the biggest thing (maybe problem?) Is he's not understaning  lungeing, some people like a friend of mine says that is a big deal, Is it really a big deal? I mean he knows just about everything else, he's ready to be rode, I'm going to try to get him to the trainers after the holidays, I don't think I got what is takes to break him to ride, everything I have taught him I work on both sides of him, (work on both sides of his brain) I have acted like I was going to get up on him, & he just stands there, I have put weight on his back allot, & it's nothing to him.. Last Spring I hurt my back doing yard work, so I know I don't want to be the 1st person on his back all the way.. lol  even though I trust him, I just don't want to take any chances with my back..
A friend of mine is making a big deal about him not lungeing, which she never lunged her horses,& she has never had one that young, but she's been watching Clinton Andersons training show, & his method of traning..  So now she's telling me  that Socks is behind on everything..
I have tried to lunge him, but he keeps coming back to me, he has total respect for humans, he loves people, He is very smart, he's probably the most smartest & nicest horse I have been around in 25 years..   What do you think? Do you think he's 'far' behind in where he should be for just wanting a regular ole trail horse?
I told my friend regardless one way or another I'll be riding him by summer 2006, she disagrees about taking him to a trainer, she wants 'us' to train him...   I told her I'll handle him the way I want to handle him, well now she's mad at me..   lol   oh well!!   Sorry this is so long, I just want someone to give me some advise on the lungeing, should he actually have it down pact by now?  He has been a quick learner in everything else...   In his case is lungeing really nessessary?  I'm sure the professional trainer will teach him to lunge..   I know there's people who lunge for respect, but like I said he already has respect...
Thank You for your time & reading..
~  Laura  

Answer
First off, it sounds like you have done lots with your little man, so pat yourself on the back! He is NOT far behind... there are many trainers who don't even begin the ground work until it's time to break the horse (which I don't agree with). So, no, you're not far behind, you're leaps and bounds ahead.

As for lunging, your trainer will probably teach this. However, if you want to get a head start I will try to give you a few pointers.

Do you have an enclosed round pen, where you can lunge him without a lunge line on him? This might make it a bit easier... but if not, it's still doable.

Without the lunge line it will be easier to push him away and keep him moving.. you don't have to worry about him getting tangled in the rope. Basically if you have a round pen, just put him in and "chase" him. Be as stern as you have to, but not any sterner. Once he's moving, make sure you stay behind his shoulder, and point your body towards his shoulder and head - this puts pressure on him.

If you have to leave the rope on, you use the same principles, however you have to watch out that you and him don't get caught in the rope. Basically, keep behind his shoulder, and walk INTO his shoulder area... this is the pressure needed to push him away.

Hope that has helped some. Let me know if I can be of any more assistance.