Post by Casper on Feb 19, 2007 16:34:01 GMT -5
#5 The Circling Game
Most people think this looks like lungeing, but The Circling Game is much more. It's mental exercise as much as physical because the horse learns that it is his responsibility to maintain the gait and direction you asked for until told otherwise.
To play The Circling Game, you start with your horse's nose facing you. Use your Driving Game skills to send the horse's nose away from you in the direction you want him to go. While the nose is headed in the direction you want, at the gait you want, just allow him to do his job. Don't help him by using a whip or turning your body around with him or holding your arm up the whole time. Then, when you're ready, bring back the nose so it faces you again. As you bring back the nose, you can get your horse straight by using the Driving Game to push his hindquarters away.
The big secret is that when your horse is doing what you want, leave him alone! When he quits doing what you want, do something about it. Every time he changes gait or tries to change direction, bring him in and send him out again. He'll learn that staying out on the circle is where his comfort is.
Think of a two-lap minimum and a four-lap maximum. If he can do two laps without help, this shows respect and responsibility. After four laps a horse starts to get bored. If you want to ask for more than four laps incorporate some obstacles, do it on uneven ground or try different rope lengths. Don't forget to think of it from the horse's point of view. Keep it interesting for him.
Most people think this looks like lungeing, but The Circling Game is much more. It's mental exercise as much as physical because the horse learns that it is his responsibility to maintain the gait and direction you asked for until told otherwise.
To play The Circling Game, you start with your horse's nose facing you. Use your Driving Game skills to send the horse's nose away from you in the direction you want him to go. While the nose is headed in the direction you want, at the gait you want, just allow him to do his job. Don't help him by using a whip or turning your body around with him or holding your arm up the whole time. Then, when you're ready, bring back the nose so it faces you again. As you bring back the nose, you can get your horse straight by using the Driving Game to push his hindquarters away.
The big secret is that when your horse is doing what you want, leave him alone! When he quits doing what you want, do something about it. Every time he changes gait or tries to change direction, bring him in and send him out again. He'll learn that staying out on the circle is where his comfort is.
Think of a two-lap minimum and a four-lap maximum. If he can do two laps without help, this shows respect and responsibility. After four laps a horse starts to get bored. If you want to ask for more than four laps incorporate some obstacles, do it on uneven ground or try different rope lengths. Don't forget to think of it from the horse's point of view. Keep it interesting for him.