How to explain lunging?

[TheQueenOfDiamonds]

My OH had a go at lunging my 4 year old last weekend. He didn't do too badly, apart from being a bit whip happy. (Had to remand him its not necessary to keep signalling with the whip, definitely not necessary to wave the whip when asking for a slower pace, poor confused horse).

He handled the horses freshness well better than I sometimes do and got him going round nicely on the right rein.

When it came to changing to the left though he had problems (horse is an arse about changing directions, he takes it as an opportunity to test you).

I stepped in and finished because I couldn't explain to OH what to do, even though I can do it myself.

So, if you were teaching someone to lunge, how would you explain how its done and what to do to send the horse out, and what to do when the horse plants its feet when changing direction, and generally acts like a nob and tries to intimidate you?

I never have problems myself but just can't put into words how its done!

Sorry for the waffle!

In short; Explain the basics of lunging for me so I can put it into words next time instead of standing there going "stop letting him fuck around, make him go that way".

I'm interested to know too.I've never had a problem with dpony,she lunges like a dream,but B,who could do with it as she has been out of work for a while,just stands there looking bewildered then comes over and stands next to me.She ignores the lunge whip and just wants to be next to me all the time.

I don't have a problem handling him myself when he's difficult, But I just can't put into words what I do! Its so annoying because I know in my head what to do but can't explain it well!

Explain basics of groundwork - sounds obvious, but it's easy to forget purpose of lunging - i.e. that you're working on same issues as you would if schooling.
Also explain basic triangle/balance principle - of rein-horse-whip-person, and balance principle same as in schooling: that it's the weaker parts you've got to work on.
My interpretation of lungin is that you're riding from the ground: you need the same balance and focus.
Don't know if that helps? (Please let me know, though...)
Also it's worth going over basic principles like keeping elbows in and making sure they stay that way. IME people get quite slack when working from the ground in ways that they wouldn't if riding - so not reining in when horses are napping or pulling out.

Plumpdodge - It's explaining how you lunge i'm having trouble with. I know how to lunge ,and why we do it, But i can't put across in words how to actually make the horse do stuff.

Obviously, I told him how to hold the lunge line, how to use the whip, what to say to make him walk/trot/canter.

But i struggle with explaining things like sending him out, or making him work when he's trying to mess around.. I know what to do, but i can't put it into words.

Trial and error then: watch OP - watch carefully enough that you can actually pinpoint what he is/isn't getting right, and comment on specifics.
Should be a learning experience for both of you as you'll learn to quantify and explain. And when you're lunging, think about putting into words what you're actually doing (this will be exhausting, but hey...)
FWIW, I went to a groundwork training day a few weeks ago. the instructor was really good, but her way of working was to show/get students to do and criticise (constructively) what we were doing.
It was quite intensive, but with new stuff (pessoas etc.) it was really obvious that the possibilities of explaining 'how' are really limited. You just have to do it.
Does he ride, btw?

No he doesn't ride, He isn't much interested in the riding side, The most riding he's done was to hijack my pony so he could scab a lift from the field cause he was too hung over to walk lol.

He is good with them on the ground though! He handles them surprisingly well when they mess around.

When I was learning to lunge my lovely (but stubborn and thick as two short planks) cob, the main thing my instructor kept telling me was to anticipate what he was about to do, and always keep "behind" him. So I had to get the hang of keeping an eye on his ears and paying attention if his head started to turn inwards, and get behind him with the whip before he had the chance to turn in towards me. A lot of the time it looked like he was lunging me - he'd be standing in the middle turning on his hindquarters while I chased around in circles trying to make him move! Also there's the thing about body language, facing the horse squarely and giving "keep moving" vibes.

With my current horse, I have the opposite problem - I spend a lot of time being dragged around as she gallops madly and completely ignores my feeble pleas of "steeeeadyyyyy...!" Come to think of it, I am not the best person to be giving lunging advice...

My take on lunging is that it's schooling from the ground, every bit as complex as schooling from in the saddle (possibly more so...) so the relationship between person and horse WRT to control is the same as if you're schooling, but whip hand as your legs and obviously you're in the challenging position of your line hand being equivalent to both hands when in the saddle. I think it must be quite difficult to instinctively judge tension (of the line, but also guiding/slowing with whip side) if you're not able to see yourself on the horse's back. I think the horse 'sees' it this way too - you don't have to have actually ridden that horse to get a feel for general body language to develop this, but so much of it is in subtleties of how you handle the line, body language and tension WRT to posture, etc.
I think you should watch OH and give guidance as if you're giving a lesson to someone schooling in the saddle - think of it in that much detail WRT to what he's doing.
I know I've probably gone off on one a bit here, but I've been chewing over this quite a bit of late... (I could go on )

Maybe should have said - I'm Plump! ^^...