62 SIDELINES JULY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
surgery but the weather prevented me from doing so. Any
help would be appreciated! – Celeste Johansen
Answer:
No round pen? No problem! Here are some easy steps to
teaching your horse to lunge in any area. The only tools you need
are a halter, lead rope and I like to use a carriage whip until we
start working in large circles, then I use a lunge whip. Each horse
that comes through the Double Dan training program begins with
our ground control exercises. First, we teach lateral fexion to both
the left and right sides. It’s important for the trainer to have control
over the horse’s nose; if you can control the direction their nose
goes you can control the direction in which their feet travel. Once
the horse is comfortable giving you their nose, you can pick up
your carriage whip and ask the hindquarters to move. The whip
should be above the horse’s hock and the inside hind foot should
be stepping deep inside in front of the outside foot. We then go
through teaching the horse sidepassing and shoulder control
before we begin circling left and right. Each one of these exercises
build on the one before, so by the time we teach our horse to
lunge left and right we have a softer horse with better control over
their movement. If you get to the point of lunging and your horse
is working at the very end of the rope,
it causes unnecessary stress to your
arm, shoulder and back. Going back
through the basic exercises will allow
you to strengthen your foundation.
Best of luck with your gelding!
e
Question:
My horse is terrifed of going into water, it could be a simple
puddle or a small river and she won’t go near it. It is close to
summer and I want to be prepared when my friends and I go
to the river with our horses. I don’t want to be the “no fun
one” sitting on the rocks watching my friends splash around.
I have always wanted to do this with her. So my question is
how can I get her used to water? What are your suggestions?
– Cassidy Floris
Answer:
Cassidy, the frst place to begin is with ground control. Ground
control will help us guide the horse’s nose and feet, beginning with
lateral fexion to both the left and right sides. Once the horse is
softly giving you their head, you can then ask them to move their
feet around you establishing forward movement. Forward motion
will be the key in asking your horse to quietly move through water.
When we begin teaching a horse to comfortably move across a
tarp we ask them to lunge around us with the tarp between us
and the horse. As the horse becomes comfortable moving next to
the tarp we move the tarp closer to the fence until the horse can
travel across the tarp. If you’re comfortable with it, you might add
a small puddle between you and the horse and then decrease the
room the horse has to move around it. Soon you should be able to
comfortably move into the river for some summer fun.
Question
:
I have a Quarter Horse/Arab. I’m worried about separation
anxiety and rearing to protest getting too far away from other
horses. Can they grow out of this and what are some tips on
breaking this pattern? – Stacey Belkowski
Answer:
Stacey, imagine that you’re having a conversation with a
friend and someone else attempts to catch your attention, you’re
reluctant to give up your attention from your friend. It’s a similar
reaction with your horse; their attention is not entirely focused on
you. By moving through ground control exercises you can build a
solid foundation of trust and gain their attention. If you’re having
trouble with the horse rearing in protest, long reining is a good
technique to re-teach your horse general obedience in a safe and
controlled manner for you and your horse.
Question:
I have a nine month old colt that I just had gelded three
days ago. The vet told me to lunge him hard every day for
two weeks to reduce and prevent swelling. Anyway, I have
no round pen and he just doesn’t understand the concept
of a lunge line. I know I should have taught him before the
About Double Dan: Since their debut as “The Dan and Dan Show” in 2008, Double Dan Horsemanship, made up of Dan Steers and Dan
James, is quickly becoming a household name in the equine industry. The duo have been noted for performing at every major Royal
show in Australia and many large equine events in the United States, earning championships at the “Way of the Horse” at Equitana Asia
Pacifc in 2008, Road to the Horse International 2012 and the Mane Event 2012 Trainer’s Challenge. They have been crowd favorites
in the opening ceremonies of the World Equestrian Games, Australia’s Got Talent, Australian National Cutting Horse Futurities, Equine
Affaire and many others.
Photos courtesy of Double Dan Horsemanship
Lunging your horse will help strengthen your horse’s basic
foundation.
Dan James
With Dan James of Double Dan Horsemanship
Questions Answered