Now we are ready to start using a lunge line and sacking your young horse out. By now you should be able to walk out and catch him or have him meet you at the gate. Lead him without him running over you or sitting back. Stop when you stop turn when you turn. He should be moving in the round pen turning and doing gates when asked in both directions. Use a cotton lunge rope, attach it to his halter and rub the coiled up part over his body if he doesn't mind that then toss it over his neck over his hips under his belly around his legs etc.. if he is skittish about this then start by just rubbing his neck or jaws with it and work your way around. Don't force him to stand still. If he jumps away then move him around the pen holding on to the end of the line. Then ask him to whoa and walk to him and pet him holding the rope and then pet him with it, he will soon tire of having to move off and stop and then move off etc. Once he is accepting the rope on his body then let the rope lay over his back, hips, around this neck and move him off. Let him feel it on him, as he is moving. If he spooks then stop and just let the rope hang loose. If he really is not accepting the long rope, then start with the lead rope and let him drag the ground with him moving. There are many ways to help him get comfortable with this. When all this is going well, toss the lunge line around his legs so it wraps and then pull it off so it has to slide around his leg to come off, but don't let it get tight. Keep it loose and sliding. Then toss it over his back so it swings under his belly and touches him. Standing in front of him and have enough slack to toss it up over his head without hitting him in the face. Although you should be able to miss a couple times and him be okay with it. Then let it slide back off over his face.
These are all things that will happen sooner or later in his life and he needs to know now that he will live through it and it's not a big deal. The more you can teach him to accept now the better when it happens unexpectedly.
Now that he is comfortable with this let him move around with the rope hanging all over him. Let it swing and wrap around his legs etc. but don't let him get excited and start running around the pen. Take this slow and easy this should NOT be a big deal. You don't want to teach him to run when things get wrapped around his legs. Because more then likely at one time or another in his life he will get tangled in wire or briers and having learned to stay calm could save his legs or even his life. This lesson is extremely important to teach calmly and slowly. Now if that's all going great. Take the lunge line and bring it up under his tummy where the girth will go and pull it a little to start getting him use to the feel of something snug around his chest. If he's okay with it then wrap it around once and tuck the end under to hold it lightly in place and move him off. Don't tie it. If it falls off then he can get use to the feel of suddenly having something drop and hit his legs. Pretty much what ever happens with the rope at this time can be used to help him learn to accept it. You can also have a saddle blanket hanging on the round pen this will get him use to going past different things and you can rub him all over with it.
We covered quit a bit in this article. I wouldn't try doing all of this in one day. Take it a little bit at a time. If at any time he becomes frightened or gets nervous stop what you're doing and relax. Do something he does well and pick it up later or the next day. The main thing we want in these exercises is to teach him to stay calm. Teach the lesson don't force the lesson.
Remember do things slowly, consistently correct and with respect. These are precious times between you and your horse, cherish them.
