The Mustang Diaries: Sunny Learns to Lunge

Yesterday, I introduced Sunny to the concept of lunging.

Initially, the lunge line was a source of anxiety for Sunny. I focused on simple forward movement while rewarding even the slightest step in the desired direction. The goal wasn't perfection, but simply to establish a comfortable routine. The real breakthrough came when we started incorporating the concept of yielding her hindquarters to change direction. This wasn't about physical force or imposing my will, but about teaching her to understand my body language and respond to subtle cues. This was incredibly challenging at first. Sunny's instinct was to brace against the pressure, to push back against the unfamiliar sensation. She even had a small blowup at one point, letting me know she was overwhelmed and we needed to slow it down.

Sunny telling me she was confused and overwhelmed (no one was injured)

However, with consistent repetition and positive reinforcement in the form of breaks, she slowly began to understand the concept. Sunny began to associate the pressure with a release, understanding that moving her hindquarters away from the cue resulted in comfort and a positive experience.

Another great exercise to add to her arsenal of growing skills!