How can i get his attention!

[laurac]

I longlined my fella in the arena on the farm this morning and it was the first time in months that I have actually attempted to get him to do some work as he has been having oesteopath treatment and then we've had all the ice and snow, to be fair I think it was last Feb when I actually last worked him on the lines in a menage
Well on positive he wasnt that bothered by the horses the otherside of the trees next to the arena but his head was all over the place looking in the distance, something had caught his attention and he got stroppy (head / neck snaking) when i tried to circle him away from what he was looking at in the distance, he did trot when i asked him to but as soon as i asked him to stand his attention was completely elsewhere
He is supposed to be working long and low stretching through his back to help him physically, so it wasnt good that he was doing a giraffe impression for most of the time
The only thing I found which helped was to do some figures of 8 in trot which kept him more interested with constant changes of direction !
I really dont want to chuck side reins on him or gadgets to strap him down
Any ideas anyone to get him to concentrate and work low ?

[Yann]

Might be wrong but it might be one of those situations where nothing more than a bit of repetition might be enough to get him settling and listening It's obviously been a long time for him, good luck with the rehab.

[laurac]

Thanks Yann
Yes it has been a very long time in all fairness and he used to be terrified of arenas and would rear rather than go in there (bad start in life and pain at being ridden i think)
We've only been at the new farm since mid october with the arena so i'm sure he will improve, he has only been in there twice before for a few mins in walk up until today
Getting him to concentrate has always been hard
Maybe i should put my poles & cones / flags etc in there? to work around...

[vikki]

my instructor whistles to get a horses attention.

Its a really good method for distracting them away from whatever it is that they are trying to look at or listen to, and making them focus their attention back on you. Just make sure the big fella won't freak out at the sound of you whistling!!

I would also agree with you that cones etc to bend around are good as he will have something to concentrate on!

[laurac]

Thats a good idea Vikki, I cant whistle so i shall buy one and give it a go ;D

[limepickle]

Anything on the ground should make him look where he is going. Or a sheepskin noseband, since horses like to see their front feet when they're moving and the sheepskin makes it more difficult to do so unless they lower their head.

[laurac]

Thanks Limepickle, my chap has a large sheepskin cover on his dually on the rope bit which I use but that hasnt done the trick

[sandy]

That's really interesting about the sheepskin.