Bridle v Lunging Cavesson

[E14PUG]

Hi when lunging (with training aid such as pessoa or harbridge) which is better (and why) a bridle or a lunging cavesson?

 

[Merlod]

Both. Can't speak for everyone but if I am lunging with a training aid than I would put on bridle (minus noseband) so that that training aid can be attached to the bit and thet a lunge cavesson over the top with fittings done up under the bridle and lunge off the centre ring.

 

[Shay]

Training aids are designed for use on a bit not a lunge cavesson. The action of the training aid will be far more harsh on a cavesson because there is no subtlety of contact. Potentially it might also teach the horse to resist the aid rather than soften.

Please look at why you wish to use a training aid and how to fit it correctly. I have no issue with using either a pessoa or a harbridge (although you will probably get comments against the pessoa at least) but they must be fitted and used correctly.

Like merlod I would tend to prefer to use a cavesson as well to attach the lunge line. Partly to avoid confusion with the aid attached to the bit and partly because the bit rings can get very crowded. But if you need more control you might have to try to fiddle a check (overhead or underjaw) in there as well. Don't just attach the lunge line to the bit on one side.

 

[paddi22]

it depends a bit on the horse too, i've some horses that just hate the weight of cavessons on their nose and the general feel of them!

 

[E14PUG]

Thank you all I used to lunge many many years ago with a lunging cavesson but have recently been lunging with a bridle and just wanted to double check if I should be using one or the other, with an aid the bridle makes more sense to me but I completely understand where you are coming from with the cavesson and attaching the lunge rein. My instructors have advised on aids and I have been taught/shown how to use them properly. I will continue with the bridle but look into adding the cavesson depending upon how he likes it

 

[Casey76]

I use a lunging cavesson with bit attachments

 

[E14PUG]

Casey76 didn't know they did them will google now Thanks

 

[BarbieHorse]

Personally I dislike lunging with the lunge line attached to the bit - it doesn't activate the bit correctly and I think has too much potential to damage the horse's mouth. I just lunge off a headcollar, if I'm using a chambon I put the bridle on first and attach chambon to the bit/bridle and then put the headcollar over the top ��

 

[smja]

I lunge with side reins attached to the bit, and lunge line attached to a lunging cavesson.

But then, I also lunge in a headcollar - it depends on a) what I'm trying to achieve, and b) what I can find in the tack room

 

[SEL]

Both. Can't speak for everyone but if I am lunging with a training aid than I would put on bridle (minus noseband) so that that training aid can be attached to the bit and thet a lunge cavesson over the top with fittings done up under the bridle and lunge off the centre ring.

I do this when lunging in the equiami. I do have a cavesson with bit rings, but my bit was expensive and I'm too poor to buy another right now so it's on the bridle - it's the only bit which she doesn't get her tongue over.