Caveson or Head collar to Lunge?

[Grinch]

I have a lovely 10yr old ex-gypsy rescue horse I have just taken on - I had her vet checked 2 days ago and she is fit and well (Thank god)

Vet said She knows nothing! She has been broken but not ridden for years. We have had a saddle on her and a light person and she was fine.
I want to do more lunge work with her to teach her - I myself (not horse) have booked a lesson as it is such an art - I don't want to fail her.
I am very lucky the other lady in the field is wonderful and has offered to help me with anything I am unsure about.
But thought it best I booked a lesson rather than take her time up.

My Q. is Should I invest in a Caveson for her or use a head collar..........

 

[nikicb]

I personally always lunge off the bridle, various ways depending on the horse in question. You might want to include that in your poll. Good luck.

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

You can use a headcollar, but if you are effectively re-starting her, then it might be worth using the bridle with a coupling, or over the head (coupling saves having to change this over each time the direction is changed).

Or you can get a cavesson. Some horses don't get on with them though as they jingle and can be heavy on the nose and this can cause the horse to get irritated with it and not concentrate on you or the job.

 

[Grinch]

When we put a bit in her mouth - She hated it and did not settle -- this is going to need some time

 

[Grinch]

I cant add Bridle to Poll ....

 

[*hic*]

Hopefully whoever you have your lesson with will be able to advise.

 

[Renvers]

I use a bridle too.

A headcollar is good to start with if you begin with basic ground work and introduce lunging as part of those sessions.

Personally I don't like cavessons - the jingling and the weight of the attachment on the nose is a distraction

 

[JillA]

I would never lunge an uneducated horse off the bridle (wear the bridle under something else, fine) because there is far too much risk of pulling hard on their mouth. Cavesson gives you more control, headcollar is fine if your lunge rein clips on to the side mount, you just have to unclip and reclip on the other side when you change rein. I lunge starters in my American rope halters which they are well used to from being led.
If you have access to a round pen or other confined space you should be ok to use a headcollar, if you are in an open field a cavesson is best.

 

[Grinch]

I have taken on board that the Caveson is heavy and she may not like it ...... She don't mind her head collar at all

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would do it off the headcollar until she is happy wearing a bridle, just put her bridle on with a bit it on her for short periods everyday in the stable she will soon get used to it, I prefer to lunge from the bit with a coupling attachment, but if you prefer a cavesson make sure if fits correctly or they tend to move about on the face and can end up sitting on the eye which is not ideal, I really dont think a cavesson gives you any more control than a headcollar so stick with the headcollar for now.

 

[Tiddlypom]

A Micklem multibridle will help with the bit acceptance and with the lungeing. I was able to use the standard horse size on the 3 yo 13 hh foster gypsy cob, and she accepted the bit straight away even as a first timer. They don't fit all chunky heads though.

My cob hates being lunged off the bridle or in a cavesson (I now have 3 different designs cluttering up the tack room...) but is completely happy in the Micklem.

 

[D66]

When first teaching a horse to lunge a head collar is light and non threatening, when you get a bit more technical it's useful to have the options of rings on either side or central - so use a cavesson. The bridle comes into play when the horse has been bitted and is working towards taking a consistent contact.
I like to use a basic bridle with side reins attached, underneath a cavesson with the lunge rein on the centre ring. If the horse didn't seem to like the set up I'd try something different.

 

[Renvers]

I have taken on board that the Cavesson is heavy and she may not like it ...... She don't mind her head collar at all

Have you considered a Micklem bridle - they have a lunge attachment but can also be used bitless so horse might be happier. I have not used one myself for that purpose but might be another option for you...

 

[Spot_On]

I always lunge off the bridle with reins removed.

 

[Grinch]

I like idea of this "Micklem bridle" I will look into this thank you

 

[Wheels]

I'm quite shocked at the amount of people who would use a bridle in this situation. This is a horse with little education, using a bridle is sure fire way of causing harm to an undecuated horse.

I would use a cavesson op and spend a bit of time desensitising your horse to it so that the jingling doesnt bother her.

 

[Tiddlypom]

You mention that the vet has seen her which is great, but how about the teeth? Did he check them too? I would be getting an EDT to do the teeth before putting a bit in.

She may have a mouth full of razor blades.

 

[Goldenstar]

Niether would never lunge in a headcollar and find cavessons to heavy I use a micklem multibridle with or without bit or the horses own bridle.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I would use a cavesson op and spend a bit of time desensitising your horse to it so that the jingling doesnt bother her.

It's the feeling of constriction with a cavesson that mine object to, not the jingling sound. They have to be fitted fairly snugly or they twist around. I lunge in a head collar if I'm doing a soundness check, or Micklem if I'm working the horse. The Micklem has a nose clip so that although the horse is wearing a bit, the bit is just a passenger unless you clip something to it such as side reins.

 

[Grinch]

The vet checked her teeth as I thought it might be a teeth problem with the bit! -- He said No sharp ones... but would get dentist in but not urgent.

You mention that the vet has seen her which is great, but how about the teeth? Did he check them too? I would be getting an EDT to do the teeth before putting a bit in.

She may have a mouth full of razor blades.

 

[Grinch]

Here is my baby xxxxx

 

[marmalade76]

Neither, I on the rare occasion that I lunge I lunge in a bridle.

 

[scribble]

I lunge off the bridle. gives you more control with bigger horses, saves pulling at them lots and if they mess about they pull themselves in the mouth. I do think you need to be experienced at lunging and have good hands. I work mine off a very light contact but it is there if you need it.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Here is my baby xxxxx

She looks nice, and is not as chunky as I'd pictured her to be. Good luck with her.

 

[Grinch]

I agree Scribble - I don't want to fail her that is why I am getting some lessons in lunging - So looking forward to working with her she is such a sweetie.

 

[Grinch]

Thank you Tiddlypom - She is so gentle and just wants to please ... In the small amount of time we have had her we have really fallen for her. Esp. her big brown eyes x

 

[Iced_coffee]

While you are doing your lessons give her time each day with the bit in. I strip a bridle right down and leave on in the stable, supervised of corse.

 

[Grinch]

Def going to put a bit in her mouth daily even for a few minutes

 

[Night-mare!]

Have you broken a horse before? Might be worth while asking a trainer or BHS instructor to help as it is such a delicate process. Best of luck.

 

[Frosty89]

When backing my mare I did a couple of sessions on a head collar to get her used to the idea and then moved on to a bridle.

When I lunge now I either use bridle and pessoa or bridle and two reins.