How do you attach your lunge line?

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Walrus

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I've never used a lunge cavesson on my pony as we've had a few "freestyle" moments on the lunge so I prefer to lunge off the bit. I've tried a few different options; clipped to the outside bit ring, under the chin and through the inside bit ring, over the head etc etc. But I'm not overly convinced. Considering trying him in a cavesson again (but that means buying one).

What do you use for attaching your lungeline to the horse?

:)
 
for a "nice" horse just on the opposite side and through the bit.

For horses that are a little stroppy, opposite side, up and over the head and through the bit again.

Have you tried side reins to limit his "freestyle" moments??
 
using a newmarket / coupling chain - no need to faff when changing reins as lunge rein is on central ring and horse seems to prefer it to over the head / through the rings.
 
meandmyself said:
Over the head. (Just the way it was done where I worked!)
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I have a lunging cavesson and a lunge coupling piece, and I still always use the over the head method. My horse is obscenely well behaved on the lunge but I still feel this gives the most control and helps the horse work most effectively.
 
Oh yes, the freestyle movements are now much more under control. He does have a tendency to bend his head right round to the outside (even in side reins) and I wasn't sure if pulling on the outside bit ring was helping.

He also tends to raise his head at the slightest thing so was wondering if the clip under his chin may cause him to lift his head more.
 
Clipped to the outside ring, up over the head and then through the inside ring.
I find this prevents too much pull-through and stops the horse being pulled around by the bit as much if they are playing up. All of the horses I have lunged have preferred this to the lunge line just being threaded though the bit.

Also to add- if the horse is chucking its head up, by having the line over the head you have extra influence over the poll so more control.
 
Normally under the chin with a close fitting headcollar, and a bridle without noseband on as well sometimes. My horse is better in a headcollar and I found the same with previous horse too, if they were going to have moments then pulling themselves in the mouth wouldn't help matters and the previous one would rear and get really worked up about it.

If using the bridle then I would do over the head, but I only really do that with horses who won't tit about.
 
there is only poll pressure if they pull... therefore they shouldnt pull if they dont like it... but no i dont worry about it really
 
Walrus said:
Those of you that put the line over the head - do you not worry about poll pressure?
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yes, you do get some poll pressure but unless you are hauling on the line it is nothing that should cause the horse discomfort or have any real influence over it's way of going. It only comes into play when the horse plays up and chooses to evade or nap.
 
I always just lunge Dan off his headcollar, nothing more now. I actually feel I have more control now this way, and don't have to worry about stopping him & fiddling with things to change the rein, just turn & go! He's even got the hang of staying 'out' and turning (all time saving :p ). I have less trouble with the headcollar than I did with a cavesson, it never shifts or anything.
 
Headcollar nowadays .
Wayback in the dark ages we used a cavesson. The leather ones that had a strap up the front of the head, fitted correctly those things didn't move, I haven't seen one of those in an ordinary tacshop for years.
 
I use a bridle with no reins and run the line from the far side of the bit over the head and threaded through the close side. My mare can be really strong when I lunge her, especially in the winter. This keeps her from pulling me off my feet!
 
I lunge off a Dually. Bridle without noseband underneath so that I can use side reins. One of my horses was a nightmare to lunge when she came back from backing (another story) even when attaching line to the bit. I didn't want to pull her mouth about. Now she walks trots canters halts, on command/signal.
 
I used to always do it over the head but have recently bought a coupling rein to use with my EquiAmi (waiting for both of them to arrive) so will see how that goes and whether my horse and I prefer it.
 
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