Is there anything wrong with lunging in just headcollar/cavesson?

[CobsGalore]

Just wondering if you think there is anything wrong in lunging in just a headcollar/cavesson?

I have all sorts of lunging equipment; pessoas, side reins, draw reins, chambons etc but always resort back to just a headcollar/cavesson.

I don't lunge very often, but when I do I try and make it as interesting as possible and often put poles out for him to trot over.

I think he relaxes more in just a headcollar and tends to really stretch down, often running his nose along the floor while trotting around.

So should I be introducing side reins etc, or is there nothing wrong with lunging with no equipment?

 

[Spottyappy]

We often lunge in just a head collar,when short on time.
If you want to really work the horse,then yes you need proper lunge cavesson, roller and side reins.
If its for quickness,then nothing wrong with head collar.
I personally don't do gadgets like pessoa,causes far more back and lameness issues than it stops IMHO.

 

[Polos Mum]

I think it entirely depends what the purpose of your lunging is and how your horse goes in just a headcollar.
I lunge to let him stretch his legs if he's been in for some reason, or to let off steam before I ride if I haven't ridden for a few days or if he's been a bit stiff and I want to see exactly how he's going. I don't view it as hard work for him.

In a headcollar he drops his nose to the floor, really stretches his back relaxes and swings his back end, just what I want.

If he raced around giraffe style I might use side reins, if I wanted to build top line I might use gadgets.

As with everything horsey - it depends !

 

[millitiger]

I think it depends why you are lunging.

If just for exercise then lunging in a headcollar and 'naked' is fine.

imo, if you are looking to build up muscle or improve the horse's way of going you will need a 'gadget' of some sort for the horse to work into.

 

[Antw23uk]

I lunge in a basic bridle and cavesson as she tends to loon round in anything less. I lunge to let her get rid of some excess energy for now but i still want that to be as controlled as possible.

Going forward when she is fitter and needing more i will be introducing a roller and side reins to 'work' her more but for this I will want helpa nd instruction so I know I am doing it properly. My lunging at present is mostly hit and miss I must admit

 

[JustKickOn]

I personally don't do gadgets like pessoa,causes far more back and lameness issues than it stops IMHO.

Really?

Never had a problem using one, back lady encourages the use of pessoa.
They only do damage if used incorrectly, ie. too tight, for too long time. You're not actually meant to canter a horse in a pessoa either..

In answer to the OP, no, nothing wrong with just head collar, but you cannot achieve the same results as you would using side reins and gadgets.
If I'm short on time, I free school usually

 

[rainer]

I lunge our pony in a headcollar,line and long whip mostly for exercise and to get any fizz out before my daughter rides him

 

[BillyBob-Sleigh]

I only ever lunge in a cavesson, he really stretches his back muscles which surely must be better than fighting side reins?

 

[CobsGalore]

I only ever lunge in a cavesson, he really stretches his back muscles which surely must be better than fighting side reins?

This is what I think, but then the other half of me thinks I should start introducing side reins and get him working properly. Like others have said, I suppose it really does depend on what I want to achieve from the session.

 

[monkeybum13]

I almost always lunge in a cavesson with no gadgets

(If I do use something I use the draw reins over the back method)

 

[blacksabbeth]

Monkeybum is that the kerrilli method,i know thats for encorage for the horse to stretch.I use a headcollar quite often my mare is sensible and regulary puts her nose to the floor and shakes her booty as I call it.But each to there own,only gagdet I use is side reins fairly loose and its rare I do this.

 

[Orls]

I lunge my warmblood gelding in just a cavesson all the time, he stretches down really well too and seems to relax well with no gadgets. We can get a little stressy and fussy if I use too much hardware on him! However, when I am looking to up his fitness I do use a pessoa so he is actually working and not just having a stretch and a bit of excersise.

 

[CobsGalore]

Monkeybum is that the kerrilli method,i know thats for encorage for the horse to stretch.I use a headcollar quite often my mare is sensible and regulary puts her nose to the floor and shakes her booty as I call it.But each to there own,only gagdet I use is side reins fairly loose and its rare I do this.

I tried this method and liked it, although because he puts his nose on the ground, I was constantly worried he was going to get a leg over the reins

 

[Littlelegs]

Yes, if for exercise.
Yes, if wanting to work long & low.
Yes for some horses able to really work without anything.