Lunge line clipped on bit over the head

FfionWinnie said:
I really don't like seeing this done. Why do people do it instead of using a lunge cavesson?
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I rarely use a lunge cavesson i dislike there wieght and bulk I usually use a micklem multibridle putting the rien on the ring on the noseband .
However I do what suits each horse ,one horse here who we got as an adult had learnt some very naughty habits one of was bolting on the lunge and pulling the line out of your hands you can not hold a 16.2 ID who has been shown he is stronger than humans he does however respect the line over his head and through the bit I dont like it but it's safe and it works.
I also sometimes clip the to the inside bit ring or attach a sort of short stallion chain to both bit rings and lunge off a ring in the centre I just do what suits each horse.
 
Would you clip on to the bit with a fussy mouthed 4 year old? Just felt the wrong thing to do to me.

I would rather have seen her lunged in a head collar than on the bit.
 
I hate lunge cavessons, I've used them on many horses but always slips round. No matter how tight it is. My horse is a sensitive little girl, and when that happens, takes off in a panic as the pressure is no longer central.

With the line over her head, she is happy, and I've never had a problem. Don't see what's wrong with it personally?!
 
FfionWinnie said:
Would you clip on to the bit with a fussy mouthed 4 year old? Just felt the wrong thing to do to me.

I would rather have seen her lunged in a head collar than on the bit.
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Well without seeing the horse I could not say.
I would never lunge in a head collar to much chance of the horse learning though the unexpected happening that pulling away is an option ( which our horse has learnt in his past) and it does not give a good contact with the horse.
It would not be my choice with a fussy four year old I would use the micklem with the plastic clips on the bit so that every thing was very still .
The rien over the head way tends to pull the bit up in the mouth which would not suit a fussy one at all.
 
I lunge with two lines attached to the bit or with one line attached to a coupler between the bit rings. I've never put the line over the head, though don't see anything wrong with it particularly. I agree with Goldenstar, that some horses are far too strong on the lunge to use a cavesson. However, when I am starting young horses, I always use a cavesson.
 
Ours is a complete plank if we use a cavesson & nothing i do stops it slipping. He is an angel as soon as it is clipped on his bit. Saying that, he is not young & used to be a horror to lunge anyway. If I had a youngster I would have hopefully taught it to be behaved on the lunge from the start more than likely in a cavesson which normally I do prefer xx
 
I just don't like the bit being pulled in their mouth in that direction I suppose. Micklem sounds like a good alternative but I have never seen one.

The last horse I broke I never lunged at all, only long lined on a circle.
 
Wagtail said:
I lunge with two lines attached to the bit or with one line attached to a coupler between the bit rings. I've never put the line over the head, though don't see anything wrong with it particularly. I agree with Goldenstar, that some horses are far too strong on the lunge to use a cavesson. However, when I am starting young horses, I always use a cavesson.
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I prefer to lunge with 2 lines from the bit as well, i can turn and do serpantines, work on straight lines without faffing about with a lunge cavesson.
 
I lunge with the line either over the head or through the bit across the chin. (I do occasionally lunge in a headcollar but that's more if he requires a leg stretch rather than actual work).
I don't like lunge cavessons, (I don't much like lunging because it's as much faff as riding without the fun).
 
Yes I don't really like it either. I need to do something with new horse tho as she has been turned away for 4 months after being backed.

She was quite naughty on the lunge and fussy in her mouth so I am just thinking what I will do when I get her. It being on the bit and over her head was not working in my opinion.
 
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I wasn't talking about any horse when I said head collar I was talking about one particular horse rachelstar which is a youngster that was fussy in her mouth and I said I would rather a head collar that the bit in that instance. I didn't say I would do that or it was the right thing to do, just that I did not like what I saw.
 
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See, I lunge my horse with the line going over the head and back through the bit ring. Prefer this to putting under the chin as feel it tightens under the chin. I have been considering what to do with lungeing my youngster though - new to lungeing so doesn't quite get it yet anyway! I want to lunge in a bridle but am not convinced he'll take kindly to having the line over his head. Therefore I was considering using the coupling chain that I have used with him for in hand showing instead. I don't want to lunge in a headcollar as he is a big boy now and is strong and not only do I want more control, he needs to get used to the sensation of having some pressure applied on a bit.
 
I lunge from a cavesson. But there are odd occasions I have clipped to the bit when a situations required it. And when actually working, rather than exercising, with two reins, I would clip to the bit same as the reins are attached to the bit if I ride. Attached to the bit isn't how I'd start a youngster though if lunging on one rein.
 
I don't like lunge cavessons, never have. I usually lunge with it either over the top of the head, or off the headcollar, and to be quite frank, can't understand why people get fussed about how other people do things unless its a welfare issue. Just shows the small mindedness of horsey people I guess.
 
There is nothing small minded about it. I stated I don't like seeing it and why do people do it because I want to know the thought process behind it. What's wrong with an enquiring mind you can do what I like I just want to know why because I genuinely don't know why people do. Not because I think you shouldn't.
 
Wasn't meaning you so much as the some of the people I have been on a yard with, including the one who went on and on about it when I was young, and ended up flat on her face when she tried to lunge my pony! I would imagine most people on here have been on the recieving end of the women on a yard who stand and watch, and slate you whilst you are working your horse. Lets just say its a serious raw nerve!
 
littlelegs said:
I lunge from a cavesson. But there are odd occasions I have clipped to the bit when a situations required it. And when actually working, rather than exercising, with two reins, I would clip to the bit same as the reins are attached to the bit if I ride. Attached to the bit isn't how I'd start a youngster though if lunging on one rein.
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Thanks little legs, that was pretty much what I was trying to ask.

When you say both are attached to bit, where does the outside rein pass over the horse please?
 
zaminda said:
Wasn't meaning you so much as the some of the people I have been on a yard with, including the one who went on and on about it when I was young, and ended up flat on her face when she tried to lunge my pony! I would imagine most people on here have been on the recieving end of the women on a yard who stand and watch, and slate you whilst you are working your horse. Lets just say its a serious raw nerve!
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Sorry but I just wanted to know the thought process involved. To me this horse is fussy in her mouth and it was not what I would do with her when I get her home. I am not sure what I will do, probably have to try a few different ways.

I think the way I backed my last horse worked great, that was Richard Maxwell's way with two reins passed through the stirrups one on each side of the bit (which have a stirrup leather under the belly stopping them swinging around) and the outside rein sits above the hocks. To change direction the horse turns out of the circle and cannot really beat you in the same way they can on the lunge. In my experience anyway, it is a long time since I did it.

And if I find I need help in the flesh with the horse I will get it :)
 
My preference is to lunge with a cavesson. I have never had a horse get away from me (and I've had a horse try!) I find the horse will drop it's nose and go sweetly in one, if they do set their neck you can turn their head easily enough. They can twist, but I think just need to be fitted well, and the horse has to learn not to brace against it/lunger needs to have horse going on a light rein.
I am very adverse to lunging young horses off the bit at all, especially when breaking, there is far too much that can go wrong/damage the mouth/frighten horse. If I lunge just off the bit, then I am afraid I just lunge off the inside ring, I would never put the rein through the bit rings, it would get very painful if the horse pulled, and would be loathe to put the rein over the top of the head as you could have too much weigh on the outside of the mouth - though I think it's a pretty sensible arrangement for some horses.
 
I lunge everything with the lunge line attatched to the outside ring, comming back under the chin and the inside ring. Sometimes i'll lunge with two reins set up as if I was long reining but generally its the underchin option, personally don't like using a cavesson (which always slips!) or the over the head way but each to their own I guess.
 
siennamum said:
My preference is to lunge with a cavesson. I have never had a horse get away from me (and I've had a horse try!) I find the horse will drop it's nose and go sweetly in one, if they do set their neck you can turn their head easily enough. They can twist, but I think just need to be fitted well, and the horse has to learn not to brace against it/lunger needs to have horse going on a light rein.
I am very adverse to lunging young horses off the bit at all, especially when breaking, there is far too much that can go wrong/damage the mouth/frighten horse. If I lunge just off the bit, then I am afraid I just lunge off the inside ring, I would never put the rein through the bit rings, it would get very painful if the horse pulled, and would be loathe to put the rein over the top of the head as you could have too much weigh on the outside of the mouth - though I think it's a pretty sensible arrangement for some horses.
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Trust me you could not hold a 16.2 Irish draught who lunges sweetly until he takes off in a straight line flat out this horse has been taught exactly how strong he is he is very very naughty the worse of it is he's so funny I just laugh at him.
 
siennamum said:
My preference is to lunge with a cavesson. I have never had a horse get away from me (and I've had a horse try!) I find the horse will drop it's nose and go sweetly in one, if they do set their neck you can turn their head easily enough. They can twist, but I think just need to be fitted well, and the horse has to learn not to brace against it/lunger needs to have horse going on a light rein.
I am very adverse to lunging young horses off the bit at all, especially when breaking, there is far too much that can go wrong/damage the mouth/frighten horse. If I lunge just off the bit, then I am afraid I just lunge off the inside ring, I would never put the rein through the bit rings, it would get very painful if the horse pulled, and would be loathe to put the rein over the top of the head as you could have too much weigh on the outside of the mouth - though I think it's a pretty sensible arrangement for some horses.
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I agree with this. I have lunged my ex racer with the lunge threaded through the bit, up over the poll and through the other bit ring and he behaves well, however if he has a spook and pulls, although he can't get away from me, the lunge line tightens and can give him a fright. I have only just found a leather lunge cavesson which does not move and is so much easier when changing the rein. it also prevents him getting a smack in the mouth if something goes wrong. A well fitting Cavesson shouldn't move and is safer, especially on a baby.
 
Goldenstar said:
Trust me you could not hold a 16.2 Irish draught who lunges sweetly until he takes off in a straight line flat out this horse has been taught exactly how strong he is he is very very naughty the worse of it is he's so funny I just laugh at him.
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haha no I suspect I couldn't. I have had a few waterskiing incidents longlining off a cavesson on reflection also.
 
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