Please advise: best lunge equipment for "simple" work!

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Ancient Hacker

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I lunge my TB horses when I haven't had the opportunity to ride, and to keep them fit.

I must hasten to add we don't do dressage, it's hacking and a bit of jumping for us - nothing fancy. So the lungework is fairly simple and quick - with the minimum of equipment and I don't worry about a saddle. No chambon, rollers, or any other special equipment (too complicated for me and for our needs), just a lunge cavesson.

I would really appreciate suggestions/advice on the most comfortable cavesson or anything else for effective, gentle lungework. All we do are transitions on the lunge, and largely work on fitness and the removal of excess energy. I think my horses are comfortable, but I always prefer to err on the side of caution ie can I make them any more comfy than they already are? Much of the time I forget my lungewhip because they obey on voice and body language anyway, so we have a rather relaxed (slack?) approach.

I'd really appreciate suggestions/recommendations on the most ergonomic/comfortable tack that others have found to work well.
Thanks!:)
 
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Use your bridle. Take the reins off, then clip the lunge line to the bit ring, taking the line through the nearest bit ring, under the chin and clip it on the furthest bit ring.
 
PoppyAnderson said:
Use your bridle. Take the reins off, then clip the lunge line to the bit ring, taking the line through the nearest bit ring, under the chin and clip it on the furthest bit ring.
Click to expand...

Why?

I always understood that lunging was best done in a cavesson. Only on the bit if the horse was difficult because it gives more control.
 
Thanks Poppy, that's helpful. I've used that quite a lot but I thought it might be better /more even, and easier to change reins with a connector on the rings... I wonder if it is?

I have also never managed to understand the reason for lungework with the rope connected to the cavesson on the nose... I'm sure many people will know the reason but I don't!
 
Aarrghimpossiblepony said:
Why?

I always understood that lunging was best done in a cavesson. Only on the bit if the horse was difficult because it gives more control.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've only ever used the bridle on the impossiblehorse. Without the bridle he just stands and looks at me with an expression that says "you expect me to actually MOVE?"
 
Ancient Hacker said:
Thanks Poppy, that's helpful. I've used that quite a lot but I thought it might be better /more even, and easier to change reins with a connector on the rings... I wonder if it is?

I have also never managed to understand the reason for lungework with the rope connected to the cavesson on the nose... I'm sure many people will know the reason but I don't!
Click to expand...

You can get a bit conector for around a fiver in most tack shops. It is afounf 6 inches long with a clip at each end and a ring to clip a lead rope or lungeline to in the centre. Alternatively, you can get really comfortable webbing light weight cavessons from £7 on ebay. Or a nice leather one for around £70.
 
How about just a headcollar? - I find caverssons quite heavy and all the metal rings bounce about on their nose.

Personally I use a headcollar if I'm in a rush or a bridle if I want him to work a little more as even the very light weight of the line encourages him to drop his nose to the floor and swing through his back really nicely.
 
Wagtail, thanks so much - I asked in my local tack shop and they looked at me as though I was mental, and then proceeded to introduce me to all manner of high-end famous name complex equipment that I would never need - or afford :eek:.

But where I live it's like this... name any "famous rider" brand and you'll get a tour of the full range. Ask for a martingale rubber or something cheap and simple and instead you're offered the whole shooting match :confused:
It's a bit like going to get a new set of tyres for your car and being told that we don't stock those, how about this new Ferrari, it comes with a full set of tyres....
 
Polos Mum said:
How about just a headcollar? - I find caverssons quite heavy and all the metal rings bounce about on their nose.

Personally I use a headcollar if I'm in a rush or a bridle if I want him to work a little more as even the very light weight of the line encourages him to drop his nose to the floor and swing through his back really nicely.
Click to expand...

Yes, I also use the headcollar when I'm in a bit of a hurry, but I'm not convinced the buckles don't irritate. I'm sitting at mys desk crushing and rolling some lightweight leather headcollars I bought the other day, trying to soften them, and see if I'm happier using those.
Truth of the matter is I'm starting to look lustfully at a Micklem, but the price by the time it reaches me (and I believe fitting is tricky) would buy the tyres for the Ferrari I mention above!
 
PoppyAnderson said:
Use your bridle. Take the reins off, then clip the lunge line to the bit ring, taking the line through the nearest bit ring, under the chin and clip it on the furthest bit ring.
Click to expand...

Not a fan of lungeing but have done exactly this and used a head collar as well if you want simplicity. Its about going forwards so thats it! Simple.
 
I have a very ancient leather cavesson, that I bought when it was already rather battered cheaply. Its scruffy, but has lovely padding, is very adjustable, & doesn't slip. By comparison, I've not seen a synethic one I like, they appear to need cranking ridiculously tightly or they slip. Cheaper alternative (if you can't find a good leather one second hand) might be to buy an old good quality leather headcollar, with an adjustable nose band, & get a saddler to add padding & a ring on the noseband.
 
Littlelegs, it (strangely) never occurred to me to get padding on the leather headcollars, and that's clearly exactly what I need to do. I never see padded ones here, but I'm sure our saddlers will be able to do it for me. Thanks very much.:)
 
No probs, I'd already come up with that idea for one of mine. Daughters pony needs a mini sized one (mine goes down as far as chunky pony) & so far managed with a well fitting headcollar, but she's past just doing long & low, I don't lunge from bits, so had already thought of it as a solution for her.
 
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