Lunging Cavesson?

[vEgGiE RiDeR]

Hi :D I was just wondering what a lunging cavesson is and exactly how it works. I have done Monty Roberts Join Up with various horses, and the lunging consists of holding the lunge line coiled up, driving your horse from his/her hind quarters, and throwing the soft end of the line towards his/her hind quarters. I have never used a lunge cavesson to attach the line to a horse's face, could someone explain? And if you were attaching the line to the horse's face for a lunge lesson, couldn't you hook it on a halter....?

[Nookster]

I see lunging as training but some people use it before riding to get excess energy out of their horses.

The most important aspect of lunging a horse is that it teaches him to pay attention to you. It can also teach a horse to calm down and simply pay attention and try to do what you want him to do. This process can develop a good relationship between you and your horse, and help work together when you're up on his back.


A lunge line attaches to a Lunge cavesson, which allows room for between you and the horse. You can clip it on to the side ring of the cavesson, provided you change it to the other side when you change rein. This is the simplest way of attaching the lunge line - it exerts minimum pressure on the horse’s head.
You should get the horse to establish a small circle, then give some slack and encourage him onto a bigger circle. Let him walk freely for about 5 minutes before you begin any work.
The horse should take the correct leads when asked, and respond to the voice commands. Always cool you horse down afterwards as well as lunge work can be more strenuous then most. The process of lunging for a young horse i'm gathering would be very different as you would have to teach the techniques firstly. Hope this info helps.

[Wally]

You can lunge from a headcollar if the horse is well balanced and not inclined to try leaning on the lunge, this will pull the head collar over his eyes and may hurt him.

The cavesson is a close fitting, snug fit so slipping is avoided. It has a central ring to lunge from and two side rings you can introduce side reins to if you want.

You can lunge from the bit if the horse is quiet and experienced.

I don't beleive in using lunging to work off excess energy, simply cantering round in circles will do nothing for a horse. I have seen it done though.

[Shady_Indigo]

true i don't agree with lunging to work off excess energy, though it is all too common here in Australia to see mums and dads of little showies lunging their kids pony around for an hour before a class so their kid can actually control the thing. :( Makes me sad.
Also if you need ALOT of control when lunging you can clip the lunge rope on to the outside bit ring, over the poll and through the other bit ring.

[cvb]

veggie rider - imagine trying to do the join up thing if you had no round pen and a very big field ! :D

Lunging is more 'traditional' than round pen work in the UK. Also you can lunge with two lines, which is a good preparation for long reining.

[galadriel]

Hmmm, I don't understand the criticism of lunging to work off excess energy. My Kat is a spaz at the best of times; if I let her just *be* a spaz, she's then much more willing to listen to me. Otherwise, she's stuck in racehorse mode: full stop -> gallop! Where's the start box? Time to GO!

I think it's very like a compromise: she gets to do what she wants to do (run like an idiot ;) ) and then I get to do what I want to do (dressage, jumping, whatever).

[Nookster]

I wouldn't criticise lunging a horse to work off excess energy. I would think that it depends on the horse in question and what is suitable for them and safe for the rider. It varies on circumstance. For instance I would myself do what galadriel has explained quite wisely for why she would use this technique. Lunging in this way can be effective especially after all the fizz has gone and they are under control, taking the correct leads when asked, and responding to voice commands. But on the other side of the coin there are some people that use it ineffectively and for silly reasons - I think these acts that many people do see (show ponies etc) are for why the criticism is around.

I myself have been lucky enough to use it mainly for training, on the occasion I too have used it to work off excess energy, but I would like to think it has then turned into a productive session. :)

[Lucy J]

sometimes all I do is lunge ciara. i generally lunge off the bit or a headcollar and use a roller with fairly loose side reins.

if she hasn't been ridden for a few days I will lunge her sometimes (depends how brave I'm feeling) to warm her back up and settle her down before I climb aboard.

i don't agree with lunging till the horse is knackered, although my plan when I am due to take ciara out for her first gallop will be to lunge first, do a bit of schooling then go out on a hack.

ciara enjoys lunging, but i don't let her run riot, i make her work properly. i find it good for warming her up and switching her on. she will walk trot and canter on command, she is not allowd to run riot at any time on the lunge.

[Karenr]

I have had to lunge in the past for physio therapy for one of my horses who had had a back problem (had to teach her to lunge first!), didn't use a cavesson had to use the bridle as for love or money I cannot get a lunge cavesson that fits my horse!!! In fact I have several which I never got round to sending back and am trying to sell!!!!!!