lunging query

[LittleD]

I have just started to learn how to lunge my horse just in case I am unable to rider her for any reason eg onset of winter weather etc.
I am not that confident just yet but can manage 10 mins one way and then 10 mins the other.
A couple of questions! At the moment I always tack her up fully and then put a cavasson on to lunge her with - do I need all of this tack? I have only had her for 2 months and prior to this she had not been ridden much so I put her saddle on to keep her used to feeling it on her back, put on the bridle to get her used to feeling the bit and put the cavasson on so that as a novice "lunger" I don't haul at her mouth - I would appreciate your opinions to let me know if I am on the right track (no pun intended)

[Mehitabel]

you don't need to lunge in tack, no. just a cavesson is fine if you aren't using side reins or anything - since you are just learning i am assuming you aren't. i never lunge off the bit - always use a cavesson. it isn't about being a novice, just being ocnsiderate and not using a bit when you don't need to.
the only thing i would say is that you should really have the cavesson under the bridle - take the noseband off the beridle so it fits over the cavesson. the cavesson needs to be tight enough not to slip round and go in the eyes, so if it's that tight over a bridle it is uncomfortable.

[AJB]

I always use a headstall and a bit to clip side riens on and only use a lunge roller not full tack- I cant seem to find a cavesson that doesnt slip all around .....In the summer I use a headcollor under the headstall and clip to that but use the bit with a coupler on in the winter as I need more control as there is usually someone else working in the school when I lunge and my boy gets a bit full of himself...I always make sure he has boots on as well for protection.

[Stella2]

I have lunged my previous horse to reasonable effect and now have a young green horse who is just learning to balance on a circle. My instructor who really knows her stuff recently said she needed to "have a look at my lunging because he would benefit from working properly on the lunge once a week". She looked at it and I'm having to sharpen it up a bit! She placed the cavasson over the bridle, made sure it fitted well and all bits were tucked in. I trust her judgement, so I think that is fine (I've always previously lunged from the bit). She (and I'd learned this before from others, including what Dane Rawlings and Jenny Lorison Clarke teach) feels that side reins are important (after a little warm up) for a horse to work properly, so if you want to do more than just let the horse use up a bit of energy, I think side reins should be used.

Its not necassary to use a saddle to use side reins. You can pop a lunge rollor on (a bit like a large girth strap that goes all the way around the horse and has rings on to attach side reins etc). You should really use some kind of breast plate with that though, so there is no risk of it slipping back and becoming a 'bucking strap'!

Happy lunging :)