Lungeing from Head Collar

[Anne]

Hi Everyone :)

Just wondered what you think of lungeing from head collar rather than from bridle?

My mare has just come out of an eight weeks "resting" period after physio, walking and carrot exercises, that is I've been riding her now for about 10 days, just walking, a bit of trot, and, at my chiropractor's suggestion, lungeing from the headcollar.

The yard manager was appalled when I told him about this advice, saying it was bad for the horse and needed an expert at long-reining to get her back into work properly.
Anyway, I was so pleased by my mare's progress after her treatment and sticking to the regime, tedious as it was, that I decided to try the headcollar lungeing, and it works!

I'm obviously not training her with it, just exercising her for about 20 minutes, and the trust we have built up between us is just incredible ... I can't believe just how much co-operation she will give me, and this from a horse who apparently would not lunge without spinning around at "stand". I can trot her up, bring her back to walk, canter her, ask her to stand and she will do it all willingly. I also don't use a whip, but just my arm, in the same way.

What I want to know is, ought I to begin lungeing from the bridle at some point, as I know some people disapprove of what I'm doing now, or should I stick with the head collar?

Would appreciate your comments.

Incidentally, my mare had a long-term back problem and severe neck flexion stiffness, not to mention an old problem with her face which I knew nothing about previously, hence the reason I ride without a nose-band for now.

Anne

[Rachel R]

I occasionally lunge with just a headcollar. So long as the headcollar is tight enough not to slip round the face I don't see a problem. I used to have a horse who hated the action of a lunge cavesson, but would would really stretch down in a headcollar. Personally I never attach lunge reins to bits - I only lunge with a bridle if I want to attatch side reins to the bit.

It sounds to me as if you are doing a fantastic job and having a lot of success with this method, so stick with it. There are many differing opionions and preferences when it comes to lunging, so if you've found something that works for this horse don't be swayed!

Rachel

[Remmy]

Hi Anne,

I do all my lunge work in a headcollar and currently the in hand lateral work too. My boy has a dislike to the lunge rein coming off the front of the cavesson and keeps throwing his head around. When I use a bridle, I still have his headcollar on to attach the lunge rein.

I guess that if your horse was a puller or generally didn't lunge very well then a cavesson or bridle would give you different degrees of control. But I don't get that impression from your post. I would carry on as you are and like Rachel says, just use the bridle if you want to use side reins.

Vicki

[Sharon H]

I've never used a bridle for lunging, I value my horses mouth too highly! If I hadn't got a lunge cavesson, I would use a headcollar instead. Did the yard manager say why he was 'appalled'? I don't suppose by any chance he's an 'expert' in long-reining and would be pleased to do it for you, for extra cash of course!
If it suits you and your horse, carry on, I think lunging is a vastly misused training aid anyway.

[Outrider]

I have always lunged a horse with a halter. I guess that is what y'all call a head collar? Even when he is tacked up, I put the halter underneath the bridle and attach the lunge line to it. I don't know why a person should be appalled at this. With a good halter you have good control with less chance of mouth damage. I would say keep doing what you are doing, especially since it is working for you. Happy Trails!

[David]

What a lot of sense. I have been against using a bridle to lunge with for years and in the last few years have gone off the use of a caveson because of the weight it puts on a horses nose. If you weigh a caveson and a lunge rein you will see what I mean, imagine that weight on the nose of your horse. I use a bridle, and a light weight halter, on my young horses while lunging them, without reins, to get them used to the bit but never ever would I lunge off the bit, I want a horse with some mouth left. I really liked the comment about non use of a whip, after all lunging is really about body language. I am so pleased to read all your horse-sensible comments.

[Miriam]

I was taught to lunge with a headcollar when I took a pony on to exercise by his owner. I have only recently told a new girl on the yard who is just starting out that you could lunge from the headcollar, and showed her how. It never did any of mine any harm.


Miriam

[Anne]

Hi Everyone ... apologies for being a bit of a "fairweather poster", and at the risk of boring you all to death, following on from my "head collar" queries and your replies, could I just ask another question?

Lungeing from the HC has been very successful, but now the Yard Manager is saying that I should at least be using side reins to teach her to lower her head. He has not acknowledged, let alone complimented me on the work I've done with her, but at least, up until now he has not criticised me face-to-face.

I've told him I want her to have Saturdays off, and possibly Fridays, depending on how I feel she is doing (I've been allowing him to use her on Thursdays for w/p lessons, but have reservations about how hard he is driving her, hence the two days off - with maybe some lungeing by me, later in the day, and before her final meal).

Anyway, he was pretty miffy about this, and started his usual lecture about "what we must consider is right for her", forgetting once again that she is my horse and not his or the owner's any more. Anyway, I am willing to concede that I should start using side reins, if I can be sure it will not hurt her in any way (from head collar) although I can't see the point really. So, would appreciate once again your very welcome input on the value of this, so I can make a decision.

Many thanks .... hope to read some replies very soon?

Anne :)

[clip-clop-oops-crash]

first of all remeber THIS IS YOUR HORSE !! if you are happy with how she is going then why change anything? i cant see how the yard manager could possibly know your horse as well as, or as he seems to think - better, than you and so only you know what is best for her. please dont be persuaded or bullied into using side reins or lungeing in a bridle! if something isnt obviously beneficial to your horse then usually itisnt beneficial at all! you are doing brilliantly with your horse and dont let the yard manager tell you otherwise! :D

[Mossy]

Hi Anne
She is your horse - you paid good money or the chiropractors advice and it is working. If you are happy with her then stick with it. There is comment about Richard maxwell elsewhere on this board.
There is also an article from him in this months HORSE which should be required reading for all. It says that many problems are caused by owners, who know their own horses best, having their confidence undermined by" experts" - [to quote Wally "a has been under pressure"] . The horse is put under pressure by these helpfuls souls and then says no! Expert disappears very rapidly leaving owner with a "problem horse".
It sounds just fine to me and if it ain't broke don't fix it!
Good luck

[Wally]

Yes, once again Mossy hits the nail on the head, she should know, she's got the T shirt and the hat, been through the mill and come out the other side bruised, battered but so much wiser, and with much more confidence about what is instinctively right!
An expert?..... an ex is a hasbeen............. and a spurt is a drip under pressure!! I am always very cautious about self proclaimed experts!!

[fionahogg]

Hi! I don't see any point whatsoever is lunging a horse in a headcollar with side reins on. If the whole 'point' of lunging in side reins is to simulate the contact of a rider's hands - this would only work with a bit. Lunging in a headcollar & side reins would just put unnecessary pressure on the nose.
Personally, I hate the use of side reins full stop. I think that they force the horse into a 'correct outline'. A rider is supposed to ride with an elastic contact, and I don't think side reins (even those with elasticated inserts) provide this. Instead of encouraging the horse to stretch long and low, side reins make it all to easy for the horse to tuck his nose in and not work correctly.

Totally agree with the previous posts

Fiona.

[clip-clop-oops-crash]

on side reins - just think of all the things that a horse who is enjoying being ridden and is relaxed and happy does with his head when you are riding...........like when you are on a hack, they shake and snort and put there heads down etc. adn when they are stressed or uncomortable being ridden they either hold their heads high in the air or close against their chests and 'charge'. so 'pinning' a head down or in is 'helping' a horse? think again 'expert'.

[Outrider]

I don't see a need to lunge with side reins to teach her to carry her head a specific way. Unless you are intending to show her, this, in my humble opinion, is totally unnessary. The bottom line is what previous posters have said. She is your horse to treat and teach as you desire, not the yard manager. With the physical problems she has already had, I don't think a lower head set is a good idea anyway. If you only pleasure ride her for yourself and you don't mind the way she carries her head, no one else should either. It sounds to me like he is trying to get the horse in a "show" level of some sort so he can teach others who may want to show. If I were you, I would watch him when he uses your horse for lessons a few times and possibly reconsider letting him do this. Happy Trails!

[appaloosagal]

wuzza head collar?????¿¿¿¿
If a head collar is what we here in Canada call a halter, I always lunge my horse in halter because I find it pointless to use a bit and bridle becasue u cant pull on the horses mouth from 20' away neway. That way, your also working on voice comands, not tugging on the lunge line 2 get the horse 2 stop. Also, then u dont have 2 go re-threading the line through the bit ring and over the poll from one side to the other when u want 2 change directions, u just walk to the other side of the horse.

Hope that helps! :)

[Anne]

Thanks Apalloosagal and everyone else who gave me support on this topic.

Actually I've finally decided to leave the yard for another, further down the road and closer to bridleways and open Downs. It's been a big decision for me as there are various aspects to consider and I'm very very nervous about whether I'm doing the right thing for my horse (I think it's the right one for me, but I don't want the change to upset her, and she really is the important factor in this).

The main differences are that the new yard is very small compared to my current one, with nowhere near the facilities on offer. Also, and this is my chief concern, the stables are stone, with only one lookout at the front, and she has lived at the current yard since she was 4 and the stables are of the American style barn type, with grilles separating the top halves of each stable, so that the horses can interact and see each other at all times.

On the other hand, there will be optional grazing all day if wanted, I have known the new owner of the smaller yard since I started riding, and whilst she is quite tough and unsentimental, I like and respect her attitude to other people ... she does not give unsolicited advice, but is very helpful if you ask for it, and she certainly does not criticize anyone else's methods of dealing with their horses because they differ from hers. I also know a couple of other people who will livery there and I feel comfortable with.

Livery will be the same price but without additional tax, so monthly bills will in fact be considerably less ... it's just that as I said, I am quite nervous of striking out on my own ... taking her away from her friends, and as she is a very sensitive type, causing her any stress and therefore compounding her physical problems.

What do you think?

Comments much appreciated as always. :)

[EventPony]

I usually always lunge with a halter. I was taught to connect to lunge line to one side, pass it over their poll, then out the other ring to lunge. I find it provides more control and doesnt pull their halter around as much (correct me if im wrong???) When i do lunge with a bridle, i do the same thing (again, this is how my insctructor taught me, but please tell me if there is something wrong with this......).

[sarsha]

how r u getting on know ?????
allways use a halter to lunge with , then i loose lunge when us both are a bit more organised ( commands and responces , general outline etc etc ,)
only try this if you are very experienced !!!!!

this is a tip ( but i dont know if u need it or not ....lol) but its for teaching a young horse ( unridden ) on accepting a light reign contact while lungeing and i think it could be better than elasic side reings because the horse cant shift his head to avoid contact , u need a halter ( lol )(to attach the lungeing line to ) a bridle with no reins and a lungeing surcingle ,and a peice of sash cord about 3 meters long (depends on size of horse )you also need two small weights ( two ouncses each )and two rings , to attacth the weights to , then run the cord from the sursingle ,thread the first weight onto sash cord go though bit ring up and over poll down though other bit ring and attach other weight ( the weights are ment to be able to slide along the side reins we are making )and then attach back onto surcingle,

please update us

[sarsha]

sorry sorry bad typos
that was ment to be "how are you getting on now " for the first line and there was ment to be an " I ''allways use a halter for lungeing " on the second line .