Lunging through the bit

[Dressage donkey]

Hi guys
Im having abit of bother lunging my 4 year old. Hes good on the lunge with transitions and listening, but he leans alot to the outside which makes it quite hard to get him working on a decent circle and balanced. Ive been lunging him through a dually halter with his bridle over the top. Before this i did lunge him in a cavesson but we had a few problems with control when we used that.
Im ending up with achy arms when i lunge him which isnt how it should be at all.
I was wondering if lunging him through his bit might help? Ive never done this before as ive always thought it could hurt their mouths

So here are my questions;
Does any one here lunge from the bit?
How do you attach the lunge line to the bit? Silly question i know but there are a couple of ways to it.
Does your horse work on a better circle?
What bit do you use? Im thinking a full cheek bit would be best to stop the bit being pulled through the mouth?

Many thanks

[Kc..]

Best way is to run through the bit ring on the nearside up over the poll and attach to the bit ring on the far side... also you can run it through the bit ring nearest you and run under teh chin and clip to the bit ring on the far side. I normally use the first.

You can also loop it round the noseband (cavesson) and found the bit ring nearest you

[Kc..]

Thought i'd show you this of my boy so it made more sense... through the bit nearest you up the side of the face as you can see over the poll and back down the other side and attach to opposite bit ring Hope it helps!

ETA: he is in a full cheek there but i find using this method the bit won't get pulled through anyway, and he works a lot better on a circle in a bit than a dually or cavesson!

[Karenmc]

Agree with KC, this is how i lunge.

[where with all]

might give that method a go too! what are the advantages? i lunge my ginger thing on the bit as he can get strong and exitable on the lunge, and did just clip the line on one side of the bit and thread it through

[nuttytart85]

i also lunge mine the same as kc and i always have done apart from my nearly 3 year old, i use the bit but use 2 lunge lines, one each side,

[Dressage donkey]

Thanks guys
I will give it ago and see how i get on.
Thanks for posting a pic too Kc.. That is one gorgeous horse!

[carthorse]

I lunge from the bit, but more importantly I lunge with two reins. That way I have an outside & inside rein, my rein aids are more similar to when he's ridden & I've got control over the outside of the horse. It isn't actually that difficult - I'm so cack handed I'd never manage if it was - but it's much more effective & also means they understand rein aids better when you get on.

[HorseHelen]

Originally Posted by carthorse

I lunge from the bit, but more importantly I lunge with two reins. That way I have an outside & inside rein, my rein aids are more similar to when he's ridden & I've got control over the outside of the horse. It isn't actually that difficult - I'm so cack handed I'd never manage if it was - but it's much more effective & also means they understand rein aids better when you get on.

this does sound like a good idea but i've never done it as i wasnt sure how you control the outside rein i.e. how does it stay in place round the horses side? do you run it through the stirrup iron (but with the stirrups run up)?

[carthorse]

I let the stirrups down (but keep them short, you don't want them banging his elbows) & secure them by putting an old leather through one, passing it under his belly then fastening it through the other. The lunge lines then go through the stirrups.

[HorseHelen]

Originally Posted by carthorse

I let the stirrups down (but keep them short, you don't want them banging his elbows) & secure them by putting an old leather through one, passing it under his belly then fastening it through the other. The lunge lines then go through the stirrups.

ah yep that makes sense thanks

[Kc..]

thankyou, he is gorgeous, i can't use two lines partly because i haven't got another one but also because when i did try it (borrowed one from a friend but now i'm the only one atr the yard lol) he went a bit mental with it round his bum. I would work on it but i only have one lunge line!

[Xandoz]

I made a 'bit connector' for myself. You sometimes see them on horses being shown in-hand. The connector has a clip on either end and a D-ring in the middle. I clip my lead to the D-ring and lunge like that. It means I can ask for changes of rein without having to stop Daisy and change the lead around for the new direction. All I say is "Change" and switch my whip and rein hands and she changes direction.

[Sam_22]

Originally Posted by carthorse

I lunge from the bit, but more importantly I lunge with two reins. That way I have an outside & inside rein, my rein aids are more similar to when he's ridden & I've got control over the outside of the horse. It isn't actually that difficult - I'm so cack handed I'd never manage if it was - but it's much more effective & also means they understand rein aids better when you get on.

I would love to know how to lunge with 2 reins, that sounds like a great way to do it. I'll start another thread asking for advice!!

Kc - beautiful horse btw.....I want .

[Sam_22]

Originally Posted by Dressage donkey

Does any one here lunge from the bit?
How do you attach the lunge line to the bit? Silly question i know but there are a couple of ways to it.
Does your horse work on a better circle?
What bit do you use? Im thinking a full cheek bit would be best to stop the bit being pulled through the mouth?

Many thanks

I lunge from the bit, exactly the same way as Kc! I use a full cheek snaffle. My pony definitly worked better when lunged from the bit. I have a new pony now and he hasn't lunged before at all (according to owner), he's 4 years old - I only bought him in December.

Sam xx

[Xandoz]

Lungeing with two reins is a form of long-lining.