lunging cavesson recommendations and bit straps

[MissAriel]

I will be starting a young horse this spring, and have already been brushing up on my lunging skills and looking to buy a lunging cavesson.

One thing I know is we (trainer and I) will be starting with just a lunging cavesson, but we will be adding a bit at some point just to get him (horse) used to having a bit in his mouth while he is working. The line will not be attached to the bit, but to the lunging cavesson.

Are there reasons why I might prefer a cavesson with bit straps or is having the horse wear a headstall/bit along with the cavesson preferred or are they similar? I have seen both done.

I haven’t asked my trainer this specific question - it just occurred to me as I was web-surfing and looking at lunging cavessons last night - but I thought I might see what others think - and why!

[merrygoround]

I have always used a headstall under the cavesson, I usually start playing with wearing the bit early on. I pop the bit into the moth for a minute or two at a time. and then remove it.

When I first start longeing though I use the cavesson alone. If you have a rowdy youngster side reins can be attached to the side rings of the cavesson. A properly made cavesson is a lifetime investment, and well worth the $$$ it will cost you. I bought a Wels cavesson 50 years ago, it is a bit battered it works as intended.

It appears as though someone is selling something similar, however on the original the chin strap fits in the same way a chin strap fits on a drop noseband which allows the 'arrets" to be felt in the bit. This does not appear to have a similar chin strap. but appears to be almost contiguous with the noseband. Dover was selling the proper ones a few ago but I suspect they were too rich for the American market. They are still in use at the SRS.

[scruffy_the_cat]

I’m no lungeing expert but I adore my Wels cavesson that I got from Hastilow. Soft, relatively lightweight, very stable, excellent leather. Pricey, but you get what you pay for.

http://www.hastilowusa.com/lungeing-equipment/lungeing-cavesson.html

[GraceLikeRain]

In keeping with the OP does anyone have pictures using a bridle under a cavesson? I’ve never encountered a lunging cavesson with built in bit straps. Personally, that seems like a really nice feature.

I lost my lunging cavesson in the fire but I always felt like it didn’t work well with a bit. If it went under over the bit the bit seemed trapped or pinched but running the bit over the lunging cavesson was bulk and lifted the cheekpieces off the face.

[scruffy_the_cat]

Wicky uses her Wels cavesson over her bridle sometimes. I wonder if she’ll chime in.

[no.stirrups]

I like keeping the bit and longe line completely separate, so there is no risk of pulling on the horse’s mouth accidentally. For that reason, I use a bridle under my cavesson. I use the least-bulky bridle I can find and remove the noseband and browband, so it’s just a bit-holder. I spend an extra couple of seconds aligning the straps, so nothing is pinched.

More often than not I ride after longeing, so in the long run, it is easier to just pull the cavesson off after longeing and get on.

[alfonsina]

I ordered this:
http://qcvsaddlery.com/en/cavessons/21-lunging-cavesson-with-leather-nosepiece-111.html
Very good quality. Can order with removable straps to hold the bit.

[GraceLikeRain]

[QUOTE=alfonsina;8512095]
I ordered this:
http://qcvsaddlery.com/en/cavessons/21-lunging-cavesson-with-leather-nosepiece-111.html
Very good quality. Can order with removable straps to hold the bit.[/QUOTE]

Are you in the US by any chance? I’d be curious to know what that comes out to in US shipped

[joiedevie99]

We put the bit on a bradoon hanger underneath the cavesson.

[DARQHORSE]

Micklem makes a bridle with bit straps and also works as a bitless longe caveson.
http://www.doversaddlery.com/the-rambo-micklem-original-multibridle/p/X1-12672/

[alfonsina]

Hi Gracelikerain – I dug around and found the invoice… In euros it cost 121, total with shipping to me in the US was 138. That today translates to $152 US. I bought it in June '14.

[MissAriel]

Alfonsina - thank you for the links and information on QCV. It also looks like their cavessons can be ordered in different colors of leather and different buckle styles - bonus!

correct me if I am wrong, but it seems the SRS/Spirig, Hastilow/Wels and QCV cavessons all have a solid shaped metal piece over the nose, with joints on either side of the nose. That seems to be a critical feature for proper function.

[alfonsina]

MissAriel – My QVC cavesson doesn’t have metal over the nose, although they do make versions with metal.

I think metal would make signals sent through the lunge line more emphatic. There have been a couple of overly ebullient times when I wondered if I should have gotten a cavesson with metal… But almost always my horse is sensible and responds to verbal cues.

[scruffy_the_cat]

My Hastilow has metal, with joints on either side of the nose. It helps it fit better.

[SuzieQNutter]

I always use my lunging cavesson over the bridle.

If you get a canvas one, you might have to cut the bit at the back where it attaches the back of the nose part to the cavesson as this stops you putting the straps underneath the bridle for the comfort of the horse.

I haven’t had this problem with leather lunging cavessons.

[csaper58]

[QUOTE=joiedevie99;8513100]
We put the bit on a bradoon hanger underneath the cavesson.[/QUOTE]

This works well. It is easy to put on and take off without removing the cavesson

[LarkspurCO]

[QUOTE=GraceLikeRain;8512970]
Are you in the US by any chance? I’d be curious to know what that comes out to in US shipped[/QUOTE]

If you look at the top edge of the page there is a tiny little currency selector to the left of the country/flag selector. You can switch to US dollars.

With the snaffle attachment straps, the total shipped to my location would be $151.24.

[Wicky]

FWIW, mine is soft leather but the construction makes it rather stiff. It has three rings on the noseband, and fits over the bridle. This enables me to use it with a lead line, while riding, if I want to address a particular stiffness. This configuration also permits me to lunge with or without side reins in the arena, and just take the cavesson off to ride, rather than having to take it off and put the bridle on.