The recent revival of two threads about lunging cavessons got me wondering about their design. Why the metal in the noseband, whether exposed or encased in leather? I understand that the noseband needs to have the points of connection for the line, but don’t understand the purpose of more metal than just the rings. Enlighten me, please.
Because some of us own small locomotives that respond better to brakes than hail marys 
Not actually kidding. My horse will stop anywhere on voice command. I mean out in the field, under tack, on the longe, etc. What she will NOT do? Respond to half halts in hand if she doesn’t absolutely have to. Why bother working harder when you can work faster (her favourite) and just blow right through the whole exercise?
It was absolutely earth-shattering for both of us the first time I used a proper cavesson for in hand work. For me, my emotion was absolute delight with a touch of awe. For her, it was more, “Damn it. I can’t just blow through this thing and do what I want.”
For both of us it put an end to frustration because communication was clear, concise, and didn’t have to escalate.
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There are sometimes in the education of the horse when being able to give a solid snap of the wrist, and engaging the nose band, saves a lot of being yanked off one’s feet. Ditto with side rein for the horse that like to spin outwards.
Otherwise it is simply a solid base for the rings, and plays a role in NOT pressing on the nose.
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@sascha thank you for your reply on one of the revived threads - I had missed it until now. Thanks for also spelling longeing with an “o”. :yes:
You’re welcome 
I have a Portuguese caveson with a metal, non-jointed noseband. For on thing, it helps stabilize the noseband, preventing the cheek pieces from drifting into the eyes. It also stays more snugly in place, so nothing gets rubbed. It’s MUCH lighter than the big German jointed metal longe cavesons I grew up with.
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Any cavesson I have used without metal has twisted.
