Choose a roller with a minimum of three rings on each side, as well as at least one each on the spine and in the centre of the girth. This will give you as many attachment options as possible. Make sure the rings are a good size to allow clips and lines to pass through them easily. When it comes to duration, it depends on the level of fitness of the horse and what they are allowed to do if they are being rehabbed. Brendan also chooses not to wear gloves as he prefers the close feel he has on the reins. H&H recommends lungers wear a riding hat conforming the latest safety guidelines, as pictured. When riding with a full cavesson and a snaffle bridle, fit the cavesson high enough on the horse’s head to prevent the cavesson nose band from pinching the corners of the mouth.

Now, when riders mention that a horse reacts too sensitive to the cavesson, they often start to ‘judge’ the iron chain in the noseband. Because the rein rings on the cavesson sit further forward on the horse’s head than rings on a bridle, a longer rein should be used. Cavesson specifications French Baroque styleBut so is a normal halter, when it’s used with too much, too long, too often, sudden, steady pressure! Please Note: These size guides are approximate and each brand's measurements and sizing criteria may vary. So if we start to condemn a cavesson or its noseband we should look at ourselves first, because it’s always the human behind the tool!

Cavessons can be used for working close to the horse for classical schooling, long reining, lunging and riding in the same way as a bridle or side pull. The cavesson can also be combined with a bridle, and works well with a curb bit. Your lunge whip needs to be long enough to be effective, but also well weighted so it’s easy for you to carry. Test out the feel of a few before you buy to ensure you’re comfortable moving the whip around. A bright colour is a good idea if you’re prone to putting the whip down in the arena and losing it. Saddle vs roller Type of bridle: Mostly with a bridle, the lunge is hooked into the inner bit ring. The use of a lunging strap is now considered obsolete and undesirable. A well-fitting cavesson may also be used. I want to get a really good lunge cavesson to start the baby in. I had a lovely old leather one with a solid metal nose piece, but the leather has disintegrated (it had been left hanging somewhere unsuitable when I 'aquired' it and has now rotted). One option would be to get the nose piece built into a new cavesson, but I've been looking to see what's out there.

All About the Cavesson

Don’t just go blindly following my opinions without considering the circumstances surrounding you and your horse. Every horse and rider pair is different, and not every training method is right for every single horse or rider out there. Any trainer who tells you that their method works 100% of the time for every horse and rider on the face of the planet is an idiot and should be ignored. What is right for me may not be right for you. Lungeing is a great form of exercise for your horse. Plus, 20 minutes of good work on the lunge is the equivalent of an hour’s riding, so mastering this skill is a real asset, especially when time is at a premium. While you can’t fall off when lungeing, you’re at close quarters to a horse who’s moving, potentially at some speed. Therefore, standard safety equipment is important – a riding hat (fastened), gloves and sturdy boots are a must. Rope burn is a common side effect of lungeing without gloves and is very painful. Day to day