how should you lounge ahorse? by the bridle or by the halter?

Question

Some people say you should only use the halter but some people say bridles are fine too. Also if halter is better, what kind should i use?

Answer 1

Halter is better if the horse is frisky. A bridle is easily broken if they spook and pull real hard. you could always put the headstall on with the bit without the reins if that helps. As far as the halter and size, whatever fits the horse. I have a nylon one with a breakaway strap on my mare just in case she would get caught on a post or something in the field, but I can't leave it off of her or I'll never catch her.

Answer 2

Hello,

I would recommend using a halter when you are just working your horse on a lounge line. A standard Halter. I would not recommend using a bridle on a longe line. As you can injur your horse doing so if you do not know how to properly do things. Now if you are ground training. You can use the bridle under the halter remove the reins from the bit. Best of Luck

Answer 3

A halter is best for lounging. If you leave the bridle in, there is a higher chance they could get caught on something, which make their mouths sensitive. If you are just going to turn them out, you should just take the halter off. There is always the possibility they could get caught on different things. Any halter is fine, just go to your local supply store.

Answer 4

There are hundreds of ways to lunge, and everyone is going to tell you differently. Go with what makes you and the horse the most comfortable.
What I do:
Depends on halter or bridle- if your horse is not used to a bridle or is extremely easy to control- use a halter. I always use a bridle when I lounge any of our horses from 1 1/2 yrs to 20 yrs. Under 1 1/2, I don't like to put any pressure on their mouth because they are just getting used to it. It gives me more control if they decide to buck or run as well. What I do during lounging: attach side reins from saddle or surcingle to bit, then a lounge line through the bit and clipped onto the saddle/surcingle to promote bend. Other ways are to go through one side of the bit and clip on the other side.

Answer 5

If I am at a show or pressed for time I lunge in a bridle.
Just be sure that you run the line through correctly( there are several right, and wrong ways to do this, I just run it through a D ring bit over the ears and clip to the other side of the D.) try to stay clear of their mouths and make sure that the bridle is properly adjusted and you arn't pulling the bit through their teeth.

Other than that I am a halter person. A plain cotton or nylon webb halter is fine, on horses that are older, more calm, and "behave" on the line.
I use a rope halter with knots at the nose presssure points, and with stronger horses, knots at the poll on occasion too. ...

Try to stay clear of "stud chains". I find that they tend to pull a halter sideways to that the piece that runs from their poll to the noseband slids up towards their eye. Stud chains belong in halter, or on studs, not on your 21 year old gelding...

Answer 6

You can use either. There are certain ways to do it in either but the best way is to use a lungeing cavesson. These offer more control, are tighter on the nose and therefore offer an easier time of controlling a horse than a halter.

If you are lungeing a horse in a halter, (for example lets start going counterclockwise), you would run the chain through the hole by his cheek and then under his chin to the other side and hook the snap. Do it the oposite way for clockwise (When you change directions).

In a bridle, You will run the chain through the bit on the left side, under his chin, through the right side, then bring it down and hook it to the chain, creating a triangle. This way you wont have to change when you reverse directions.

With a lungeing cavesson, the snap hooks to a ring on the nose band on top of the nose. I suggest investing in a leath one with padding- the nylon ones can fray and break if it is cut or compromised in any way.

Answer 7

Actually a longing cavesson is best but I have done it in both a bridle and a halter as well. You need to know how to properly thread the longe line if you plan on doing it in a bridle. You have to also make sure that you tie up the reins so that the horse does not get tangled up in them.

Go to this website for some excellent advice from Cherry Hill:

http://www.horsekeeping.com/horse-training-care-info.htm

Answer 8

I have done both ways.
Mostly I use a halter but If we are going out to ride and I want to get a quick feel for the horses mood I will lunge with the bridle and saddle on.

Answer 9

Well i wouldnt bridle a horse just to lounge, but if its for like a warm up you can. You can do it by halter too. What ever halter. I lounge horses for lessons too. Then the kids dont have to worry about stearing

Answer 10

A pressure halter, rope and clicker and treats usually work well in the passive clicker method of lunging.
Walk the horse in a circle on both directions. If he lowers his head it means he is balanced so when he does this click and reward. Once he's walking correctly try the same thing in trot but in a bigger circle. If he's a fiery horse every time he maintains a good pace and doesn't rush reward him but if he's a more docile slow horse every time he picks up speed click and reward. Then try changing between extended trot and collcted trot on both directions. Once he's got the hang of it try it at a canter also changing betwwen extended and collected. Every time he does what you want or goes at the right speed reward. reduce the treats as rewards over time and give him a pat each time he listens. Don't lunge for longer than 15-20 minutes and make sure you work in both directions.