Josh Nichol: Why the cavesson?

The cavesson is a necessity when it comes to groundwork and teaching horses how to use their bodies properly. Here I explain why I start with the rope halter and move to the cavesson in my groundwork progression.
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[@KimberlyBlake-y3m]

Thank you for explaining the benefit of the cavesson in such a clear way! We get criticized all the time for putting our horses’ halters on upside down 🤦🏻‍♀️😅

[@JoshNicholAHorsemansPursuit]

I'm sure that would look odd to some people! You're welcome!

[@KimberlyBlake-y3m]

@@JoshNicholAHorsemansPursuit We don't actually put the halters on upside down; our horses have rope cavessons that look like rope halters, except more fitted than a halter and with the loop on their nose instead of under their chin. They work great! But, people see the rope halter base and automatically assume we've just put the halters on upside down. It's pretty funny.

[@mbatesart]

I love using the cavesson in the groundwork. Lungeing with a cavesson has changed my horse's body movement. He's always been super high-headed and inverted which has led to lameness. That is what led me to discover this tool. His throat latch is open, the poll is at a lower height with his nose out. No more bulging under the neck and getting the correct bend is so easy.

[@JoshNicholAHorsemansPursuit]

Great to hear! I'm glad you have found value in it. So important that as we move forward with any piece of equipment that we understand how to use it well and use it when and where necessary. Great job!

[@Ako-Ako44]

Besutiful👍 love your work🙏

[@JoshNicholAHorsemansPursuit]

Thank you!

[@kmiklaszewski]

I am so glad to see this video clip and your explanation and use of this amazing piece of tech. I really learned about it when working at a Lusitano classical dressage farm with lots of stallions that I had to tack up. You can definitely see a difference in the way the horse balances and rearranges his body in order to move. What are your thoughts with so many people out there using rope halters for a lot of lunging liberty work. I see so many people using The rope halters with a lunge line or a very long liberty rope for doing sending and of course change of direction and recalling. You can definitely notice some of the same issues that you spoke about in this video when rope altars are used for some of this work as well. Could you do a video talking about this? Thank you and again I really loved your thoughts and explanation on the lunging Cavesson.

[@JoshNicholAHorsemansPursuit]

Thank you for your feedback, working at a stud farm like that would be quite the experience! The problem when lunging in a halter is that it asks the horse's poll to rotate the opposite direction if we connect with the line. So it is counter productive and gives the horse a mixed signal. The halter is good for leading and softening but not as helpful for lunging. I like to think that every piece of equipment has pros and cons and it is our job to figure out what each piece does well and what it doesn't do well. With this information we can better use our tools to help our horses develop!

[@tilly_horses]

I love my cavesson:) I use it for in hand, groundwork and riding

[@JoshNicholAHorsemansPursuit]

They are an excellent tool!

[@ronmccabe7164]

Interesting

[@JoshNicholAHorsemansPursuit]

An important conversation!

[@laurakerley8774]

How can I make one with a lead rope/halter?

[@JoshNicholAHorsemansPursuit]

I create something I call the "cowboy cavesson," and I take the lead rope and wrap it over the opposite side of the nose and through the nose band making it act like a cavesson!

[@RaniTanny]

Was that a bend from the pole, or from the neck?

[@JoshNicholAHorsemansPursuit]

The primary purpose is the pole but there are always moments when the neck will be involved. Every horse will bend the neck as they need but we should be doing our best to isolate how the rotation affects the hind end!

[@RaniTanny]

@JoshNicholAHorsemansPursuit I get that the neck sometimes bends- but the true bend is at the pole...rather the Flexion comes from the pole. I feel people get confused when seeing a bend as something we should teach the horse, rather than flexing the pole