Bungees - pros/cons and how adjustable?

nikicb

nikicb

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I have been recommended a bungee by a knowledgeable friend. I'm trying to get our 13.2 pony out of a martingale and it seems a good halfway step. Pros and cons from anyone that has used one would be good.

Not sure what sizes they come in as well. He's fairly short coupled and as I say a 13.2 - are they one size and adjustable (if so how much) or do they come in smaller sizes?

Thanks. :)
 
I have heard rave reviews about them, I believe they have a toggle on the top that is adjustable.

However, my instructor made me ride his hogged Show cob in one. The cob did not like the bungee... He produced monster catapult bucks! I hit the decks three times... :o
 
I think they are one size and very adjustable.
I like them and use them on some horses for lunging and in some circumstances for hacking out .
They are a cheap gadget to buy ( under £20)
Cons for hacking out you have to be careful they don't get tangled on things.
And they work by mild poll pressure encouraging the horse into a forward and round position with the neck so don't over use.
 
Kiristamm said:
I have heard rave reviews about them, I believe they have a toggle on the top that is adjustable.

However, my instructor made me ride his hogged Show cob in one. The cob did not like the bungee... He produced monster catapult bucks! I hit the decks three times... :o
Click to expand...

As with all gadgets that apply poll pressure you need to approach with care some horses do not respond well to poll pressure.
 
If your horse isn't used to poll pressure I would set on a loose setting and lunge initially, otherwise the horse could react violently - as proved by poster above !
Can be a useful, short term training aid, but depends what you want/ need to achieve, so I would take advice if you're not sure.
 
I never school in them would use a draw rien over the top of the poll if I wanted poll pressure then you can give it away.
 
Goldenstar said:
As with all gadgets that apply poll pressure you need to approach with care some horses do not respond well to poll pressure.
Click to expand...

Horse was fine with poll pressure, he was usually ridden in a double. My instructor was trying it out as he had just bought it and wanted to see how it worked so he could use it on another horse; I was the (un)willing victim who had to ride the horse trying it! We came to the conclusion he just didn't like it.

I wholeheartedly agree with you, some gadgets suit some horses but not others.
 
I don't really see how it would get him out of a martingale? They don't do the same thing at all. What kind of martingale, just a running or do you mean a standing?

I don't like using gadgets at all but if you're going to use one tie a bit of thin baling twine to your girth and clip on to that so that if they get caught or the horse does panic it will give way. I would also prefer draw reins IF anything but then I don't want to tell you to use them because they need to be used properly and I wouldn't want to advise when I can't show you how to use them sympathetically.

Whatever you do don't put it on too tight, its not about tying their head in, its supposed to just encourage, I know they are bungees but there still isn't a huge amount of give in the ones I've seen, you can pick them up for around £8.
 
I love my bungee. I hack out in it all the time as it keeps my chap occupied instead of looking at stupid things. Only thing with them is that sometimes horses "play" with them - mine likes to bounce off the elastic by moving his head up and down constantly when it's too loose so I keep it slightly tigher than needed just to prevent him from doing this - and before anyone starts telling me it's because he doesn't like it, no, it's because he likes to mess around with it because he's a freak of nature! :D He is always lovely and a light after I have used it!
 
Thanks for your comments. They are very useful. I'll add a few more bits of info....

I don't tend to be a gadget person. Even a martingale to me is a gadget and I have been trying to work out a way to get rid of it since we got the pony 18 months ago. I can ride him without, but don't trust him not to whack his head up when my children are on him.

I wouldn't hack in a bungee, just school and would most likely introduce on the lunge before riding in it - I think that is ok?

When we got the pony he had a well developed set of underneck muscles. These are gradually going. He has lovely natural paces and would do a fab dressage test if we can bin the martingale. Starting with walk and trot. Still throws his head up in canter. It's not a physical problem other than under development of muscles and needing more schooling. He's part arab (but his going is very araby) which doesn't help. I'm looking for something to help with encouraging him to lower his head carriage, not tie it down.

I really don't want to be introducing draw reins. I want something that is more giving than a martingale which is why the bungee seemed like a good thing with the in-built elasticity. He can be quite fussy in his mouth, but fine if you ride with your body rather than your hands, if that makes sense. It's not a big deal. He's a cracking pony club pony, does everything happily, sane hack, goes to rallies, enjoys his jumping. But I think he could do more in terms of flat work if we can sort this issue out. Even if we can't, he's not going anywhere.

Thank you. :)
 
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I like bungees on certain horses - because they work on poll pressure rather than on the mouth once the horse starts working correctly from behind the bungee goes loose and is just there IF you need it i.e. when the horse stops working, for whatever reason. I use for lungeing, schooling and occasionally for hacking to work on specific issues but I don't like to see it used every time a horse is ridden.

As other posters have commented it doesn't suit all of them - I always check on the lunge first as a horse which is very sensitive in its poll will turn itself inside out to get away and it would be completely counter productive.
 
Suziq77 said:
I like bungees on certain horses - because they work on poll pressure rather than on the mouth once the horse starts working correctly from behind the bungee goes loose and is just there IF you need it i.e. when the horse stops working, for whatever reason. I use for lungeing, schooling and occasionally for hacking to work on specific issues but I don't like to see it used every time a horse is ridden.

As other posters have commented it doesn't suit all of them - I always check on the lunge first as a horse which is very sensitive in its poll will turn itself inside out to get away and it would be completely counter productive.
Click to expand...

Thank you - very helpful. :)
 
nikicb said:
I have been recommended a bungee by a knowledgeable friend. I'm trying to get our 13.2 pony out of a martingale and it seems a good halfway step. Pros and cons from anyone that has used one would be good.

Not sure what sizes they come in as well. He's fairly short coupled and as I say a 13.2 - are they one size and adjustable (if so how much) or do they come in smaller sizes?

Thanks. :)
Click to expand...
So many gadgits. Personally I feel the horse should work from back forward. If the horse is naturally working from behind naturally its head will lower and come onto the bit making some nice shape. Takes lots of time. By forcing head into a position that its not use to could cause muscle damage. Lots of people use them but for me its like asking me to do a difficult yoga move when Im a beginner. Best of luck...x
 
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