Chambon for lungeing, De Gouge for riding?

RachelFerd

RachelFerd

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before i start - I don't actually want to ride in a chambon or de gouge - am happy just sticking to occasional lungeing in the chambon.

i have read, over and over again, that the chambon is for lungeing only, and that a de gouge is a version that can also be used for rideing. however, I have never actually read a logical explanation for this? can anyone explain?
 
The chambon can only be used for lunging, it goes from the girth between the front legs to the top of the head and then to the bit.

The de-gogue extends on from the chambon to from a triangle as it goes through the bit and attches back at the chest when used for lunging, however it can be used with a special set of reins (special as they are shorter) to ride with also.

The chambon and de-gogue without reins should not be used for riding, as with the side reins, as they form a contact NOT from the rider which can upset the horse if they feel more than one contact and can make more of a fight than an improvement (the exception for side reins being in a lunge lesson to help with feel)

The de-gogue with reins can be used by experienced riders to help create a rounded outline and improve stiff and hollow horses without forcing them in quite as much as draw reins. (IMO)

Hope this helps
 
Yes I'm pretty sure the chambon is designed only for lungeing, the way it encourages your horse to work really wouldn't be suitable for riding really as it's very long and low. Maybe for a warm up but you couldn't bring them up to start doing work with having to counter the action of it.
 
it's intriguing!

do you have a diagram of a de gouge used with reins? I have heard of, but not seen, this set up.

although I would never ride with either (or with side reins for that matter) as the mare is very soft to the hand and doesn't require any extra back up from a training aid, I am not sure that contact provides an adequate reason for not using them under saddle - since the action of the chambon doesn't actually create a contact when the horse yields to the pressure - there is only a feel on the bit when the horse's head is above the ideal position - hence why I have heard of some people lungeing in chambon + side reins so as to let the side reins give a contact (although this is somewhat like overkill in my mind...)

When the De Gouge has the rein attachment, I am presuming this gives the rider some ability to 'release' a lot more than when it doesnt? Perhaps this could be the reason why the chambon and normal de gouge shouldn't be used ridden, since the rider has no means of completely releasing the mechanism for safety or for reward??

Also wouldn't agree that the reason a chambon can't be used for riding is due to it asking for long and low - since that is the point of the chambon, and since horses can effectively be ridden long and low, one might want to use it to acheive long and low on a horse who isn't otherwise showing this under saddle?

I just did a quick search and found that di lampard rides her youngsters in a chambon though
confused.gif
 
My understanding has always been that it's fine to ride in a de gogue without reins. In fact I ride in one on PF occasionally with no problems. I remember seeing a video with Nelson Pessoa and he JUMPED in one just like mine, although that is very very scary. I still don't know why it's not OK to ride in a chambon since the action is so similar to the de gogue.
 
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