Minny
Active Member
Pony has a go to response to run round arena with nose in the air when worrying. Wondering what your experiences are with the equiami to help solve ingrained problems rather than training young blank canvases?
I haven’t used one for corrective purposes in established horses, only as a training aid for lunging but can’t see why it wouldn’t work if used appropriately......assuming you mean lunging? If for ridden work, a martingale might be just the job?
What's wrong with just training it properly? OP, tying the horse down won't fix the problem. In my experience all these trussing up type gadgets just sock the horse in the mouth with every stride and you'd be better getting the horse to respond properly to your leg and seat aids. Martingales, in particular running martingales, are either an admission of defeat or of not bothering to train at all.
Thanks Cortez, good to have an opinion from someone who has used the equipment. I have been using an experienced flatwork instructor for 6 months with this horse, it was a suggestion she had made, backed up by the vet Physio that has been treating the horse. I am always sceptical about “shortcuts†but if there is something that can be part of an overall strategy, I am happy to consider it. Success for us would be an improvement in his way going, more relaxed in accepting the contact and when he worries, just lifting his head rather than shoving his nose out.Define "success"........I have used one on the orders of an employer many years ago; wasn't impressed either with the results or the mechanics of the thing (see "socking in the gob" comment above). I know there are people who think they're the bees knees, but really; just take the time to train the horse, or get an instructor to show you how or do it for you.
Thank you, this is really interesting and sounds very similar to what I am trying to resolve. Pony spent 4 years being pinned in. He now accepts the contact in walk and trot but relies heavily on support for the outside contact but as soon as a distraction or rider imbalance comes into play, the nose comes out. Perhaps the equiami won’t help and I need to continue us as we are but it is really useful getting real experienceFitted correctly the equiami should not sock it in the mouth, but a horse can still sit above it and remain hollow, especially if the horse has gone in such a way for years and all the musculature structure is already wrong. Basically it cannot physically lift the withers and step through. I bought a mare that had been hung onto as a young horse with the rider sitting on the back of the saddle and holding himself on board by his hands and her mouth.
She was the most crooked and inverted bike like creature to ride imaginable. I tried the equiami without much success. She would give for a couple of steps but couldn't maintain her shape and soon realised she could just hollow and lean on the lunge line. She also either flew round like a kite or just refused to move and pulled faces at me. Her way of telling me she couldn't do what I was asking I suppose. She is also built like a brick outhouse and if an argument started I was likely to lose.
We ended up schooling her in walk for what seemed like an age (under saddle), using quarter piri's to encourage her to step under with the inside hind and having the feeling of controlling every step and limb. It was painstaking but slowly she gave her neck and lifted her tummy muscles. Endless half halts, providing she was in balance also helped. Then we could move the shoulders and start lateral work and move on to trot. She is 12 now and a nice ride, I do find using a bit she cannot grab helps keep her soft but in an exciting situation she can still revert to her old way of going quite quickly and has poked me in the eye with her ears on more than one occasion, bless her !
Pony spent 4 years being pinned in. He now accepts the contact in walk and trot but relies heavily on support for the outside contact but as soon as a distraction or rider imbalance comes into play, the nose comes out. Perhaps the equiami won’t help and I need to continue us as we are but it is really useful getting real experience
This is how I imagine our efforts could end up! Thank you for uploading pics. I have found a friend who has suggested I try theirs which I have taken them up on. I will update the thread in a few weeks. (Perhaps I will get photographic evidence too) The horse is super sensitive so it will probably take a week to get the thing on but if I liked a flutter, I’d probably say it won’t help but let’s see!OP, here is the Equiami in use, as you can see the mare was set against it. These pictures were taken 2012 shortly after I had bought her, she was 6. I did give it several tries but eventually gave up.
In walk she was still resisting it, look at the underside of her neck.
Occasionally she stepped under, but she is heavily on her forehand (obviously her build doesn't help her) and she could not maintain any form of self carriage, the back end of the gadget is loose, but look at the front end, that should also be loose but it isn't. She certainly does not have a happy or relaxed look about her.
I can understand how the loops attached at the surcingle is supposed to float and prevent the horse leaning on the gadget, but my horse was able to lean all over it, despite the 'how to use it' info claiming the gadget self rights and is not fixed at any point. Maybe I didn't have it fitted correctly. I haven't tried it again on her or any of the others. Possibly a more athletically built horse will find it easy to work in the equiami ?
Fully appreciate advice to train “properly†but post was to specifically ask whether anyone has had any success solving ingrained problems by using an equiami. I know “gadgets†are not for everyone and I am not recommending their use just enquiring as to whether anyone has had any success with an equiami.