fantastic elastic reins or similar....

georgiegirl

georgiegirl

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Has anyone tried these?? I do have some slight contact issues with Autumn and its really come to the time where we need to be sorting out a much more consistent contact. One of the main issues is she can be strongish and a bit ignorant of half halts etc on the flat and in turn it leads to me burying my hands in front and then it all turns into a vicious circle - particularly in canter! Transitions and transitions within the pace ARE helping but was just wondering if anyone had any experience of this for helping a softer, more even contact?

Thankyou
 
I bought a set of these a couple of months ago and have used them on and off, i got mine as i have arthritis and am worried that my joints are not very flexible. May be coincidence but he's going really well, when i dont use them lovely contact, not strong and just got our best dressage score of 68.9%. He's no lightweight either, should be pulling a wagon really. I think they do work but wont disguise bad hands, (not saying you have) and they are not a miracle cure all. Got them for my peace of mind when attempting new things in the school and was worried I was getting locked in my joints and not maintaning a soft contact.
 
I use the ffs elastic inserts because I have a horrible habit of blocking with m right hand. I have seen a considerable difference, admittedly I am concentrating on what I'm doing more too but my boy is beginning to step through which he wasn't doing before because of me.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I might see if I can pick up some second hand ones on ebay to try out. The contact problem has been a lot worse recently. We were advised to try a waterford for sj'ing in and it worked beautifully the first couple of times at home but competing the other day I practically had her ears in my mouth and flat out :( (so very unlike her!!!) I think trying the waterford has made her very uneven and a bit scared in the contact now so just looking to try and help her regain a bit of confidence in her mouth/my hands. I know the dressage test we did was not as soft and through as it normally is and I think its a consequence of having done the jump schooling in the waterford.
- I'm hoping it resolves itself soon!
 
Hi emmaR I don't mind black as they would only be used at home. If you could pm me some more details that would be great thankyou :)
 
Lol I have the "unmoveable" horse... being carted out hacking isn't a concern! Do you find that the contact improves when going back to normal reins after using the FE reins?
 
I have some elastic reins and find they are a good tool to have in your box of tricks and very hard to ruin a horse with them.

I have used them on 3 or 4 different horses who could be a bit 'shy' in the contact and the reins seem to give them more confidence in the contact and I have always found the improvement has stayed when I've gone back to normal reins.
I wouldn't use them on a strong horse though as I think it would encourage the horse to be even stronger and lean on the elastic.

Vinnie did his long reining and first 4-6 weeks of ridden work in elastic reins this year and it really helped his contact issues.
He has been in normal reins since then but we are looking at trying the elastic reins for a few jumping sessions as he can be quite over-reactive to the hand on landing sometimes.

Like any other aid or gadget, I only use them to get the improvement I want and then take them off so all of mine have only worn them for short periods.
 
millitiger - do you think they could help with mine? As I say prior to using the waterford for jumping shes been great on the flat but having tried the waterford now when Ive gone back to my normal snaffle for dressage/flatwork my contact feels ever so 'wobbly' and not into either hand properly if that makes sense?

The waterford has only been used for jumping sessions for the past 3 weeks and we have now come to the conclusion its not quite right for her so Im just hoping she regains her confidence in my contact soon :(
 
Broke_But_Happy said:
Lol I have the "unmoveable" horse... being carted out hacking isn't a concern! Do you find that the contact improves when going back to normal reins after using the FE reins?
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They help, hard to tell if they make a lot of difference . My mare is quite green but seems to help her seek that contact . Yours is unmovable mines a gypsy cob a fiery one!
 
georgiegirl said:
millitiger - do you think they could help with mine? As I say prior to using the waterford for jumping shes been great on the flat but having tried the waterford now when Ive gone back to my normal snaffle for dressage/flatwork my contact feels ever so 'wobbly' and not into either hand properly if that makes sense?

The waterford has only been used for jumping sessions for the past 3 weeks and we have now come to the conclusion its not quite right for her so Im just hoping she regains her confidence in my contact soon :(
Click to expand...

I'd give them a go- as I said, I don't think they will cause any harm and if you try them and they don't improve her, they are unlikely to ruin her either.
I've not had anything get worse with them on; apart from some horses can get a bit strong in them as they become more confident in the hand after a few sessions but then I see that as the elastic has done it's job and I pop them back in normal reins :)

Or, can't remember what you said you are riding her in now but may be worth borrowing a hanging cheek for a few sessions as I find that can help horses that are a bit lacking in confidence to go forward to the contact?
 
I think as the horse gets more confident and takes the contact more, some can take the pee a little as the contact is not as sharp and clear as with normal reins- so they can slide out of the outside shoulder more easily and not respond as well to 1/2 halts as they can lean through the elastic if that makes sense?

Which is why I use them as a short term aid rather than a permanent feature- as soon as they are confident in the contact, they go back in normal reins otherwise they can go too much the other way and start to be a bit cheeky with the elastic.
 
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