Freejump collar: do you think it would help me?

daveismycat

daveismycat

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...Or am I beyond help?? :eek:

I am trying to get to grips with jumping my young horse. She loves her her jumping and has a lot of power and tends to overjump, which is a massive change from my old girl who is a cob. I've essentially made the transition from a ford fiesta to a ferrari and it's taking me a while to adjust.

I'm really conscious of not pulling her mouth, but my balance isn't as good as it should be when she throws in a monster leap. I find a neck strap kind of helpful in an emergency, but I'm wondering if using the Freejump Collar might give me an extra bit of security whilst I work on strengthening my core and sorting my lower leg.

Photo evidence of my woeful lower leg from her first hunter trials:
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q231/victhevet/IMG_2964we.jpg

And some interesting moves at a clear round
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAnJkIQRRys&feature=youtu.be

nothing to offer as I'm on a diet. 2 stone down :) another 2 to go. :(
 
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Never heard of these so have googled them. Looks an interesting product. I am in same position as you gone from a reliable cob to an ex racer with a big jump and my lower leg has a mind of its own at times.

Would be interesting to hear if anybody had used one of these.
 
From the site...

FREEJUMP COLLAR

Optimal control of your horse. The FREEJUMP COLLAR makes it possible to overcome the many problems encountered with horses that are difficult, short-tempered, sensitive, headstrong or suffering from problems of balance or a sensitive mouth. Optimal control of the aids. The FREEJUMP COLLAR enables the rider to perfect his position and balance and is an effective aid for light handling.

My mare has is quite sensitive in her mouth, but that's not the issue. The problem is me! I'm wondered if holding the 'handles' with my reins would give me an extra bit of security for those occasions when she decides to jump 1m20 instead of 70cm. :rolleyes: I do use a neckstrap but don't like to have my hands 'fixed' on the strap at her neck. Very much open to other ideas...
 
Could you get a flash and thread it through the D's, so it's a loop? Al does that with her gang out hunting, forms an extra grab strap for them...
 
Brontie said:
Would one of these not be as good, and miles cheaper? Attaches to the D rings, gives your hands some movement and is there for the 'Oh cr*p' moments.

http://www.whiterose-equestrian.co.uk/libbys-webbing-balance-handle-629.html
Click to expand...

Lolo said:
Could you get a flash and thread it through the D's, so it's a loop? Al does that with her gang out hunting, forms an extra grab strap for them...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll give the flash strap a try tomorrow. :)
 
The Freedom Collar thing is basically a balancing rein, which is quite different from an ' oh ****' strap. As you observed, it's partly to help the horse, it's not just a glorified neckstrap. I would personally not jump effectively holding the front of the saddle - how do you release/follow with the hand??

You could make yourself a balancing rein out of heavy strapping and see how you get on before you commit
 
Grrr, phone!

To say I sometimes make up something similar for people who are struggling with a big moving, athletic young horse because it 'smooths out' the rider's aids and does somewhat protect the horse's mouth.
 
Also, at least one international rider - I have in mind it's one of the French girls - uses one and I know at least one dressage trainer who swears by therm
 
TarrSteps said:
The Freedom Collar thing is basically a balancing rein, which is quite different from an ' oh ****' strap. As you observed, it's partly to help the horse, it's not just a glorified neckstrap. I would personally not jump effectively holding the front of the saddle - how do you release/follow with the hand??

You could make yourself a balancing rein out of heavy strapping and see how you get on before you commit
Click to expand...

TarrSteps said:
Grrr, phone!

To say I sometimes make up something similar for people who are struggling with a big moving, athletic young horse because it 'smooths out' the rider's aids and does somewhat protect the horse's mouth.
Click to expand...

Thanks Tarrsteps :)

Do you connect it to the D rings on the saddle? I'm thinking some heavy webbing with a knot in the end to stop it from slipping out from my grip, but long enough so it gives me freedom to release, which as you say, you can't do with a neckstrap.

Please tell me people can adapt to big moving, athletic young horses? I think she's the bees knees but can't help thinking sometimes she's a bit wasted with me.
 
I don't know much, but I do know Al uses her neckstrap as her grab strap for big jumps. She has it done up so it sits about 1/3 up the horse's neck, so sh has to reach and grab over fences where it goes wrong. This has the double effect of her both giving with her hands and getting forwards with her weight, so counteracts getting left behind a bit.

http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/945202_10201235455715548_1218742584_n.jpg
This is a little lower than she has it for jumping, really, but imagine it about 4" up the neck!

The flash strap thing is for when her little ones adopt the hunting seat- they essentially let go of the reins and hold on to that, then regroup on landing. But we've also done it at camp for people who've really struggle to hold their hands still, as it gives them something to balance against which isn't the horse's mouth, and it does help it seems. Just got to have it loose enough that you can still carry your hands.
 
daveismycat said:
Please tell me people can adapt to big moving, athletic young horses?
Click to expand...

Yes you can! I've gone from a Friesian to an ISH with a massive jump. Have hit the deck twice and done my back in twice, but with lots of lessons and practice we are getting there (he's 5 now and we're 10 months in).

I'm also old and no Kate Moss in size :o
 
Lolo said:
I don't know much, but I do know Al uses her neckstrap as her grab strap for big jumps. She has it done up so it sits about 1/3 up the horse's neck, so sh has to reach and grab over fences where it goes wrong. This has the double effect of her both giving with her hands and getting forwards with her weight, so counteracts getting left behind a bit.
Click to expand...

Fantastic idea, not sure why i have never twigged a neck strap could go higher... i swear sometimes i am on my own little planet :rolleyes:
 
Have a look at the site or google 'balancing rein'. It's actually quite a well known concept. It's not a neckstrap for security, technically, but it does 'smooth out' the rein aid, dissipate pressure and encourage the horse to respond to pressure in a very specific way, so can be quite a useful piece of kit on big moving horses, particularly for riders who aren't experienced in that area. I recently suggested one for someone in just that situation and it's worked well for her. As I mentioned, it's something a number of dressage trainers recommend for learning how to ride a powerful horse in an uphill way.
 
Brontie said:
Would one of these not be as good, and miles cheaper? Attaches to the D rings, gives your hands some movement and is there for the 'Oh cr*p' moments.

http://www.whiterose-equestrian.co.uk/libbys-webbing-balance-handle-629.html
Click to expand...

The flash strap wouldn't give you enough length to follow - I can see what the Freejump collar does - works just like a neck strap but is also anchored so that it can't move around sideways.

Interesting system. One thing I can never understand is why manufactures show off their product on a horse the same colour as the product - would be much easier to see what it is if the horse were a white grey! I was looking at the Equi ami the other day and couldn't see a thing - the horse was the same colour as the equipment!
 
Don't about the product you have linked to but micklem bridles have bit clips which stop you catching the horse in the mouth so an alternative for consideration. However not certain if you would be allowed to compete with the bit clips on but for schooling and lessons etc... until you sort out your issues maybe worth it and you still can use it afterwards as a bridle?

I have a large one which if you wanted to try it before you buy, let AF know and sure we can sort something out.
 
Jnhuk said:
Don't about the product you have linked to but micklem bridles have bit clips which stop you catching the horse in the mouth . . .
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No offence meant, but that's not at all what the clips are for, they are merely to hold the bit "up" and still in the mouth, somewhat like a hanging cheek, and to transfer some pressure to the nose, as with a combination bridle. To some extent this can smooth out the effect of the bit but it certainly won't make a major difference if the rider catches the horse with the hand. (It MIGHT make the horse more ridable, which MIGHT make it less likely for the rider to catch the horse in the first place, although some horses that go well in the Micklem on the flat oddly don't seem to jump well in it, so it might do the other way.) Worth a try on the idea of ridability but not something that will fix the riders' position or encourage a more following/allowing hand.
 
TarrSteps said:
No offence meant, but that's not at all what the clips are for, they are merely to hold the bit "up" and still in the mouth, somewhat like a hanging cheek, and to transfer some pressure to the nose, as with a combination bridle. To some extent this can smooth out the effect of the bit but it certainly won't make a major difference if the rider catches the horse with the hand. (It MIGHT make the horse more ridable, which MIGHT make it less likely for the rider to catch the horse in the first place, although some horses that go well in the Micklem on the flat oddly don't seem to jump well in it, so it might do the other way.) Worth a try on the idea of ridability but not something that will fix the riders' position or encourage a more following/allowing hand.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected TarrSteps no offense taken but thought when I watched the Micklem videos, there was a section regarding the bit clips and their use with novice/unbalanced riders and how the clips helped stopped the pressure on their mouths. Off to youtube to find link.... wonder if my dodgy memory is playing up again or if I have misinterpreted something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ7aJkVWRMo 6 mins 09 sec There is an inference there which I maybe have misunderstood but this is the commentary on the vid below:
"A fail safe for children and novice riders. If a rider is left behind or horse and rider pull against each other, the extra pressure is taken not on the tongue but on the nose as what happens with an Australian noseband?"
 
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Jnhuk said:
I stand corrected TarrSteps no offense taken but thought when I watched the Micklem videos, there was a section regarding the bit clips and their use with novice/unbalanced riders and how the clips helped stopping them from hauling on the bits? Will see if I can find the link and post it here
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I can see the reasoning! The clips "still" the bit in the horse's mouth, which would reduce the inadvertent signals from an unsteady hand. I have a similar set up I use with a very light headcollar for young horses for their initial longe work and sometimes ridden work, and I have occasionally gone back to it when the horse is handed owner to its less experienced regular rider who might understandably lose balance at a "baby moment". Frankly though, except in the case of, say, someone learning on a schoolmaster, i wouldn't want someone jumping if their hand was that unsteady or the horse that unforgiving.

I may have misunderstood but I thought the OP was asking about ways to steady her hand and more easily stay with her young horse when it over jumps or has an athletic moment, which sounds more neckstrap territory. Even the balancing rein is not really made for that purpose but it can have that effect and does have advantages in the fact that you hold it all the time and it has some affect on the horse's way of going and the rider's communication.
 
I was intrigued, and I found this picture of one in use:

2_1.jpg


Looks like a very clever idea, but you'd need to be proficient with 2 reins, otherwise you could get in a right pickle. Not sure I'd pay that much for one though.

You could probably get the same effect by extending the neckstrap bit of a running martingale (or adding a longer second one).
 
Sorry nothing to add about the gadget, but your posts make me smile as your girl is the spitting image of my boy. (Same sire I recall) I have the opposite problem with him fast, flat and careless! X
 
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