Gadgets- Am I missing out?!

[JessPickle]

Ok I am on a yard where no one uses anything particuarly out of the ordinary! my instructor is very old school and believes that if you can't do it without an aid then you can't do it, only your horse can. Therefore you should work harder

So I have never seen Market Harbouroughs, Bungee reins, Pessoas, Draw Reins, Standing Martingales!! The only thing I have ever used is some loose side reins for lunging.

So what are all these things for? Have always wondered but too embarassed to ask what each one does!

 

[Rana]

I like the sound of your instructor

I won't comment on the Market Harborough or the Bungee reins as have no personal experience of those.

Draw reins encourage the horses head into an outline - a great source of debate on here! Correctly used, they can be useful, but as with so many other gadgets, lethal in the wrong hands. Too often used as a quick fix to get the horses head in the right place without it working through from behind.

A pessoa is used for lunging (I expect you've seen pictures). It encourages the horses back end underneath them while at the same time encouraging the head down to create a more natural outline. Very useful to develop the correct muscles during schooling or rehab work.

A standing martingale will help to stop the horses head rising above a certain point. So useful for "star gazers". They're also said to help stop horses rearing, which I'm not personally convinced about. Most often seen on polo ponies these days.

Hope this helps

 

[welshied]

Market harborough used to be used at college to stop horses from throwing their heads up etc
Any Bungee was used to put pressure on poll and make them work in a outline

 

[MrsMozart]

Market Harborough. Have one for Dizzy to try and dissuade her from throwing her head up! But, given the teeth issue, haven't used it and might not need it.

Little Cob has a bungee (goes from girth buckle, through bit and up to poll, then down the other side, through the bit and back to the girth. Helps to keep the contact with ned when daughter loses it on the odd occasion, and helps ned to work in an outline and not lean, but doesn't force him into it.

 

[Hippona]

I have a bungee as per MrsM for the young un....but I have it reallly loose so as to just encourage a contact rather than force it....

....although some numpty on our yard tried to use one last week....stuck it on first time- too tight....head tucked in, horse did not like it one bit...it was walking with its back legs and kind of hoppity-trotting with the front legs and doing little mini-rears.....fortunately they took it off before distster struck....

 

[Foxyeventing]

Some aids are fantastic when used in the correct manner, that said I agree with your instructor, under saddle you are in control, again howevr I do use a pessoa on most of mine for lunging as it encourages them to work in the correct way, otherwise lunging is a waste of my time as mine are so fit they take the mick, and it encourages the to bend incorrectly.
Anyone looking for a pessoa, try www.foxyequestian.co.uk, if you ask she can get most things, they my sponcer..

 

[JessPickle]

See I understand all these things could possibly be useful, but I wouldn't know how to fit more correctly! and nore would anyone I know. A grackle was a revelation

and have a fair few people help me work out how to fit that!

 

[MrsMozart]

I prefer neds to have nothing more than the basics, but I will make use of gadgets when I need to, or daughter needs to, or neds need it

.

I took Dizz's running martingale off the other week. I felt it was causing confusion and not allowing my aids to get through - it actually doesn't help when she's having one of her moments, it seems to just add to the chaos!