hacking a nappy/spooky horse in a de-gogue

NeverSayNever

NeverSayNever

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does anyone else?

I have to say it wasn't a conscious choice but I discovered by chance that it affords me the control I need. My horse is actually fine if ridden every day I've discovered but after a week off it's back to square one. He spooks ridiculously at everything and will then spin round to face home and when you try and fight him and send him forward he rears. I've learned to manage this by keeping my hands low when he does it and turning him in a tight circle until he decides forward is the better option. Ridden every day, or most days I had got to the point where he didnt try it on at all and we were able to hack on the buckle!

However, a week off and we go off snorting and jogging, pogoing sideways down the road again, turn ourselves inside out at blades of grass and rocks and use any excuse to try to turn. I knew this was coming today when I rode and so popped a de-gogue on him as I occasionally hacked my last horse out in this in the winter and had discovered the benefits. I use it a little differently however, with 2 sets of reins. Initally I knot the de-gogue rein and just ride off a normal rein but I have the option of swapping or using both. What I found today was that my horse started out with the usual idiocy but using the de-gogue I was able to get him working round (which I cant usually do when he is fighting me and messing about) and then when he attempted to nap I had much more control and he basically couldnt spin or go up and gave in and went forward really nicely!

I just wondered if anyone else uses one like this? Ive found it really helps and since Im hacking on my own most of the time having that extra control is always nice.
 
I knew a horse once who was always ridden in a de-gogue, as his rider had little time (job and family) to ride him regularly. I remember her daughter took him out without it once, and he had absolutely no idea what to do with his head at all. Really confused, poor soul. So I don't use things like that, as it didn't teach him anything.

I do have a spooky horse that I hack out solo though. I have gone for hacking her out 4-6 times a week, even if it's a half hour walk around the block, and I ride her in a dutch gag with double reins. The bottom rein is slack, until I need it. For much of the ride I can school her, or hack on the buckle, but if she goes to take off in fright, or has a hissy fit about something, I have that bottom rein to get her attention, then it goes slack again. I'm needing to use it less and less as time goes by. Now she usually baulks, then after a couple of good kicks we walk on past the scary thing.
 
To be honest my horse used to be like this and still is sharp and spooky but nothing like what he was and i to have learnt he needs to be worked hard daily and hes a happier horse for it so thats what i do if i know ive got a busy day i'll be on him for 7 in the mornin and just work him through the tantrums hes learnt that he doesnt win and quickly gives in and goes forward again maybe if u havent got time to ride everyday theres someone who could hope on him a few days a week to keep him ticking over??
 
Do you cut his feed down when he has time off ? A harbridge is good or draw reins if you are experienced enough
 
I sometimes used one hacking with my OTTB - he was only a hacking horse so I had nothing to lose in terms of "schooling". With the danger of potentially being deposited under a country bus, I felt safer on short winter nights to use the degogue. I will say he was not "tied down" - he rather liked the comfort of it. I would say though it was good for brisk hacks but not so good for long, relaxing hacks. And he went terribly on the forehand in it and I totally accept it was not truly addressing his issues. It was for my comfort! (but it worked LOL). His new owners ride him a lot more and keep him out 24/7 and they tell me he's relaxed to ride now which is great as he was never happy with me I think :(.
 
mysstyc i think thats it really to a t, its a means to an end. He isnt actually fed anything at the moment and lives out 24/7 at home, there isnt anyone else who could ride him for me. When I use one out hacking I, as I said, I use 2 sets of reins so he isnt 'held' in the degogue by any means. Infact when we hacked out a couple of days ago he was stretching on the buckle once I knew he was relaxed and over his tantrums. I find its useful to have the degogue rein there to pick up when needed as you can feel a mile off when he is at it ;) It helps me get him focused and listening and once he is and starts to sigh and snort and soften I gradually swap over reins and knot the degogue rein so it isnt being used at all. Have to say as well he is the most relaxed and chilled out horse at home Ive ever had, to an extent he is just trying it on with me as I havent had him long. Works a treat for me and my main priority is safety.
 
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