Harborough Training aid

[djlynwood]

I share a horse and the owner asked me to try riding him in this thing she called a harborough.

It was in a y shape with three attachments one on each end. Two attachments for the bit and one for the girth.

I rode him in it but wasnt too impressed as all it did was pull his head into a shape ( it wasnt taught and was a bit elastic)

My question is why would one use this and what am I lookig to achieve with it. Also, Im not sure if it is Harborough as Ive tried to do some research but it just brings up a Market Harborough which is slightly different.

I dont think he needs anything but the owner says that it alows you to ride without worrying where his head is. Ive never found this a problem but I share him so dont have much say when owner is around. Im thinking she wants to build some muscles up in his backfor topline but Im not sure this is the way forward.

 

[Kat]

Try lookingup a harbridge, see if that is what you are using. They are similar.

They have their uses when horses need a bit of help with building top line muscles and getting a steady head carriage, but they aren't a fix all and will not make a difference to whether the horse is working through from behind.

 

[SVMel]

Ditto. Try harbridge.

I use one on my mare when she's been on a long break or is having a silly season (both usually happen together!)! I have it loose, so it only becomes effective when she tries to put her head up beyond the point of control. This way it never pulls her into a shape and seems to work best for her like this. However, I am probably using it completely wrong if you ask the inventor.

I just don't believe in pulling a horse into a shape as it always ends up 'false', not working through from behind etc.

 

[Janette]

I used one and it was used to teach Star that she really could manage transitions without sticking her head in the air like a giraffe.
It took half an hour and I havn't needed it since. Money well spent.

They don't 'pull' them into a 'shape' because that depends on the horse working through the back correctly. They are good for horses which don't like the type of pressure used on Chambon's and De-gogues.

 

[spotsmum]

Sounds like a harbridge. I have one for Marbles. You can ride etc in it. I have it on loose but he is only young and it does help with head carriage without forcing if you get what I mean. I bought it when he started actin the ned and rearin etc. It stopped him as he was pulling on himself when he went up. I still use it but only on loose.