Is it okay to use a gadget to compensate for lack of skill?

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I think I am a nice rider but I have bad habits (drop and fix hands so inconsistent contact) that will take time to fix. I can't afford to let them interfere with my horses rehab, he needs to be working as correctly as possible to build the required muscle to support his sacroiliac.

Schooling he works really nicely and I guess I spend the time focussing on my weaknesses. Out hacking however it goes to pot a bit, he isn't a brave hacker and in trot gets tense and hollows coming up and behind the bridle and I find it hard to work him forwards into a contact (which I probably fix). A pity as he is meant to be doing most of his work hacking. I know that tension in both of us is the problem so not sure any gadget in the world can help but I want the best chance of building muscle where I can. (We have zero hills do I can't use them to help).

Any suggestions on how to do this would be appreciated. I am having lessons and will ask my instructor but somehow out hacking I become c**p. (My hacking skills seem to lie in survival). If a training aid would be useful, which one and why? I've never used anything with this horse other than a bridle and saddle (and holy c**p strap!) and feel like a failure for considering it.
 
Well not the same as not for rehab, but we used a bungee quite successfully with Topaz for a while. She would get far too overexcited and wiz her head so high her feet would follow. With the bungee it was a softer restriction than perhaps a standing martingale (as its elasticated) and less fuss in the hands than the dreaded draw reins for my mum. It only came into play when her head was dangerously high, and only used for a very short period but we liked it for what we needed it for.
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You're not a failure for considering it, but you would be daft to use one. A horse can't be working correctly if there are restrictions in place.

No gadget will give your horse correct muscle and get him working properly - your horse won't be doing any of the right work to gain it. He'll just (I assume) have his head strapped down, which will, over time, automatically build muscle in the wrong places. He won't be working from behind either - he'll probably be dragging his backend along.

The best thing you can do is fix your own issues - they don't sound like a huge problem. Just proactively think about fixing (not literally!) your hands each time you ride. If you're worried about having a low, fixed contact, lengthen your reins a little bit. Then, the worst thing that's going to happen is a) he'll work long and low, or b) he'll learn how to carry himself.

There's a load of exercises you can do to build muscle (transitions within the paces, raised poles at walk, easy lateral work, stretches, etc.)
 
Firstly, sing - will help get rid of the tension in you and thus in him, plus can help with regularity of paces. Plus a nice uptempo song will get you both thinking forward, which is the most important.

Secondly read up on de Gogues and using with the second rein. I'm sure there will be howls of protest in following posts about such an evil harsh device, which is why I suggest you read up on it, because if it's correctly used and fitted, like any piece of tack, it helps to achieve the results you're looking for in a gentle manner.

Thirdly, remember you're going about remuscling your horse. If you wang on any gadget and use it, fixed,for any length of time you'll make the poor boy so sore. Use it tactfully and build up the length of time it's in effect.

Finally, your hands, get a piece of elastic and make a loop long enough that it's not stretched when your hands are correctly positioned and it.s round the little finger of each hand. If you can feel it pulling your hands have moved too far down.
 
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Gadgets won't work if tension is the issue. You can't beat tension with restrictions.

I'd try and save by whatever means possible and invest in a few sessions with a person specifically good with nerves :) or ask your current trainer to have the lesson hacking specifically instead of in the school?
 
Thank you. Spring Arising, your post is exactly why I haven't used anything yet, I know deep down that until I resolve the tension I won't achieve anything. I guess I'm just frustrated with my inability to sit up and ride my lovely horse properly! He's such a hyper child out hacking that transitions and lateral work just seem to buzz him up more.

Currently I don't use so much as a noseband on him, and regularly school without a bridle, I'm very anti extras. On the plus side I have now managed to get lovely walk work out of him out hacking rather than a buzzing silly mess, so we are making some progress (barring when the peloton of 50 bikes came by and I got to feel what advanced collection is like!)
 
Gadget free pony
IMG_9916_zps4dfqelhf.jpg
 
With his bridle but illustrating how I tip forwards, drop my hands and lose any sort of contact
IMG_9952_zpszwlk7ivn.jpg
 
I was trying to find a picture of how hollow he gets and my position when he does it but photobucket is driving me mad!
 
KatPT said:
Thank you. Spring Arising, your post is exactly why I haven't used anything yet, I know deep down that until I resolve the tension I won't achieve anything. I guess I'm just frustrated with my inability to sit up and ride my lovely horse properly! He's such a hyper child out hacking that transitions and lateral work just seem to buzz him up more.

Currently I don't use so much as a noseband on him, and regularly school without a bridle, I'm very anti extras. On the plus side I have now managed to get lovely walk work out of him out hacking rather than a buzzing silly mess, so we are making some progress (barring when the peloton of 50 bikes came by and I got to feel what advanced collection is like!)
Click to expand...

Well you are making progress then, slowly slowly catchy monkey! I would advise looking into having some alexander technique lessons on yourself, it's all about relaxation and releasing tension in places you didn't know you were holding it. With your horse I would advise first of all carry on as you are as it sounds like you're making progress! But asking him to stop and back up a few steps will get him shifting his weight back and lifting his back. When you have a really relaxed walk see how lightly you can ask for a trot, with a loose rein if you're worried about your hands, but try breathing you and your horse forward - singing as someone else suggested is great - it's a lot harder to fix when your focus is on breathing. If you can get even one stride of trot slightly relaxed then back to walk and lots of praise. Baby steps! Don't give up, you're doing well :D
 
You look like a lovely rider to me KatPT - i know you feel you have some issues but theres a lot to like. Best suggestion IMHO is to have a few lessons with a really good instructor, get them to come out on a hack with you too if you can, then when you are by yourself you can re-play their instructions to yourself in your head and remember to make whatever the right adjustments are. :)
 
You specifically asked about hacking and the horse raising his head and I think a market harborough would really help you. It won't act unless he raises his head. It will release the moment he relaxes and give him an instant reward for doing the right thing. It will give you confidence. I can't see any possible harm that can result from using one, and if I was you I would try it.
 
I've yet to see a gadget make a horse work correctly if I'm totally honest! I reckon your hand issues are mostly in your head ;) You're overthinking it! Worrying too much about being perfect. Could you have a lesson on a horse that's easy in the contact so you can get the hang of it?
 
It might also be worth always using a bridle at the moment - riders need consistent 'schooling' as much as horses, so if this is the issue you might as well be trying to fix it every time you're on board! Hands tend to be low and fixed if you are holding on to just a neck strap, so making sure you always have reins might help.
 
I'm fiormly of the opinion that you should never judge a man until you have walked several miles on his horse, and although I don't advocate the use of gadgets, sometimes some horses need something to make them safer/calmer/less reactive, allowing the rider to quietly ask for the desired way of going without having the evasion/buzziness to work through. In expereinced, conscious hands, I don't really see a problem with using some tactfully,particularly on a horse who is rehabbing and needs to be worked in a certain way - but its temperament is getting in the way of achieving the desired outcome.
I think we've discussed our respective horses in the past - they have very similar personalities, and use the same tricks to challenge us out hacking. I find Alf gets more and more silly if I ride him up to a contact - and is very calm and relaxed if I hack him on the buckle - but he also has a lightening fast spook/spin, so I have to be on the ball when I'm on the buckle! When he was rehabbing, and being a monster to ride, I used draw reins. I'm not remotely ashamed to admit it - I didn't want him pratting around while he was at a delicate stage in his rehab - had he re-injured hinself, he may well have had to be PTS. I'd rather use a gadget than risk losing my horse! No gadget is evil, unless it put on too tight, or used roughly. Using draw reins allowed me to hack him on the buckle, but to quickly have control if he did decide to stickhis ears in my mouth and bust some leg-wrecking moves. Sometimes, a snaffle and cavesson just isn't enough!
I don't feel that gadgets have a place in training a horse, but they do have a valuable role during rehab work on horses who are dead set on testing their riders!
 
You have a lovely seat but because you are tipping your body forward and tipping you head forward you are not putting your weight in the centre of your horse.You are pushing weight onto his forehand, so he cannot use his backend properly and drive through as your weight blocks him. Also your hands need to be higher so you are lifting the bit in his mouth for him to drop down onto a contact. Once he is more comfortable via your correct balance and aiding he will be calmer to hack out and you will always be in control by keeping him in balance.
 
4-5 lessons with an excellent RI and I reckon those little habits would be fixed -- it looks like small postural corrections would enable you to carry yourself ... then helping your horse to carry himself (and you!).

Having said that, I have used a gadget to replace "me" in the past. When I had injured my elbow, I got sharp spike of agony when I closed my fingers, so for about a month I rode all my horses in either bungee for the more advanced horses or a de gogue for the less advanced horses. This enabled their contact to be secure, while I was able to focus on the back end and on my own balance, riding forwards, etc. It was only a means to an end, however when the gadgets came off again (like you, I don't normally use them), I found my own upper body so much lighter and my contact much more precise. In fact, having thought about it now, and recently having had problem with a strong riggy gelding enticing me to harder hands, I might just go for it again for a few weeks ...
 
How lovely to see you and your horse gadget free and riding with just the neck rope! It shows that he has great trust in you and that you are a good combination. With my Alexander Technique 'hat' on , I can see that your eyes are looking down at him .Its such a common habit and I lose count of the lessons I ve given where I ve said 'Eyes Up and Oout!'- meaning to look forward and away- like you re driving a car looking more to the horizon rathe r than just infront of the bonnet. With your eyes at a better height your posture will follow.
I also ge tthe impression you are over thinkig this - which leads to tension and so many problems. Empty your mind of 'what ifs' and 'could i do better' etc , just ride forward with a happy heart ,its amazing how the horse will pick up on this and respond well.
 
I know exactly where you are coming from with this as I have a horse who can be like this out hacking, he can also be like it to school as well. I don't have a problem using a "gadget" properly to help me and if he was sticking his ears up my nose out on hacks, i'd put a market harborough on for a little while to hep keep me safe. However, i can't really think of any gadget that will help in this situation other than a neck strap. I have used schooling to improve my horse, getting him on the hindleg so that i can shorten and lengthen his stride easily has helped enormously as i have to be able to encourage him forward when he becomes tense without that horrible feeling that he's likely to "run away" from the leg or worse, run away with me. I also have to keep my contact consistent and relatively light otherwise we can get into a bit of a tugging match, the neck strap comes in handy as I can hold it and he can't pull me off my seat. It's been a work in progress, no easy fix but he's got easier and easier to hack and not surprisingly I am more relaxed and he is less tense. I know it's counter intuitive but with an active forward going horse with tension issues, i need more leg, less hand and a very secure seat. I have also spent a lot of time working on relaxation of the neck and encouraging the horse to give me a lot of flexion when asked as he had a tendency to set his neck when he becomes tense. I hope this helps you. I'm not a very experienced rider and each horse I have is a real learning curve and I'm sure what I have said is blindingly obvious to experienced riders !
 
No - cos it just creates issues rather than fixes them... Tbh in your photo there is no contact horse sits behind the contact so gadgets will probably worsen the issue ..
 
As others have said gadgets are not really going to help work correctly. Sounds like in the school you are relaxed and concentrate on yourself and getting your horse to work correctly, but out hacking you/your horse are tenser and concentrating on what is around you. Having company on a hack can help you both relax, whether it be a friend or your riding instructor, also doing some schooling exercises whilst hacking can help you and your horse focus on the "work" as opposed to worrying about what is going on around you - eg leg yielding, shoulder in, etc.
 
KatPT, been thinking about you on today's hack and realised your position is a bit tipped forward so your seat will be rather light. If you pull your shoulders back so you are more upright i think you will have a more effective seat. I think many of us tend to tip forward especially if we are a bit nervous and this gives the horse the wrong message, i call it my foetal position! I had a bit of a tense episode today and when this happens I tell myself, sit up, shoulders back, soft in front and leg on, if Mr B feels blocked in front, I do a bit of flexion to release his neck. It has made a huge difference as I feel confident that I can now ride him through his tension. I hope this helps.
 
Thank you everyone for your comments. Most of you had said things I already know (but needed to hear again!) plus some interesting other bits for me to think about. I'll read it all again tonight. I did get some stunning trot work out of him this morning before I pushed my luck and it deteriorated into bucking - my fault, trotting towards home with friend in the distance and rain lashing down!
 
Think you are doing a great job :) so pleased for you that everything is progressing well, even if you are getting a little frustrated sometimes - keep up the good work :)
 
Firstly, may I ask what the issue is that the horse is being rehabilitated for? Different gadgets have plus and minus points that affect different parts of the body positively and negatively, so depending on what the physical problem is some gadgets may be okay short-term at least.

Secondly, you ain't that bad kid! :D I suspect that most of your problems are psychological (that is meant nicely!) and I just wonder if you hacked your horse out with the neck rope as well as bridle whether or not you would overcome your low hand/look down tendencies! :) Perhaps with the addition of a rock solid neddy friend the first few times? You're not that far away from achieving what you want. In the rope the horse is stretching out his neck/nose in front; in the bridle he is more short in neck but I just wonder if your hands were on the rope as well as the rein whether or not you could let his neck out more.

Yes, you need to do work to engage his abs, but that is another subject altogether.
 
Thanks! Actually adding the neck rope out hacking isn't a bad idea. He is incredibly responsive to it and if i make sure its long enough I can still work on my hand position.

He was diagnosed with a sacroiliac injury about 9 or 10 weeks ago, has had it medicated twice and is now up to an hours hacking a day, 10-15 mins of which is trot work, or 30mins in the arena. Haven't brought in canter or polework yet, or working particularly hard, just focussing on relaxed and stepping under.

He also was diagnosed at the same time with EPSM, so needs consistent work to manage that. It's a genetic muscle disease that causes muscle pain and/or cramp/tying up as too much glycogen builds up in muscle cells. If it isn't well controlled sufferers can struggle to use their back end properly and it's linked to poor performance under saddle.
 
I think you are over critical of yourself :p and also wondered whether the neck rope as well might work unless he is too wound up hacking to listen to it. But ride off that and have but for when needed/keep on a longer contact? Failing that iPod on repeat saying look up/hands up/boobs out or similar ;)
 
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