Lunging my ex-racehorse - gadgets galore?!

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crackersluvrat

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Been a while since I posted in here, I sold my eventer, went into polo and have now bought myself an ex-racehorse to retrain for polo and eventing then see which he prefers!!

I am doing plenty of work with him long-reining and lunging to build up some muscle and wanted people's opinions on gadgets or no gadgets?

I lunged him a couple of times in my pessoa (used to love it on my eventer, helped him enormously) however think it's a step too far, he went quite nicely in it the first time but since then has only been fine in walk but when asked to trot he goes REALLY stuffy and just doesn't seem to understand it, if I send him forward he tends to throw his head up and then panic a bit. He also got his foot caught in it the other day, didn't worry him but thought I would cut my losses on that one!!

So, other ideas:
Libbys/Fredericks Lungie Bungie - never used it but sounds like an alternative to traditional side reins?
Chambon - Did my dissertation on this (found it significantly increases stride length at trot!) not used one for rehab work though?
De Gogue - Again used for my dissertation with no interesting results although in my personal view the horses looked to go better in it :S thought might be a good one as I could ride in it as well?

Lunging aside I have also had friends who have had success riding ex-racehorses in a Market Harborough, what are the current views on this? He currently doesn't wear a martingale of any sort.

Thanks everyone for your help/advice, looking forward to the constructive replies ;)

Charlotte and Rambo (seriously, who calls a horse Rambo :S) x
 
I have found gadgets are very indervidual to the horse, my mare goes best in a Pessoa or side reins but not in a chambon or draw reins whether as the dun I had went best in draw reins. And my old lad went best without anything. The chestnut went best in a Pessoa not side reins. Horses are indervidual so you need to experiment and see what works best for your horse. I would not agree with the above as a rule. My mare is an ex racer and I couldn't lunge her with nothing on as her head carriage is naturally high, so does nothing to build top line with her flinging her head in the air!
 
I've always found a harbridge really useful. Have used it on all of the ex-racers I've worked with and really seems to help build up topline and back/neck muscles. Found that after some time in the harbridge, they usually managed the pessoa far more easily.
 
archiepoo said:
dont understand why you feel the need for a gadget? ex-racers go best without gadgets but if your looking for advice check out the site called www.sourceanexracehorse.co.uk/ theyre very good.x:)
Click to expand...

I'm using the word 'gadget' in a loose 'tongue-in-cheek' way, think more of training aid. Therefore I am looking for an aid to help me train my horse, as someone else has mentioned, having only ever raced he is used to having his head as high as he likes and seeing his white face whilst I'm riding is somewhat disconcerting. I am not suggesting I strap his head down but need something consistent that will teach him where I want his head, fine when I am riding as I can ask him with my hands but on the lunge I need an aid for this.
 
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