Opinions on 'gadgets'..

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littleme

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Just interested what your opinions are on so-called 'gadgets', both the 'fixed' (bungee, harbridge, side reins etc.) and not so fixed (ie controlled by your hands! such as draw and running reins)..

Do you think they have their place in schooling and due to what pros/negatives?
 
I have sat through two demonstrations by Sylvia Loch this weekend and list and her view on 'gadgets' is simple. The only gadget she uses (and most Classical Riders) is a long schooling stick and time and patience.
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Right ones, in the right place at the right time used by the right rider, fine. Otherwise, excuse for poor riding, fashion or lack of understanding NO.
 
I don't believe in "gadgets" as they are a quick fix solution to something that time and patience should achieve.

Too many horses ruined by gadgets in this world IMO.
 
peronsally i dont like gadgets, i dont think there is any issue which cant be solved without hard work and patience. the only 'gadget' i ever use is side reins when lunging

the thing that concerns me the most is how draw reins appear to becoming the fashion
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I do use a pessoa and it has really helped to improve George's balance especially in the canter, but before I thought about using it I got someone experienced to show me how to fit it/use it. For me, that is as far as gadgets go really, that's not to say they aren't useful in experienced/understanding hands.
 
This is a very interesting topic, to me it just seems a bit arbitrary to write off all 'gadgets' under any circumstances- a 'gadget' being something designed to improve performance, a saddle, or a particular type of saddle, a schooling whip or any type of bit could therefore be considered a gadget and as we all know extensive damage can be done to horses by saddles and bits- in the wrong hands/and or incorrectly fitted so I think the issue should be correct and appropriate use of 'gadgets' rather than their being labelled as 'gadgets' in itself....
 
I am a gadget minimalist!! Don't even use martingales day to day (sometimes on new horse or jumping). I am a sports massage therapist and have seen many many people use these shortcuts. The problem is not many of the gadgets have been used with the horses anatomy in mind. Some i.e. draw reins and bungees can cause the horse to scrunch the neck instead of lengthening and working truly correctly. I do think that in the right hands they can be useful tools but a lot of caution should go into choosing which one to use and why. I do tend to recomend the pessoa as I like the way (if used correctly) this encourages greater engagement behind. Can't stand to see horses heads strapped in but no engagement or impulsion.

I have also come across someone who has a trainer who tells her to ride in a martingale which is horendously too short for her 18h horse and also to practically strap his head to the floor when lunging. When on the lunge you can see the horse cannot possibly engage or go forwards with where his head is and the real shame of it all is that the horse is not difficult to get 'on the aids' in fact he is quite easy under saddle.
 
i am not a big fan of gadgets but i do use some, i use side reins when i lunge and flexireins when i ride, thats its it occasionally i use the JW training rein for lunging.

I hate seeing people riding in draw reins but i can see they do have some benefit. It is something down to personal perferance and should only be unused if you know what you are doing. i would never try any new "gadget" without getting someone to show me how and supervise to begin with as i would worry i would use it wrong and do some damage.
 
Personally I think if you are bringing on a young horse from scratch the aim should be to do it in a snaffle bridle with no gadgets, and that should be possible.

However particularly with horses that are a bit more established in their bad habits correct and sympathetic use of gadgets can be helpful.

I've used draw reins and a market harbrough with a mare that had been used for jousting before arriving at our place. She needed a lot of re-education and both were a big help. The instructor I had at the time was very classical in her outlook and was generally the type to remove flashes, martingales etc but she felt that some extra help was necessary with this mare.
 
I use draw reins for lunging in, but otherwise that's it.
I think it is far better to have a horse working into a correct outline when you ride because you are riding it correctly and harmoniously, rather than forcing it into an outline.
Someone on my yard ony ever rides his horse with a harbridge on it. Obviously, the horse is contantly looking like he is "on the bit", but I have never seen him without that or a bungee on, so whether he actually is working correctly or not I don't know. What is frustrating is that this guy is really quite condecending at times about how everyone else's horses are going, which really bothers me, becasue he is simply using a quick fix. If my horse goes around like a giraffe for 50 minutes and then for 10 minutes actually works, correctly, at least she is doing so because I am riding her correctly and she is there because she wants to be. I am sure that she would quite happily run around in a fake outline for hours in end if I constantly rode her in a harbridge!
Sorry, rant over!
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