Rhythm Beads

[SatansLittleHelper]

Anyone use them..??
Are there any benefits to them...??
I'm in the process of making some for the boys with beads and bells just out of curiosity mainly but just wondered what experience people have had with them.

 

[Annagain]

I think they do more to help the rider than the horse but if they work, why not!

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I think they do more to help the rider than the horse but if they work, why not!

These days I need all the help I can get ??

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I'm on a FB group which members contribute views "between the ears" of their horses, and there was one on there recently wearing rhythm beads. I'm not personally sure if I could deal with it!! But I've heard that they have been used effectively on stressy/nappy horses; but again as "annagain" has said that could be more as a rider panacea than for the horse's benefit.

 

[ihatework]

Not something I have ever encountered nor intend to if I can help it!

 

[HashRouge]

I've got a very pretty set someone made for me in a Secret Santa some years ago, but I never used them as my mare retired shortly after I received them. I liked them because they were pretty, I'm not sure if they would have had any practical benefits or not.

 

[Baccara]

What are they and what do they do?

 

[quizzie]

I met a horse with them on once out hacking...I don't know if they were doing any good for the horse wearing them, but my youngster was terrified of this jangling monster coming towards him !

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I was once told that they came from the bells on horse drawn sleighs. Apparently because the sledges were silent, you had to put bells on the horses so that people could hear them coming. Then people liked the rhythmical noise and started to use a similar thing on ridden horses. I think rhythm beads are just a more modern version of this. I think they are mainly a bit of fun, but if they help the rider even if it's just a bit of confidence why not?

I may need to train mine to get them used to the sound. If they come into fashion again I don't want a scary moment like Quizzie had!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

What are they and what do they do?

A pic for you.

There are loads of designs but the basic idea is that they make noise as the horse moves so you can hear the rhythm of their movement. I wonder if it would show up lameness? Pop some in the horse's tail to check for hind limb lameness?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Beast from the East sleigh bells!

I think it would drive me potty! I can see why I was told that this was the route of rhythm beads though.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Not something I have ever encountered nor intend to if I can help it!

Any particular reason..?! ?

I was told that the "purpose" is that the beads/bells help to create a rhythm and soft focus for the horse to stop distractions ?‍?‍?‍
As I say, it's purely from a curiosity point of view really.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I think MrT would look really cute in a necklace to go with his black PVC stilettos (Scoot Boots!). But other than that I remain skeptical. Although the horses might prefer it to our occasional singing...

 

[rabatsa]

I once put bells on my horse before a Christmas day ride. By the time I was several miles down the road they were driving me nuts.

 

[ihatework]

Any particular reason..?! ?

I was told that the "purpose" is that the beads/bells help to create a rhythm and soft focus for the horse to stop distractions ?‍?‍?‍
As I say, it's purely from a curiosity point of view really.

Quite honestly, if either I or whoever I pay to ride instead couldn’t install a little bit of focus and a rhythm just by riding the horse I’m giving up entirely!

Maybe I’ll eat my words one day and have a horse so out of the box that it’s a tool I need to try, but I hope not!!

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Quite honestly, if either I or whoever I pay to ride instead couldn’t install a little bit of focus and a rhythm just by riding the horse I’m giving up entirely!

Maybe I’ll eat my words one day and have a horse so out of the box that it’s a tool I need to try, but I hope not!!

Definitely a fair comment ??

 

[palo1]

Definitely a fair comment ??

I just wouldn't want them for any purpose other than looking fun!! I love all things exotic though...

 

[Pippity]

I once put bells on my horse before a Christmas day ride. By the time I was several miles down the road they were driving me nuts.

I did the same. I quite liked them. My horse tolerated them. One of the other horses was not having ANY of it, so the bells got left behind at the yard!

 

[Keith_Beef]

Jason thinks that bells on horses developed as a way to avoid collisions between horses and pedestrians...

 

[[59668]]

I just bought some for my horse.....she can be a little worried out hacking alone, and I wondered if it would distract her/me...also I think they seem fun.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Jason thinks that bells on horses developed as a way to avoid collisions between horses and pedestrians...

What a great video.

 

[canteron]

Just reminded me someone gave me a set once .... I’m going to get them
out of their box and try them!!! They do look pretty and may distract from my lumbering riding ?

 

[Shay]

DD has used rythmn bells very successfully in the past. They are not quite as discordant as christmas bells - although we've used those too! Some horses do seem to like the noise. It does give an alternative, particularly for a younger or less experienced rider, to help identify an uneven stride length. It gives you a start point if you are designing a floor plan / setting music for dressage to music becuase it gives you the rythmn your horse moves to at each stage - I'm sure those that are better at it have a more professional way to do it! We've also used it when teaching collected and extended paces. The ride can feel it, can see it in the arena mirros, but they can also hear it. Just another tool really.

And they sound nice...

 

[Cortez]

Bells were often part of medieval horse harness, I've had them on from time to time but they get annoying after a while. Don't think they'll do anything to help with rhythm, and if you need them then there is more wrong with your riding than a bit of Jingle Bells is going to fix.

 

[Tiddlypom]

They would drive me bonkers. Not sure what the horse would think.

 

[blodwyn1]

I have a set on my young pony and an unexpected benefit was walkers in the woods could hear us coming and a golfer paused before teeing off beside the bridle path. I think the pony thinks she has tinnitus!

 

[Otherwise]

I've hacked out with what was essentially a cow bell on a neckstrap, the main aim along with the orange hi viz was to make it obvious we weren't wild boar to the chasse. The horses got used to it, I found it more annoying than they did but I imagine rhythm beads are probably a less grating sound on the ears. An unexpected bonus was the deer stopped jumping out right next to us so for that reason alone I'd consider it a success.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I have two pairs and use them regularly. They might not be to everyone's taste, but I like them

I particularly like them out hacking as being barefoot, you don't always hear us coming and does seem to stop wildlife from jumping out right in front of us.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I'd like to add that I'm not looking to use them to "improve" my riding etc...it's just something I wanted to have a play with really ?‍?‍?‍. Every chance the bells will drive me crackers, but then I can just remove them. Just a bit of fun at the end of the day. My horses get used to the randomness I put them through ?????

 

[Shilasdair]

Bells were often part of medieval horse harness, I've had them on from time to time but they get annoying after a while. Don't think they'll do anything to help with rhythm, and if you need them then there is more wrong with your riding than a bit of Jingle Bells is going to fix.

What she said!