Right time to use a bungee training aid?

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hannahlow

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I have just brought a new horse, and he has no self carriage at all. He reminds me of a riding school pony who tries to stick his nose out as far as he can. I can't imagine he has ever been asked to work correctly.

Would working him in a bungee be too much to ask? He would be having weekly lessons to be able to work properly without any aids but I want him to be in something where he has to sort it out for himself!

I know people will think im trying to go the short way but I want to benefit him, and as a bungee isn't as harsh as draw reins etc I thought it would be a nice way to introduce him into working better :)
 
As above, no I wouldn't be putting a bungee on.

I'm sure after your first lesson your instructor will give suggestions/exercises to help soften.

If he's been going along with his nose out for a while I imagine his neck has a lot of muscle on the underside. If you just try and strap him down with a bungee then he'll be working against the elastic to raise his head and will just work the wrong muscles harder.

I'm not against bungee's, for me it's a useful aid in certain circumstances - just not this one!
 
I.M.N. said:
Never.
Click to expand...

This.

There is no substitute for good, sympathetic riding, which in your case will mean riding from your seat and legs, leaving his mouth alone and giving him time to develop the correct musculature to be able to work from behind. If you must do something else make sure his hay is on the ground, rather than in a net, to encourage him to develop top-line, instead of the upside down muscles that you say he has now. Oh and you could make a whisp and use it the old-fashioned way to help his muscles to develop.
 
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