sheepskin nosebands etc

dopeesophee

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sheepskin nosebands... are they any gd at lowering horses head

and show ring snaffles... who uses one and what effect does it have on horse

AND MOST CONTROVERSIAL...

draw reins


just trying to think of things to help me with my horses head carriage
 

meardsall_millie

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I think sheepskin nosebands work - to a point. Can't comment on show ring snaffles.

Draw reins - can be a very useful aid IN THE RIGHT HANDS. Not for novices or numpties and also not for every horse.

*Ducks for cover and crawls away to hide*
 

dopeesophee

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do they work on scatty horses with out them freaking out that there is a fluffy thing on there nose???

i wouldnt use them all the time, probably just 4 10mins every so often as a reminder to her... and i have light hands aswell!

thank you
 

DollyPentreath

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Sheepskin nosebands - Effective on some horses, not on others. In the past I've found that in the situation of a horse that tends to resist/evade pressure in any form, where a martingale worsens the situation, a sheepskin noseband can be effective. It also depends why the horse is raising it's head in the first place? My trainer is constantly reminding me that it is more desirable to have the 'ears up' jumping than a really round outline, but perhaps that's the eventer speaking.
grin.gif


Show ring snaffle - I think that's what I call a Wilkie snaffle.. We show jump and xc our event pony in one successfully, it has a mild gag action and will act as a lever lifting the head and shoulder but is not as severe as a dutch/cheltenam/american gag. Sorry if you're actually talking about a different bit?! I mean this bit.

Draw reins - I use draw reins occasionally. Again, depending on what you want to acheive, they shouldn't be used to force roundness. We tend to only use them hacking, on an already established horse that's had a bit of time off competing and is starting schooling again. They act a bit like stabilisers between hand and leg (clear as mud..) for a few rides and prevent me from being too firm with my contact.

Hope that all makes sense.
smile.gif
 

meardsall_millie

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The idea behind the sheepskin noseband is that when the horse raises its head it can't see down past it, so will lower its head again. Most often used for jumping when the horse raises it's head as it comes into the fence.

If you want to try draw reins but have never used them before, I'd suggest you have a word with your trainer/instructor or someone experienced who knows you and your horse to take some advice first. As I said they can be useful in experienced hands but can be, at the least, a backwards step, or at the worst, dangerous, in the wrong ones.

Without knowing you/your horse I wouldn't like to say either way I'm afraid.
 

dopeesophee

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Sheepskin nosebands - Effective on some horses, not on others. In the past I've found that in the situation of a horse that tends to resist/evade pressure in any form, where a martingale worsens the situation, a sheepskin noseband can be effective. It also depends why the horse is raising it's head in the first place? My trainer is constantly reminding me that it is more desirable to have the 'ears up' jumping than a really round outline, but perhaps that's the eventer speaking.

^^^ yes a martingale does make it worse lol...

i dont mind her head going a bit higher, but when its like near my head and she is fighting me then its not good lol

Show ring snaffle - I think that's what I call a Wilkie snaffle.. We show jump and xc our event pony in one successfully, it has a mild gag action and will act as a lever lifting the head and shoulder but is not as severe as a dutch/cheltenam/american gag. Sorry if you're actually talking about a different bit?! I mean this bit.


^^^

that is the bit i mean, i want to try it as she often gets her tongue over the bit, as this one is thinner i thought that would help... it also gives a bit of poll pressure?? am i correct in thinking less than the pelham i used to ride in and more than the french link snaffle now?
 

DollyPentreath

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Have you eliminated the chances of her being in any pain/evading for a reason? What did your instructor suggest? If she is raising her head and putting her tongue over the bit it might suggest she's unhappy.

If she's been checked and given the ok I would try some exercises with an instructor to change her way of going rather than necessarily putting a different bit of kit on. However, a sheepskin noseband wouldn't do any harm and I'm sure could be worth a try especially if a martingale worsens the situation. I wouldn't use a Wilkie because any poll pressure will create more of a lifting action, my friend's stallion used to be a monkey with getting his tongue over the bit out hunting and she found a magic bit really helpful, DH sell them.

I'd definitely look at why she's evasive and resistant, then consider your options. Best of luck too.
 

dopeesophee

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no she is not in pain, and she doesnt put her tongue over the bit in the snaffle.
we had both a plain pelham and a port pelham... both of which worsened the situation

i do lots of different ecercies with my dressage trainer.

i spoke to gemma tattersall and she suggested the wilkie... i would like to try it and see what happends though.

she does have a naturally high head carriage (arabxtbxwelsh) but was xc hard by the previous owners in a chelthenham gag... i think this could be the reason for her head carriage
thank you
 

DottyConnection

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The fact that the Wilkie snaffle is thinner means it is harsher, as there is less surface area for the pressure to exert (if that makes sense) eg. for horses with sensitive mouths you use thicker bits or softer materials? The wilkie uses some poll pressure, works more similarly to a gag than a pelham action. Unless you were riding in a pelham with roundings, then it would be a similar action. I'm a firm fan of draw reins, market harborough etc. Have done my mare the world of good, but should only be used sparingly and if really needed x
 
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