Those Bungee gadgets...

[holeymoley]

I have no idea what they're called other than a bungee seems to be the term used at our yard. It's quite simply an elasticated cord with a tightening loop. Loop bit goes at poll and each side of cord goes through bit and attaches to girth.

What are they supposed to do? They look blimmin awful and I can't help but think it does nothing other than force the head down and create tension. I suppose they are almost like a de gogue etc but then at least the de gogue has reins that can at least be lengthened to loosen tension! Eager to hear what they are supposed to achieve.

 

[TPO]

Chambon?

Edited to add that it should only be used for lunging and yeah their purpose is to stop the horse raising its head beyond a certain point via poll and mouth pressue

 

[holeymoley]

Chambon?

I don't think it's that, is that not similiar to a degogue? I'll try a photo of one somewhere.

 

[TPO]

I don't think it's that, is that not similiar to a degogue? I'll try a photo of one somewhere.

Yeah degouge is the ridden version of the same sort of thing

 

[milliepops]

i know what you mean OP, i think , just called a bungee. I used to know someone who used one all the time. tbh i am not sure it did anything particularly positive for her horse. I think the correct adjustment is probably critical like all training aids and people seem to get tempted to do them up tightly so they shove the horse's head down instead of being a "last resort" type of action like a standing martingale should be.

 

[holeymoley]

It's called an elastic training rein. Perhaps I've just seen it tied down too tight.

 

[holeymoley]

The chambon doesn't look too bad compared to the bungee

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Friend in Germany used to break all her youngsters in with them and they are routinely used with children learning to ride. DP was broken with one and he arrived here with it amongst his belongings, not that I’ve ever used it. From what I can remember when asking she said they use it to encourage a young horse to learn where it’s head should be without actually making it go in an outline. They should be loose and like everything it’s an aid which can be used correctly or not.

 

[sbloom]

Working a horse from the ground, including lunging, should always have an eye to posture, which basically means having the thoracic sling (shoulder girdle) lifted so the horse is carrying itself, and the hind legs have the space to come under. Anything that holds the head down or in is not only ignoring the thoracic sling, it's in many cases harming it, and taking away the horse's balancing rod. Burn the lot!!

 

[Birker2020]

https://therubbercurrycomb.com/2017/10/27/the-bungee-lunging-aid/

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

https://therubbercurrycomb.com/2017/10/27/the-bungee-lunging-aid/

I am stunned that someone (and by that I mean the writer of the blog, not you B) thinks that that short video of a horse being socked in the mouth every stride, significantly behind the vertical and still not having any tension relieved is something remotely positive.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

There are some training aids similar to your description OP that in very specific circumstances, and used by very expeirenced owners, can be beneficial. Eg: as a one off to guide a racehorse into not working like a giraffe, to stop a horse from shoving its ears up your nose (although that could/should really be a martingale) or for someone who is a para rider and needs additional support. The problem is that any elasticated training aid stretches and thus people think this is ample opportunity to fix them way too short and tight and it then gives no release at all. I actually think that most training aids could be beneficial in some way if used correctly, but people always use them too tight to force the horse rather than guide it - pessoa, bungee, draw reins, side reins, standing martingale, chambon .. the list goes on!

 

[milliepops]

I am stunned that someone (and by that I mean the writer of the blog, not you B) thinks that that short video of a horse being socked in the mouth every stride, significantly behind the vertical and still not having any tension relieved is something remotely positive.

oh my jesus. i've only ever seen the bungee used the way OP describes with the bobble at the poll, thru bit ring to girth. this version running over the back and through the legs seems much worse to me.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

oh my jesus. i've only ever seen the bungee used the way OP describes with the bobble at the poll, thru bit ring to girth. this version running over the back and through the legs seems much worse to me.

I've seen it used a lot both on social media and at livery yards. It's supposed to get them to stretch down into the bit over their backs (ha!)

 

[smolmaus]

https://therubbercurrycomb.com/2017/10/27/the-bungee-lunging-aid/

Forgive my ignorance here but the writer says herself it looks too tight, and it certainly looks like that to me, but do these things only come in one size/length? Would your first instinct not be to try a longer one???

 

[sbloom]

Or just not use it at all if you understand how the horse's body works best (ie avoids injury acquired through compensatory movement patterns).

 

[smolmaus]

Or just not use it at all if you understand how the horse's body works best (ie avoids injury acquired through compensatory movement patterns).

Ideally. In the writers case it was apparently advised by her physio, so not all blame placed on her shoulders. Just trying to puzzle out the logic of carrying on when you obviously know its too tight (even for what it is supposed to be doing) and not lengthen it as a first step *shrug*

 

[sbloom]

Ideally. In the writers case it was apparently advised by her physio, so not all blame placed on her shoulders. Just trying to puzzle out the logic of carrying on when you obviously know its too tight (even for what it is supposed to be doing) and not lengthen it as a first step *shrug*

Agreed. I have plenty of like minded bodyworkers I recommend onto who are gobsmacked that others are recommending gadgets like this.

I would imagine there are plenty thinking there's no point using it if it's longer, that it has to put a horse in a frame to be effective. No less of an understanding of what it does than thinking it does much beneficial on a longer setting. And I don't blame, honestly, it takes 3 lifetimes to truly understand this stuff, I swear. We seem to have forgotten what the masters taught us, only a little of that is being thrown out, some is being quantified and qualified by science.

The "bow and string" theory, to me, has been thrown out - that's the one that says if you drive the hind legs under and somehow activate the core the horse can lift in front, and on which some of these gadgets, especially those that go round the back legs, are based.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I just found one in my tack room clearing.
I remember someone giving it to my daughter to use on a horse who was whipping round.
Needless to say it’s never been used and was found hanging under coats that haven’t been worn in yonks.
Any takers? ??

 

[ester]

I've seen it used a lot both on social media and at livery yards. It's supposed to get them to stretch down into the bit over their backs (ha!)

yes that’s fitted as a german string (lots of other names) I can’t see a standard bungee ever being long enough to fit in the video

 

[milliepops]

yes that’s fitted as a german string (lots of other names) I can’t see a standard bungee ever being long enough to fit in the video

Agreed. I didnt't think the German string things were elastic.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

yes that’s fitted as a german string (lots of other names) I can’t see a standard bungee ever being long enough to fit in the video

My mistake, the rope one is the one that is used in the same way but is usually a lot longer. To be honest I have seen people using an elastic bungee in this manner much more than I have seen them use the string one.

 

[mariew]

A bungee used to be used regularly for lunging and riding. I have never seen it done up tight enough to force them into a hard outline? I guess like any tool it's how you use it. I'm not sure it's much different to side reins or drawreins etc used correctly. I can't remember last time I used any of these though

 

[ester]

Agreed. I didnt't think the German string things were elastic.

I’ve got one, it’s not ?

 

[Rowreach]

I have one. I use it occasionally. I know why I’m using it and I know how to fit it properly.

As with many bits of tack and equipment, if you fit them wrong, use them inappropriately, use them because you see other people using them, they can be detrimental at worst or do beggar all at best.

Most of the modern gadgets are updated versions of things that have been around for a long time. I don’t think the horse breakers and trainers of yesteryear were without tricks when they were working, they just used what they had to hand rather than buying a branded, marketed gadget.

The Black Beauty thread, that book was about less than ideal training methods and bits of unhealthy equipment, like bearing reins. All about fashion.

I’m not a big user of gadgets, I own practically none, but I do think the devil can be less in the gadget itself and more in the person who doesn’t know how or why they’re using it.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

We use them at the yard in pre-training but they are so loose the horses are more in danger of tripping over them than anything else ??

We did have one girl who was getting taken off with a little who grabbed the loop at the top and tried to use it as draw reins to slow down ?? I think if she had stopped screaming that would have helped more! Said horse was a dude to ride if you knew how to ride him and my grand mother has had him since he left racing, that's how easy he was ??

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

We use them at the yard in pre-training but they are so loose the horses are more in danger of tripping over them than anything else ??

We did have one girl who was getting taken off with a little who grabbed the loop at the top and tried to use it as draw reins to slow down ?? I think if she had stopped screaming that would have helped more! Said horse was a dude to ride if you knew how to ride him and my grand mother has had him since he left racing, that's how easy he was ??

?? hilarious! Did it work?