Training aids..

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HayleyUK

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I'm sitting here thinking about a few comments made by people on my yard.
It was suggested I try draw reins, or if I was worried about my hands not being still enough, a bungee rein to promote a consistant outline & help her grasp the idea.

Fair play, if people wanna use gadgets thats fine.
I'm not the hugest fan, but will have a go if I can see the reasoning behind it.

However, my big but is; If i spend 30-40 mins 3 times a week 'schooling' in a gadget.. what happens when its off? Surely she resorts back to 'giraffe pony'?
Rendering them IMO pointless unless they're on.

Anyone any opinions?
 
I have used LOOSE draw reins on my mare in the past- and by that i mean not nose tucked on chest..and they can sometimes look baggy- they helped my horse just get the feel of where her head should be-but she doesnt fight against them if you see what i mean..and enabled me to use lots of leg to get her really working into that outline..then after a lot of persistant work her trot came good(using draw reins once every few weeks)-basically when she needed reminding!

then her canter we were struggling with as she really didnt grasp the idea but haveing them loose and ecnourageing her to stretch down with my hands wide and really using a lot of leg has really helped.

I only used them very sparsley in her training but were mostly handy for "reminding" and were never tight-i dont use them now at alll. and her head carrigae is improving all the time..now its a case of not getting her as long and low out competing which i think i have craked this week-its just me getting the idea of where her head and neck are "correct"
 
I agree with FranA on the draw reins, used properly they can be very helpful. I also attach them to the girth under the saddle, not between their front legs (have no idea wether this is normal or not but it seems to me to give them a more natural contact rather than just having the bit dragged downwards in their mouth)

Also a recent convert to lunging in a pessoa, its realy good for making them work over their backs properly and stepping underneath themselves.

Oh and as long as you are only using the gadget to give the horse an idea as to what you want you shouldn't have any problems when you take it off. I think that you might have problems if you worked in it every day then took it off and the horse said "Yippeee I'm free!"
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It really does depend on why you want to use a gadget. I have no problems with any gadget used properly and have draw reins, a bungee and a pessoa in my tack room (pessoa is used on every horse in the yard, normally once a week).

If you're having problems with your schooling though, the best idea is to go to a decent instructor so you can pinpoint the reasons for the problems, then begin working on them.
 
another thing i may add...i would much prefer to use a pessoa, as i have heard so much good about them-but i have no where to lunge really, so theres no point-as i think this would be far more effective.
 
The theory behind using a gadget on a 'giraffe pony' would be that you build up the horse's muscles correctly, so that when you do take the gadget off, they're able to carry themselves better.

However, I think you'd be better getting a good instructor, and bucket loads of patience
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I'm taking lessons from a really good trainer starting next week.

Its not that I'm against gadgets or aids. Totally understand they have a place etc.
Think they're great in experienced hands etc, just the attitude that they would 'fix' the problem had me thinking..
 
They do learn the idea - and get a bit more into the habit, and they also start to build to build up the right muscles so that they find the whole thing easier.
I avoid draw reins, prefer Harbridge training aid for the "light touch" or a Market Harborough if needing something more positive, as both are more forgiving if the rider isn't perfect, and while I'm experienced, I'll never be infallible! I know others who've achieved brill results with draw reins, and more who've not...

I generally avoid gadgets - just a personal prejudice as an old fogey - but have hacked in the above with current horse as she was mis-schooled and it seemed kinder than forcing her to do something she'd never been asked to do and had none of the muscles for.

She's got the idea and the muscles now, but I bung them back on occasionally so that she isn't let off the hook just because I'm knackered!
 
i detest gadgets. i hate the feel i get when i ride a horse that's been ridden in draw reins in particular, unless they've been used very lightly (as few people do) then there's a heavy, dead feel to the contact.
imho there is no substitute for time and patience and repetition. what a horse learns genuinely through correct and patient training will stay with him for life. stuff 'learnt' while winched in with gadgets tends to go straight out of the window very quickly, sometimes as soon as it is taken off.
btw draw reins used to be known as "the razor in the monkey's fist". says it all, i believe.
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