unnatural aids..

[DipseyDeb]

What is your view on training aids of any description? Personally I think they are overused and people don't seem to want to try things naturally first, Also there seems to be a culture of sawing with the hands to bring the horse down into a false outline, why do people feel their horse is only going well if their chin is pressed on their chest. poor creatures!! Your views please....Be nice to me mind I'm sensitive

 

[MizElz]

I dont think you can call ALL training aids overused.....but then it depends what you class as a training aid. Are we talking bungees, draw reins, Pessoas, Market Harboroughs? Lunge reins? Long reins? Sheepskin nosebands? Or simpler, more day to day things like whips and spurs that many people take for granted? I believe that most of these aids have their place; I have used draw reins and a bungee in the past with good effect; I have never relied on them, but used them to show my horse what I am asking as opposed to forcing her to remain in that position. With most horses, such aids do not need to be used constantly.

 

[kerilli]

totally agree, there is a modern fixation with the position of the head and neck because most people only use that as an indication of whether the horse is going correctly. neck arched, nose tucked in, quarters trailing looks good to them, whereas active, energetically forward, hindquarters engaged, nose slightly poking out looks wrong to them.

what they don't seem to have been taught is that that is the very last piece of the jigsaw puzzle to fall into place, when all the other pieces are correct... that's what i was taught, anyway.
most gadgets are horrible short cuts that do much more harm than good. the only gadget i'll use is a chambon, and that very judiciously.

 

[Nudibranch]

In my view they have their place but yes, I agree there is a lot of overuse. The overbent thing has been running a while as well. In one of Kelly Marks' boks there's a hilarious picture of a horse wearing just about every possible gadget going, and he doesn't look better for it.
I was always proud to be able to ride my TB mare in nothing more than a french link and sheepskin noseband. She was sharp but I tried to work with this and improve my seat and her confidence rather than start adding bits of tack. I have always thought more people should look at their riding, and possible back/leg/teeth issues in the horse, before relying on training aids. But I do appreciate they have a place - just maybe not as often as we think.

 

[Nudibranch]

Don't carry a whip or use spurs either.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
What is your view on training aids of any description? Personally I think they are overused and people don't seem to want to try things naturally first, Also there seems to be a culture of sawing with the hands to bring the horse down into a false outline, why do people feel their horse is only going well if their chin is pressed on their chest. poor creatures!! Your views please....Be nice to me mind I'm sensitive

[/ QUOTE ]

I am not clear what you mean by 'unnatural aids'? I thought you meant 'artificial aids' but your post discusses both natural aids and training gadgets/aids.
'Natural' aids include seat, legs, hands and voice, and can be misused, IMO. I hate to see people 'sawing' on the reins, b1tching at their horse, or kicking repeatedly at it's sides. Equally I dislike seeing people who sit heavily or behind the movement (not related to a rider's weight incidentally).
However, I am sure I do, and have always done all of these things far more often than I ought to

.
Artificial aids usually include whips, spurs, and sometimes bits.
Again, I don't like to see horses with spur or whip marks (although I have no problem with either being used correctly).
Training aids are so widespread now - and include draw/running reins, Chambons, de Gogues, Abbot Davies (sp?), Pessoas and many, many others. At the moment, I think they're horribly overused, and riders would be well advised to go back to basics by putting their horse on the lunge, with side reins, then riding it in a snaffle bridle, as a first means of training.
S

 

[Mid]

A flash noseband is an artificial aid, right?

So if we say it is, is a normal cavesson an artificial aid? So what about the whole bridle? And when exactly does a bit become harsh?

 

[kombikids]

"""why do people feel their horse is only going well if their chin is pressed on their chest"""

couldnt agree more - its an obsession with some!

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
A flash noseband is an artificial aid, right?

<font color="blue"> If you want to classify it that way, I suppose it could be..

</font>
So if we say it is, is a normal cavesson an artificial aid? So what about the whole bridle? And when exactly does a bit become harsh?

[/ QUOTE ]
<font color="blue"> Now a normal cavesson has never been terribly functional, has it? I know some books etc tell you it stops the horse opening its mouth, but I am unconvinced.

I would say a bit becomes harsh when used inappropriately.
I see where you're coming from, but there aren't really answers.
S

</font>