use a schooling gadget of any kind?

[Megibo]

I just wondered as I was considering saving up for one (the Abbot Davies rein) for my pony as I borrowed one a year or two ago and she went so well in it, didnt lean on my hands and brought her head in so nicely. It also slowed her in the canter and she started to show lovely muscle. i schooled her in it twice a week, jumped (not with it on!!) and took her for hacks so she had some variation and it really improved her when she wasnt wearing it. The main effect it had on her was that she stopped motorbiking the corners in the school and started bringing her head down (which she NEVER does in canter). All in all she was more balanced and steady I was also able to lunge her in it in walk (10 mins each way) a couple times and the improvement was evident.

Do you use one of these or a different "gadget" and what is it like? Or dont use one at all ?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Using gadgets doesn't sit well with me. I'd much rather get the results through schooling and lessons with an instructor.

However... my mare did go through an excitable stage and actually managed to hit me in the face with her poll when she was flailing/throwing her head around. I put her in a bungee for a few rides after that and rode her in a very forwards manner.

It did steady her head although she could still put it up as it's (the bungee) quite stretchy, so it encouraged rather than forced her down. I took it off once she got over the drama, which luckily only lasted a week.

 

[Megibo]

mm i was anti-gadgets before i was suggested the balancing rein and i was sceptical but it really made her balance herself more. and eventually she was able to work effetively without the rein on so i would definitely use again but for the moment its hill work which has had an effect

 

[Stacey6897]

Gadgets can be useful, for those light bulb moments when after struggling for ages, you use something and the horse suddenly gets what you were after all along, I didn't need any with my current boy, he was so easy, but my mare previously had a tendency to stuff her ears up my nose, still does, but at least I can now ask her not to. Wouldn't use as a matter of course and definitely only short term

 

[Kokopelli]

I lunge in gadgets and that's about it, pessoa/ two rein. I never ride in them as I think it makes the rider complacent and not ride as hard as they can.

Once the core muscles are built up I don't even lunge in gadgets as I think they can work well without them.

 

[Megibo]

Gadgets can be useful, for those light bulb moments when after struggling for ages, you use something and the horse suddenly gets what you were after all along, I didn't need any with my current boy, he was so easy, but my mare previously had a tendency to stuff her ears up my nose, still does, but at least I can now ask her not to. Wouldn't use as a matter of course and definitely only short term

quite true; i did only use it for the short term as she was eventually able to work without it and when asked worked really well. so its definitely a short term thing if i do get one again. sometimes she is practically turned away over winter as just no time to ride so come spring when the ground is better and days longer it helps with getting her ridden work back to scratch