Who jumps in a de gogue??

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Rollin

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I don't jump but have a student rider for a young horse.

He has just started jumping small fences. I was surprised that the French trainer recommended he is ridden and jumped in a de gogue to help strengthen his back muscles.

This does not feel right to me but I would welcome more expert opinion!!
 
Is he using the de-gogue with reins on the De-gouge? Or with it fixed down how you would lunge in it?

If the former then I wouldn't mind so much as you can release over the fence. I would never jump in a fixed one though!
 
would you ask why the trainer has recommended this?

I agree it doesn't sound right - especially for a youngster who should be left to find his own balance.....
 
I thought this was a no no but wanted some professional advice. I spoke to my English trainer last night, who is too far away now to help. She is both BHS and French qualified to teach and was horrified.

She know people in Belgium who are now training the Saudi Olympic team and told me they might lunge in a de Gogue but NEVER jump in one. In France children are allowed to compete with them on.

I feel I am back to square on with this young stallion. He is far too good to spoil. I am going to look again for a trainer in the UK, the problem being I like to see my horses every week when they are in training.
 
Rollin said:
I thought this was a no no but wanted some professional advice. I spoke to my English trainer last night, who is too far away now to help. She is both BHS and French qualified to teach and was horrified.

She know people in Belgium who are now training the Saudi Olympic team and told me they might lunge in a de Gogue but NEVER jump in one. In France children are allowed to compete with them on.

I feel I am back to square on with this young stallion. He is far too good to spoil. I am going to look again for a trainer in the UK, the problem being I like to see my horses every week when they are in training.
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Not quite the same but could you at least find a trainer who would be happy to use a web cam to update you?
 
See above though, you can have a de-gogue attached to reins not fixed in the way you would lunge in it...in fact it is not MEANT to be fixed on a ridden horse. So there would be NO action as you release over the fence.

I have never done it, but there a lot of show jumpers who jump in draw reins too.....doesn't make it right but you can release over the fence.
 
I guess you could argue, at least they are being honest about it, not telling you one thing and doing another. I'm not a massive fan of jumping in draw reins or similar but it's hardly an unknown practice, especially in sj circles.

Have you seem many horses/students developed by this trainer? Is it someone you/your rider can communicate with? If you say 'no' will he continue to work with the horse and rider? Can you discuss what he hopes to accomplish and suggest another way to get the same result?

I am very much in favour of having a good relationship with a trainer and it's important to be able to communicate. That said, you still need someone who can do the job for you and your options might be more limited than they were here.

Having horses in training in another country can and does work but it can be tricky and usually involves a significant investment in time and travel.
 
Rollin said:
I don't jump but have a student rider for a young horse.

He has just started jumping small fences. I was surprised that the French trainer recommended he is ridden and jumped in a de gogue to help strengthen his back muscles.

This does not feel right to me but I would welcome more expert opinion!!
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Actually, it's been recommended to me as well, but aside from anything else it seems incredibly dangerous.
 
Cheiro1 said:
Is he using the de-gogue with reins on the De-gouge? Or with it fixed down how you would lunge in it?
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I can't picture that. My de gogue sort of runs on a loop from girth to rings near ears, then through bit rings and back to chest. In this position it doesn't interfere at all with a horse dropping its head, but would hang dangerously low over a fence and I'd worry about legs getting caught in it.

ETS; Googled it. I now understand what you mean
 
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I've never jumped in a de Gogue but have done so in draw reins and in a Market Harborough on occasion if the horse needed it. However that was on horses that would either giraffe and fix the neck, or would bronc coming into fences, or simply gallop flat out over everything - ie horses with problems that needed over coming. Riding with those gadgets would only ever be for a short period of training to help show the horse that you CAN come into the fence with the head lowered - it shouldn't be the way the horse is always jumped! I certainly wouldn't be doing it on a young horse either - they need to learn to sort their own legs out.
 
If I had to choose, I would spend some time at FFE jumping shows, and watch the Cycle Classique classes.

Spend time watching the practise ring, look around the box park,approach the rider you like the look of, or ask the Organiser for recommendations.

For young horses there are, as you will know, specialist Pro riders.

When you have found a name, go on the FFE and look up this persons record,

I am surprised at the suggestion, which I would not do,

I have some ideas of where I would send a horse but of course you are 500 k from me, and I dont know the people in your area.

Wishing you well, he is gorgeous and of course you want the best possible start.
 
JCWHITE said:
If I had to choose, I would spend some time at FFE jumping shows, and watch the Cycle Classique classes.

Spend time watching the practise ring, look around the box park,approach the rider you like the look of, or ask the Organiser for recommendations.

For young horses there are, as you will know, specialist Pro riders.

When you have found a name, go on the FFE and look up this persons record,

I am surprised at the suggestion, which I would not do,

I have some ideas of where I would send a horse but of course you are 500 k from me, and I dont know the people in your area.

Wishing you well, he is gorgeous and of course you want the best possible start.
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I do know an English trainer in Bordeaux. Last year when I spoke to him, he said there were no competitions for young horses in France after Sept/Oct, whereas in the UK there is a lot of variety.

The other problem I face is that he is now 5 years old and I am told that he will need to jump 1.4metres next year if he does the CC or Cycle Libre scheme in France. He has only just started jumping.

I want him to start in some Club competitions. French trainer (whose 8 year old daughter is one of the top in France with ponies) says 'good' horses don't do Club. My English friend says this is rubbish.

This morning student came to ride in my arena, no de gogue and a couple of small jumps. I think he is better both in flatwork and jumping without the aids! What do I know?
 
Could YOU be his trainer? Even by proxy? Invest in a good quality camera and regularly send the videos to someone you trust for discussion.
 
TarrSteps said:
Could YOU be his trainer? Even by proxy? Invest in a good quality camera and regularly send the videos to someone you trust for discussion.
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I suppose I have no confidence in my own ability!!! When I failed my BHS Stage I I realised I should never have been let off the leading rein.
 
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