would a market harborough be useful?

C

caroline23

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 April 2009
Messages
284
Visit site
Im starting asking my 6yo cob to work in an outline and looking for an aid to help him understand and gain correct muscle, would a MK be suitable? I plan to only use it for a few months until he gets the gist of things, i can get it in walk but he cant hold it long as he lacks muscle and in trot he raises his head.
Ive also heard it can help with brakes is this true or just old wives tale?
 
I wouldn't recommend one for getting the right muscles working as you would need to have it on quite a tight setting, which will not help long term.

I use one, but not for schooling as thats for me to overcome by seat & legs.
However, I use it as an aid when out hacking only on occasions (usually just towards the end of winter). This is for a solid Big Fuzzy who likes to lean hard with head up if getting v excited & she forgets her manners. This suits her better than a running martingale.
However, the occasions are very few and far between these days.
This means she leans on herself instead of me on these odd random occasions.
I only have it on the very loosest setting, thus it never comes into play unless we really need it.

Maybe look at doing more groundwork with your lad? Long-reining really helps & hill work too to build up muscle.
 
He can be strong on ground (has cheeky welshie in him) e.g when lunging so cant lunge him as he just turns he neck and pulls that why i was looking at the MK as it is a ridden aid so would be easier aswe have tried resolving the lunging (evn did it with a pro) to no avail so need another solution. He doesnt have a poor back no muscle wastage behind shoulders etc he has muscle under his neck im trying to correct
 
Agree with above Im afraid. Its a long hard slog but you are best to forget about the front end and once the back end works correctly and strengthens the front end will come. Seat. legs, half haltsand lots of transitions etc
I used one years ago on a nutty TB that I wouldnt hack with out as she reared and leapt and being able to keep her head from going too high seemed to help with the situation. Probably not the right solution but you learn as you go on :(
Someone I know pretty much ruined her horses gait by using a MH as he felt tied down and ended up rushing and shuffled along.
 
Yes i also agree with above. I would work on developing his muscle first and getting hime nice and flexable.
If he can do it in walk then it is just a matter of time before he is able to do it in trot and canter.
You could try using a Pasoa on the lunge, that will help to get him engaged from behind and working all his muscles correctly, and he wont be able to run away.
hope this helps!!
 
Side reins are unlikely to help, he will just go behind them with his head up, he needs time and careful riding so he understands what you want, gadgets unfortunately will not really help, they only give a quick fix not really the solution .
 
Id concentrate on him working long and low if he has muscle under his neck. If you have to resort to a gadget, then a chambon on the lunge although I know you said hes strong on the lunge. Tying his head in with side reins etc could mean he just goes in a banana shape. You couls try loose side reins set lower on your roller but I think you need him to stretch down first to try and loose the muscle underneath. He will find it hard work so just a bit at a time.
 
Agree with everyone else gadgets aren't really the way to go. He only keeps his head in position for a short time because that's all his muscles can cope with for now. I would just praise him hugely every time he does it even if it's only briefly and then reward him with a nice long stretch before asking again. It will come but it's a lot of patience and hard work.

Is he fed his hay from a net or on the ground? Sometimes it helps to put it on the floor as it helps them to not build up the wrong muscles underneath the neck so it might be worth considering. Good luck. :)
 
Completely agree with what others have said. it takes time to build up the correct muscles, and even more time if he has the 'wrong' muscles.

I am going through the same thing with my 6yo ex racer at the moment. I am not usually a fan of gadgets, but in his case I have needed to otherwise he would happily run around with his head in the clouds for the rest of his life.

I found the pessoa no help at all, even on the loosest setting I could see he was being jabbed in the mouth with every step and he looked tense and wasn't relaxing in it.

I have, however, found lunging with a chambon very beneficial. He really relaxes and stretches down, working long and low. We warm up in walk and trot, then put the chambon on and do 5 minutes in walk on each rein and then cool down again without it on. You need to build it up very slowly otherwise he will be sore, it is hard work for them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top