capalldubh
26th Feb 2007, 04:36 PM
Hello folks,
I guess this is probably the best place to ask - I know there will be non NH people who will know about this too, so maybe they'll spot the post too?
I have just started riding Jackson - he was backed last year but not ridden much and in a standard bridle with cavesson and full cheek jointed snaffle.
He has had 4 months off due to feet, and I have done lots of groundwork using a rope halter. I've just started sitting on him again, and experimented with a regular headcollar with two lead ropes clipped each side. Our communication from the rope headcollar groundwork sessions seems to have worked fine and translates nicely to the headcollar, but it's a clunky arrangement. He works very responsively and softly with the rope halter on the ground, but when I'm up top, my brain needs me to have a rein attached to each side :rolleyes:
What would people advise me to look for now? I've looked at endurance type bridles, and bosals, but I'm not sure either is quite what I'm looking for. I don't like the look of the Dr. Cook much, I'm not keen on anything that tightens/compresses in terms of action.
BTW we will probably end up using a standard bridle with bit again at some point, but I want to make sure we have good communications without it by that point.
If it's relevant, I suppose John Lyons/Alexandra Kurland approach is the nearest to the sort of thing we're doing now but with add ons from other approaches too :)
If you think I'm doing it all wrong, be gentle? :)
I guess this is probably the best place to ask - I know there will be non NH people who will know about this too, so maybe they'll spot the post too?
I have just started riding Jackson - he was backed last year but not ridden much and in a standard bridle with cavesson and full cheek jointed snaffle.
He has had 4 months off due to feet, and I have done lots of groundwork using a rope halter. I've just started sitting on him again, and experimented with a regular headcollar with two lead ropes clipped each side. Our communication from the rope headcollar groundwork sessions seems to have worked fine and translates nicely to the headcollar, but it's a clunky arrangement. He works very responsively and softly with the rope halter on the ground, but when I'm up top, my brain needs me to have a rein attached to each side :rolleyes:
What would people advise me to look for now? I've looked at endurance type bridles, and bosals, but I'm not sure either is quite what I'm looking for. I don't like the look of the Dr. Cook much, I'm not keen on anything that tightens/compresses in terms of action.
BTW we will probably end up using a standard bridle with bit again at some point, but I want to make sure we have good communications without it by that point.
If it's relevant, I suppose John Lyons/Alexandra Kurland approach is the nearest to the sort of thing we're doing now but with add ons from other approaches too :)
If you think I'm doing it all wrong, be gentle? :)