Market harborough

[keds mum]

Has anyone got an opinion on the use of or experience of using one. :confused:

Thanks

[clairey259]

I used to ride a nutter of a mare who had one, it stopped her pulling her head up or down when taking off with me, they are a good idea but can be lethal in the wrong hands as they are quite harsh

[jaydevon]

if used well, the best way to discribe one is like a cross between a running martingale and draw reins, whats your reason behind asking? if you dont mind us all asking?? x

[Jane.A]

They are a useful tool if used correctly. I use one on my dressage horse when hacking as she has a habit of rearing and spinning when she decides she doesn't like something. Used to use a running martingale but she grabbed the leather and locked her jaw on it and we nearly both ended up in a heap as she panicked. Not nice. Couldn't justify the expense of a bib martingale, and found a nearly new Sabre market Harboro on Ebay:D. I have it on the loosest setting as it's just to stop her throwing her head up above the point of control. It has absolutely no effect other than then. 99.9% of the time I don't need it, but when I do I'm grateful for it. Took 10 years to rebuild me from the last serious accident, too old and fragile to risk another!

[keds mum]

Quite! I too am too old to have anymore serious accidents!:eek: I'd like to use it for hacking, as i want to have a little more respect from him when I eventually hack out on my own. He (when he feels like it) can be a nappy bugger and chuck his head up in the air, amongst other things. I was interested to hear that you used it when your horse can rear, that is one of the things I was concerned about - I don't want to use anything that could encourage rearing. I have never used any type of "gadget" before but will try anything if it is helpful, I saw a market harborough being used on a friends horse with good results, although she used it for a different reason (her horse gets strong) Monty isn't strong he just forgets I am on board sometimes! :(I think it maybe worth trying but was just interested in others experiences of it and what reasons it was used for.

Thanks for reading and replying.

[Joyscarer]

If it's just chucking the head up in the air then have you considered the Harbridge to break the cycle?

It's self rewarding so has perfect timing and isn't reliant on you applying the pressure :)

[Bimbambo]

We used one in the early days with Freddy and found it very useful.

He kept pulling his head up, especially when going into canter. Had been doing it for some time with previous owners as had a lot of muscle under his neck and very little on top.

As an 11 year old my daughter found it a struggle initially to keep his head down without aid so we turned to the Market Harborough.

Now, 18 months later, after a lot of flat work, bending, leg yielding, lungeing, Freddy now has a lovely neck and bum shape and is working in an outline - and most importantly does not pull his head up anymore.

The MH served it's purpose to help Jess but it was the work that stopped the head pulling problem, not the aid.

Good luck xx

[SirGrumpPants]

My friend bought one for her horse, an ex race horse who threw her head about,unfortunately she became very reliant and when she took it off the horse was all over the place, very unbalanced and not straight but another person at the yard uses it on her horse like Bimbambo did when her daughter rides as shes very small and it gives her a bit more security as she tends to put her head up, i think they are good if used in moderation but can lead to more problems if they become a permanent part of your tack

[kittyrider]

my favourite gadget (in fact the only gadget i use) and have used it one all 3 of ours, schooling warmblood as she was very heavy in your hand, schooling my ex-trotter as he's used to 'head up in the air' pacing and also on our mega necked little pony (used to send daughter out hunting in it rather than a stronger bit)... i like market harboroughs because as long as their fitted properly the horse soon learns that they are pulling against themself rather than the rider but not in a fixed way as with draw reins. word of caution - don;t ride in them all the time, either occasional schooling session or 'day out' as you'll become far too reliant on it and I've seen some horses start shaking their head up and down the minute the rider mounts to try and test whether they've got one on.

[The Original Crazywoman]

I'm a bit disappointed about how the MH is being used at our yard. One lady uses it to stop her horse bucking. How it can stop this when it prevents a horses head being RAISED I am not sure.

Then another lady thought it was a great piece of kit, and put it on her horse with a dutch gag. Result - her horse has had to go for a month's reschooling and she was told that "he has lost confidence in the bit".

I think it is a great gadget when used correctly, but I am fed up with seeing it mis-used at our yard. :mad: