Use of a de gogue

[Em 1]

My chunky, powerful boy has never been asked to work properly from behind and as a consequence is very resistant to working in a correct outline. He will go beautifully but it requires a real battle to convince him that tigers aren't going to kill him the second he drops his head!

I've tried working with my instructor for the last six months and I've had a very proficient rider school him but he still doesn't seem to understand that it is safe to soften. Someone suggested that it might be worth trying a de gogue on him. I'm not trying to tie his head down but I want to try to show him that he can have his head down and nothing terrible happens.

Does anyone have any experiences of the de gogue good or bad? Do you think this would be a sensible option for my horse or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Many thanks :)

[xloopylozzax]

i havent used one and i googled it because i didnt know what it was and found this
might be interesting but i dont know what you want to know exactly;)
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/37747.html

[Em 1]

Thanks for that article xloopylozzax, very interesting! If I do use it, it will be using under my instructor's guidance. I'm not entirely sure what I want to know either:o:D. I've just always been anti-gadget but now I need something more than lessons, schooling etc.:)

[kaytenherponies]

I used a de-gouge on my TB and it really helped to strengthen her top line (typical TB upside down neck).

HOWEVER... I would never ever use one again.

A horse on our yard was being lunged in one ( they were all the rage at the time). She tripped and because she couldn't throw her head to righten herself she went right down in a very awkward position. She ended up with a smashed scapula and had to be PTS on the spot by the vet. It was awful!

Needless to say my de gouge went in the bin with a lot of others on our yard.

Have you heard of a lungy bungie? As i understand it it works on the same principle but is made of elastic so wont restrict the movement or stop the horse righting itself.

Hope that helps, and sorry to put you off but wouldn't want some one 2 go in to it with out knowing the risks. :)

[wildponies]

I have used a degogue but it wasn't very forgiving.. as in.. not elastic?

I would reccomend something elastic. :)

[Pink's lady]

I've used one and didn't find it particularly effective.

I did however find a pesso worked really well, for Pink at least (kalli hated it). She normally slopes around on the lunge with her nose poked in the air. With she goes nicely, stretching down and round, in a pessoa.

They can only be used on the lunge but it might be worth trying?

[Bobbin]

I have just started to use one on Bry. I see no reason for it to be on so tight that if a horse fell they couldn't throw their head up to correct themselves. I feel that it isn't the gadget that caused the accident here, it was the use of it.

Bry can get her head up as normal as she likes, it just offers the option to and encouragement to soften without the restriction. To early to tell if it will be effective yet.

As with anything, use it correctly and get someone who does know how to use it to show you first.

[kaytenherponies]

Thank you for your comments bobbin but as you were not there to see the accident you cant possibly comment on whether the accident was the degouges fault or the way it was being used. If you find the de gouge useful with your horse and are happy to use it, good luck to you. The whole point of this forum is to get a balanced opinion from both sides. However please dont make comments insinuating it was my friends fault that her horse got PTS.

I always respect other peoples opinions and would never insinuate that some one was at fault for an accident that I didn't witness so please extend me the same courtesy..... thank you

[Bobbin]

Thank you for your comments bobbin but as you were not there to see the accident you cant possibly comment on whether the accident was the degouges fault or the way it was being used. If you find the de gouge useful with your horse and are happy to use it, good luck to you. The whole point of this forum is to get a balanced opinion from both sides. However please dont make comments insinuating it was my friends fault that her horse got PTS.

I always respect other peoples opinions and would never insinuate that some one was at fault for an accident that I didn't witness so please extend me the same courtesy..... thank you

Perhaps all gadgets should be banned then, as they all have the potential to cause injury, as they can all restrict a horses free movement. I am NOT saying it wasn't the De-Gogues fault, I am saying that you CAN use in it a way that is effective and more safe.

Accidents happen and you can't blame a bit of equipment for that.