Market Harboroughs

[clipclop]

What are your opinions of the use of a market harboroughs to assist the retraining of a well established hollow horse.

Has anyone had any success with these when used when used for just temporary period in a retraining program.

[Shiny McShine]

I have used them in the past, but don't find I need to anymore because my riding has improved. I think they can be quite beneficial if they are used thoughtfully and are good for initial retraining like you are suggesting.

What I find with them is that they do provide alot of leverage, and horses very quickly learn to round their neck using it. You need to remember this and be VERY soft and steady with your hands because their effect is probably tripled. Because of this some horses will easily come overbent in them.

You also need to make sure that you don't neglect your other aids because the MH gives very easy results off the hand only. If you use your seat and leg properly and use the MH only very subtly to help the horse get the idea to bend and go down in the poll then you can have some very good results. If you are not using seat and leg enough or are too strong with your hands then you will either get an overbent horse or one that won't go forward (and with very sensitive horses may even rear or go backwards)... with this you have to be careful.

I hope this helps!
Regards,

Shiny :).

[DITZ]

yes i used one with good effect. he got the idea quite quickly and i didnt need to use it (although he later forgot and I needed to put it back on again!)

[Portia]

sorry to be thick, but how does the effect of a MH differ from that of draw reins?

[Gemma16]

It is a similar action but harder to reel your horse in as seen some many times with draw reins as the MH is fixed to a certain length.

[Cheko]

The Market Harborough based on the old fashioned draw rein shoudl only be used by experienced riders (no insult meant as I dont know your experience). Used primarily as a lazy way of getting a horse to 'round down' and used its back end, it can also be used by the horse to lean on the rider's hands and so adopt a 'false position'. As soon as it's taken off, the horse reverts to its original 'incorrect way of going' (whatever that is)! But it can be helpful for an experienced rider who only uses it as a temporary measure.:eek:

[lazylurchers]

Really interesting post. I myself am contemplating using a MH on my gelding. He has a very inconsistant head carraige, particularly out hacking. When I got him, three months ago, he had been schooled with draw reins (quick fix tactics) and with the result was very overbent all the time. Previous to this I suspect he went above the bit, as he had very little top line and a typical upside down neck with big bulging muscle.

I have been working him long and low which he has picked up very quickly, in the school. The problem arises out hacking. Sometimes he will trot properly, accepting the bit, other times he will have his head right up (really high) and I feel I have very little control.

I have read that the MH was a lot more humane than draw reins or similar, because as soon as the horse goes properly the pressure is released. This is obviously as long as it is adjusted properly so that the rein comes into action just before the MH - thus it produces a correcting action not a forcing one.

I like the idea of full control whilst hacking and improving his topline at the same time!

[Portia]

thanks.

i've used draw reins for mine, but on the advice of instructor have pretty much stopped; she seems to have picked up what is required of her, if anything she overbends slightly as avoiding tactics. had seem the MH in several catalogues, and whilst understood the basic action was wondering if it was considered more/less severe than DR. Certainly they seemed more user friendly for hacks etc.

I recall reading re damage that DR's can do to the neck if used inappropriately, would the risk be the same with a MH?

[shaka]

Any training aid can cause damage if not used correctly, the MH is no different, which is why you should only use one if you're an experienced rider.
I wouldn't describe the MH as a 'lazy' alternative. They are good for building up the correct muscles for a horse to carry himself, but again, an experienced rider needs to keep the back legs working correctly along with the front end.
In comparison to draw reins, the MH will relieve pressure when the horse comes down. The MH does allow some freedom to an extent, the horse can use his neck properly to stretch down and he can carry his head at a more natural level when the MH rein is fitted loosely
Kids at a yard I used to board at would ride in similar training aids, but they were kids and shouldn't really have been using them. The horse had come down onto the pressure caused by the MH rein, but the back was hollow and hindlegs trailing somewhere behind, it's no use getting the head down if you can't ride the rest of the horse.

[clipclop]

Thank you for all your replies. In this instance I am not particularly bothered about "getting the head down". That only comes with correct work and time and patience.

I wanted to use it as a preventative measure as she can throw good style strops with her head held high in the air and take off.
I am only interested in it having an effect should she throw her head beyond the height of control and decide to do this.

As I understood I thought this is what a MH was used for not to "get the head down".

Has anyone used one on a horse to prevent stroppy moments and does it work in this respect.

[Shiny McShine]

Yes, I used to use them on ex-racers. One particular horse would get excitable and hold his head and neck straight up in the air, thus avoiding the bit. I had good success with the MH on him. After a few weeks of use he was listening to my aids enough to go without it. Again, however it is very important to use the correct seat and leg and be very light with your hands.

[DavidH]

Originally posted by DITZ
yes i used one with good effect. he got the idea quite quickly and i didnt need to use it (although he later forgot and I needed to put it back on again!)

This explains a lot. Remind me to have a little chat about the problems you had when we first started next time i'm up there.