has anyone used????

[Lil Me]

a harbridge???

what do u think???

good, bad, opinions, experiences????:)

[colettybetty]

I have just sent off for one as my trainer who is schooling my youngster thinks it will help her to learn how to carry herself. from what I've read it seems quite an acceptable aid and used by many dressage yards.
will see how she goes in it, only contemplating it because my trainer is a calm, experienced rider and my mare is quite a confident,sensible character.
I'll let you know when it arrives.(fingers crossed )

[Bay Mare]

Can't see the point in it. You'd be better schooling the horse to work correctly into a contact rather than tying it's head down (if adjusted too short) or stopping it from raising it's head (which can develop muscles in the wrong place!).

Saff used to work 'upside down' and it's taken time and patience to reschool her. Much better than artificially keeping her head in place to my mind!

I'm not against running martingales for hacking out in or jumping (properly adjusted) or even side reins used correctly and appropriately but a lot of the gadgets out there are quick fixes for people who want quick results.

What would you be using it for? What problems have you got?

[Lil Me]

ok heres a lil bit of info then, I hyave been schooling my lad a lot and we have gotten to the point where he walks and canters fantasticly and is working how i want him to work on a lovely light contact working from behind, bending properly and generally a hell of a lot better!

I have put a lot of work into his trot but feel like although i know iv progressed and he is no longer running around with his head in the air and resisting my aids, he is now listening and working better but im at a hurdle and finding it terribly difficult to cross, he is not very soft in trot and fights against taking a contact and i feel like im getting nowhere!

his topline is developing nicely and i have made sure that he is in no pain his back has been checked and his saddle has been checked but he still has this resistance to work in trot, when he does he is great!

I have the problem of being very light in my hands and no matter how much my RI tells me i need to be stronger i dont do it as he is light in his mouth too and i know it would only upset him!

I also find it difficult on one rein as i ride better on one rein so i was just wondering if this could help me as it gives the guide to a perfect hand carriage so thought it would help develop neddy and me!!!

[Kanuma]

it is a GADGET and as such will only mask the problem. the minute you take it off he will go back to his old ways!

[Lil Me]

will it just not help to teach him???

I think i have a lot of work ahead of me!!!

I will do it, it will probably take me forever but i will do it!

[Emz]

My opinion on 'gadgets' is the use them infrequently.

I've found using draw reins helped to show my lad wht i was asking and what i wanted him to do. i now only use them if needed - say once a month as a refresher (i.e. put them on today as he was a being pig!!). Neither of us then learn to depend on the 'gadget' but we still progress with our schooling.

[Lil Me]

thats what i wanted just to help not to rely on, i realise i need to do the work like i have already!

me and my horse have been working sooo hard at this but were just finding ourselves stuck at the mo!

[colettybetty]

used the harbridge for the first time yesterday and my youngster went very well in it, just had it on for ten minutes after she had warmed up and stopped before she got tired. did the same again today and found that although it was on, she wasn't actually using it, so was pretty impressed with it- and her (clever girl ).
so, seems to have shown her just what she needs to do without any fiddling on the reins _ a much kinder introduction to her schooling.so, along with her other work, its a useful tool in her training.

[Lil Me]

thanx for that!!! what size do u think i will need for my 16hh TB who has everything in cob size so do u think i should get cob or full size???

[jenren!!]

If you feel the harbridge will help then by all means use one. For me, i wouldnt use one because i like the rewards and satisfaction that you get from using just one thing, myself. The harder and longer i work my mare, the better my results. I dont feel a training aid will give me as much satisfaction as it would if i didnt use anything. As long as you use it correctly, there is no problem. If it will help with your problem quicker, why not? For someone who will only get frustrated doing it 'the long way' which is not good for neither the horse or the rider.

At the end of the day it has to be used in the horses' best interest. Just because it might not appeal to someone else and their horse, doesnt mean it wont work for you. Hope this helps :)

Jenny

[jenren!!]

As for the size, try full size first. My TB is cob size in headcollar, bridle and boots, even saddle! But her neck is very long, typical of TBs really, plus you shouldn't fasten it too tightly so i would def. try full size first.

Jenny

[vikkit06]

hi
yes ive used a harbridge on my youngsters and i think its kin of like a martingale i think its a good idea.all it does is when the horse lifts its head up it gently rings the horses head back down and as the horse walks with its head up it just gently tweeks and the bit as though youre asking it to go on the bit but dont forget to use youre leg:) good luck x