[AQHA1972]

I understand that she told you to do it, but if you arent comfortable with it and you arent sure that you are doing it right, I say dont do it. Is it worth injuring your horse? Wait until she it there in person to show you.

[Jenje!]

It's meant to soften up the horse and teach them to work with their heads down...

I've done it with my mare once or twice just as a refresher, but no, I wouldn't think it's something you should do on your own without knowing how. If Casper freaks out and fights it, it could be dangerous. Can you ask your trainer to demonstrate with you? Or just tell her you're not comfortable doing it on your own.

[QHGirl]

There really isn't a name for it. I have done it many times. I have also had a horse resist. I would call your trainer and ask her to help you the first time to make sure you are not doing it to tight. IF your horse has had it done, i would not be as "leary" but if you don't know if you are doing it right, then wait.

[sorrell]

It's supposed to help a horse flex at the poll, but there are better, safer ways of doing it and most people still see it as borderline cruelty, when there are other safer, more horse friendly techniques to get the job done.
Sorry, can you tell I am anti contraptions?
Some trainers still swear by draw reins, chambons and other equipment, but my feeling is that if you have good hands, a good seat and a good temperment, you don't need those things.
Not bashing you, just think there are better methods of training.

[EmazingCasper]

Originally Posted by Jenje!

It's meant to soften up the horse and teach them to work with their heads down...

I've done it with my mare once or twice just as a refresher, but no, I wouldn't think it's something you should do on your own without knowing how. If Casper freaks out and fights it, it could be dangerous. Can you ask your trainer to demonstrate with you? Or just tell her you're not comfortable doing it on your own.

yeah she showed me in person, but I don't really like doing it. So I think I'm just not going to do it. it isn't worth hurting him.

Yep, that is why she had me doing it, my horse has a head set problem.

[Jenje!]

If you're not comfortable, definitely don't do it. That's true of everything with horses! Trust your instincts. You have good ones.

Now, there will always be nay sayers about everything you do with horses. I don't think it's abusive in the slightest. However you DO need to know what you're doing and be ultra aware of what's going on with your horse at the end of the line before you try it. Anything can become "abuse" in inexperienced hands (I don't mean you're inexperienced, just in this specific thing)... so it's not really intentional abuse, just lack of knowledge.

[CJ]

Originally Posted by EmazingCasper

So I think I'm just not going to do it. it isn't worth hurting him.
Yep, that is why she had me doing it, my horse has a head set problem.

My horse was so highheaded I almost/ got a fat lip a couple times from him flinging around. I got him to do V without a chambon, juryrig or tiedown (tried the td, he hated it). Combine your headset handcues with a verbal back up, like "headdown". If/ when he makes the connection you should be able to 'cue' him verbally, even on the lunge. Maybe lunge with/ off a noseband, or nosechain if your Careful.

[cowgurly02]

It DOES help A LOT. My trainer had me doing with it Dodger this summer. Get her to show you how and do it a few times with her first until you are comfortable with doing it.

It is meant for head set and impulsion, yes. The reason my trainer gave me for doing it is because it teaches the horse he can still have forward movement with his head in position and on the bit. Then they will not fight it once you start asking for it on their backs. Dodger never did fight it, but some horses do which is why I suggest doing it with you trainer a few more times until he is used to it and you are as well.

After I started asking Dodger for the head set on his back, we stopped doing it. It really did work wonders, Dodger did not fight it or become confused at all when I started asking for it on his back.

Now that I have it, I have much more control of my horse's shoulders around the barrel. It helps a TON for barrel racing. The trainer I rode with this summer has been to the CFR 17 times (won it 4 times, won it 2005) and the NFR 4 times, all on horses she has trained herself. So she has to be doing something right! LOL

[Blistering Winds]

Originally Posted by sorrell

It's supposed to help a horse flex at the poll, but there are better, safer ways of doing it and most people still see it as borderline cruelty, when there are other safer, more horse friendly techniques to get the job done.
Sorry, can you tell I am anti contraptions?
Some trainers still swear by draw reins, chambons and other equipment, but my feeling is that if you have good hands, a good seat and a good temperment, you don't need those things.
Not bashing you, just think there are better methods of training.

You can have the best hands, seat, and temperment in the world, but if you do not train the muscles IN The position you want, you aren't going to get far.

KNOWING WHY you do things, keeps you on track.

For example, I really don't like draw reins to "bring" the head down, because it changes my discussion with the horse through the bit. HOWEVER, I'll use them on a halter now. I'll use my side reins on my bit ONLY because I'm training my hrose to Accept contact without fighting me left and right. (english riding training)....

I have used this method, again, I prefer it on halter as to not screw with the bit discussion between me and the horse....taking a chance at injuring the horse.

I have used contraptions, and seen different "short cuts" before. And you can modify them to help you build the muscles on your horse from the ground, so when you are in saddle, you can work on the mechanics of telling the horse to go to this position with these cues...instead of fighting them because their muscles are not designed to go to that position.


With some of us, there IS LOGIC behind our madness.....

[cowgurly02]

Just to add, I don't think it is abusive at all. My horse is perfectly comfortable doing it and learned a lot better that way. I have to laugh when people jump on and say "SHORT CUT oooh it's BAD". Why? There is nothing wrong with a horse learning something in a quicker, calmer fashion. People seem to be so against ground work and quick to call anything done without just a saddle and bridle "abusive".

Any tools can be abusive, bridles and halters included, in the wrong hands. What works for some people, doesn't work for others. Different strokes for differen folks, doesn't make it wrong or somebody's way "better" than another's.

I am suprised your trainer did not do a few sessions of it with you first though. It is something you need to learn how to do and be comfortable with before doing it. I think it would be best for her to do the first few sessions with him until he is going nicely and show you how to do it.