[Reflections] Training and getting started? | The Royal Horses

What's the point?

The usefulness of a training is mainly to use a tool with a mechanical action whose objective is to obtain a particular position of a part or the whole body of the horse. Depending on the use made by the rider and the setting chosen, the stress caused by it is more or less great: almost no constraints for a loose regen until an impossibility of movement (of head and neckline most often) with a tight fit.

We will see the most commonly used reamers for the mounted work of the horse.

German Reins

German-Reins

The German reins are very used today and especially by the riders who have difficulties or who do not know how to put their horse correctly on the hand. Thanks to their step-down and retractor effect which acts on the whole of the neckline it is relatively easy to obtain a chamfer close to the vertical on a low neckline simply by adjusting the reins.

Only this method to get a semblance of handling has many flaws:

•  Tendency to be hooded
•  The neckline is broken at the level of the 3rd cervical, which is a proven defect in hand
•  Neckline collapsed, the horse does not stand
•  Wrong operation of the back and the hindquarters if the attitude is bad

The Gogue

The Gogue

We distinguish the fixed gogue controlled gogue that connects to the second pair of reins. These two types of goggle make it possible to close the head-neck angle using a connection system connecting the neck to the chest by means of the jaw.


The action may seem close to the German reins, yet the gogue acts only at the neck level while the German reins have a global action on the entire neck of the horse. The main defects:

•  Pendulum movement stuck in fixed or warped gossip by the hand of the rider in a controlled order

•  Constant and sometimes too important support on the reins, which then replaces the rider's hand

•  No transfer of jaw or neck so no relaxation

•  Too tight it leads to a false position: the "plated" very harmful to the cervical

Getting started with an overcheck

The use of these two overchecks is generally for the sole purpose of obtaining a beautiful attitude of the end of the front by a mechanical system which places the horse artificially in the desired position. But the real hand comes from itself when the horse is sufficiently assembled. It also involves a relaxation of the neck and jaw, which is possible only on a light touch.

The problem of getting in hand with an overcheck is that the sliding system of the gogue or reins German does not allow to give in when the horse yields in his neck and in his mouth, which is totally counter-educational. Not being able to relax the horse remains fixed and contracted in the attitude that has been assigned to him and rushes into the least defects of this one to relieve himself as to lean on the gogue or to cap with the reins German. The attitude thus obtained being false and contracted the back and the backhand work poorly. Once the re-entry is over, the horse has learned nothing and resumes its initial posture.

The Alternatives

You will tell me now but how to do if the reenforcement does not allow to progress and muscle my horse?

The work of the horse in the good sense as well as his learning can be obtained without reheating. Progressivity is the essential point because it will be impossible to obtain certain attitudes if Musculation is not at all willing. Do not be afraid to leave your horse in a natural attitude, it is not because it is completely open that the hindquarters do not work. Be concerned about the general physical condition of your horse, his morale, his mind, his understanding and his lightness to the helpers before wanting to close the end of the front at all costs.

When you have taken care of all this and your horse is ready to evolve in his work you can start looking for relaxation by multiplying the necks. You will also improve the quality of the balance of your horse while maintaining its lightness. In my opinion, the royal route to higher riding.

Do you share my opinion? Do not hesitate to comment, I know that this subject is likely to be debated, I await your arguments 😉