Call me intrigued - I’ve been looking at the CC breastplate with the T hand grips. No exact NEED for it, but I wonder how different it is from the old school “crop across both hands under the thumbs” method of creating quieter hands? My issue is more of the open fingers/lengthening rein variety (reins with the rubber stoppers fixes that pretty well) so I am just curious if anyone has used one of these and if it does… well anything 
Thoughts?
I bought this last year. I use more because my horse can be spooky and/or strong. So holding the T grips helps me keep my seat secure and I don’t end up fighting with him. I don’t use it all the time. I will just have the T grips hooked together acrossed his neck. Lately he has been very strong at the canter so I only hold the T grips when I canter. My only complaint is I feel the grips are too big for my hands. It just feels like I cannot close my hand around my reins.
I think it runs big. I have a 16 hand OTTB who I wouldn’t say is super refined but he’s also not a tank. I have a full size and I have the breast collar on the last hole and it’s still loose. He doesn’t need it to hold the saddle in place so I don’t care. The leather is really nice.
It’s a fantastic aid. I’ve used it and talked about it with very accomplished riders who rave about it. Some like it as a tune-up for their hands. One told me that it helped her stay on during a naughty sideways moment by a baby. In short it’s worlds apart from crop in thumbs, which itself is a fine exercise.
ETA: Agree with @arbeegirl about the nice leather. For that quality I’m surprised that it’s not priced much higher.
Do y’all find that the change in mechanics carries over to when you’re not using it? I wonder if it’s a crutch you could come to rely on, having the neck to pull against.
Just musing here, and tempted to try one if the opportunity presents itself.
I don’t find I depend on it. I just use it as tool when I need to use a little something. I have a grab strap on my saddle which would use but it changes your hand position too much. This device keeps your hands in a much better position.
Wanted to bump this thread in case there are more reviews or observations? @fivestrideline articulated my exact question–can you recreate the feel after dropping the toggles? I want to learn, I don’t want create a crutch.
I’m sitting in the back of the struggle bus when it comes to my arm/hand connection to the bit and despite understanding consistent and steady connection, I just cannot seem to achieve it!
I just bought one and am waiting for it to arrive in the mail. Never used a training tool in my life and purchased a little reluctantly after realizing my young horse was much more forward and happy in the canter and especially canter transitions when I grabbed a bit of mane. Can’t remember the last time a horse complained about my hands, but she is a big complainer. I think I am a little unfit and trying to collect her very very big canter too much and the grabbing mane kept me from trying to close the outside hand/pick up the shoulder too much. She’s just not there yet. Grabbing mane or my old neck strap puts my hands much lower than I would like, so hopefully this will be a compromise. I will report back.
So I ordered the full size for my 15.2 wide mare and I fitted it snug but it was still way too loose while I was riding to do anything at all. I do think just holding the things was somewhat helpful because my brain kind of interpreted it as a curb rein. Not really what I wanted though and not worth what I paid.
I’m going to put the T things on the lower part of the breastplate and see if that can take up th extra. If not I think a thin curb rein that I can punch a hole in and make it longer than a typical neck strap so I can make it as long as I want might be the solution
I am planning to get this b/c I have nerve issues that affects leg strength. I am hoping I can use this to steady me if I start to bounce around
Good to hear your experience! I have heard the sizing is odd across the brand in general.
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