Does anyone have any experience with this tool and used it? It seems interesting but its not cheap if it doesn’t work.
Interesting. Following!
De-lurking to respond to this - yeah, it totally works. Really well to bring your core (or lack thereof!) to your attention and point out everything that you didn’t realize you are doing wrong with it, lol.
WingedPanda, a few questions if you don’t mind - do you ride an entire session with this device and for several rides or do you only use it temporarily and occasionally? Did you have any issues with the horse reacting to you carrying it? Did you have “instructions” or just used it??
Thanks!!
Sounds like an interesting device. I’ve never tried it, but might be tempted to if the feedback is positive. My inclination would be to treat it like dropping stirrups, maybe something to do periodically, but not necessarily for the whole ride.
Have not had experience with this, but am intrigued. Seems it would interfere with little suppling half-halt type finger movements, may be a great device to use for a student on the lunge line without reins?
[QUOTE=ThreeFigs;8025458]
Have not had experience with this, but am intrigued. Seems it would interfere with little suppling half-halt type finger movements, may be a great device to use for a student on the lunge line without reins?[/QUOTE]
You see, I just thought the opposite : I see way too much of those unnecessary finger movements and see in this cube a good way to prevent it!
The more I ride, the less I want to disrupt my contact. I’ve stopped ‘‘sponging’’ and playing with my fingers, unless the horse gets really really heavy on the bit and even then…nope, I try to use my leg and seat more. Anyway, I digress.
This cube idea looks interesting; it’s the same thing as holding a whip between thumbs and index to keep your hands straight and moving together maybe just a tad more stable with the cube I guess.
I wonder how much it weights.
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It says on the website that it weighs 4.2 lbs.
[QUOTE=SillyHorse;8025710]
It says on the website that it weighs 4.2 lbs.[/QUOTE]
My trainer bought one at Rebecca last summer and since then several of us students have tried it. It is very heavy but most people seem to forget about it as they start riding. I didn’t like how it banged into my horse’s withers.
That said, it does seem to help riders who struggle to keep a consistent contact with their horse’s mouth. I have a multitude of other problems, but not that one, so I haven’t used it other than to give it a try.
It (deliberately) functions kind of like a medicine ball - hence the weight. To hold it and keep it still (and off your horse’s withers, which I haven’t seen a problem with!) you have to engage your core muscles consistently, so it is both a corrective measure and a muscle memory training/core strengthening tool.
So you use it as much or as little as you need/can, really. Helps with your core, helps with your hands and contact.
Edited to add: I ride at the inventor’s barn (and intermittently with her), so I obviously see them in use a lot. Haven’t seen a horse upset by them, but horses in question are at least mostly broke. If you have any specific questions, I’d be happy to pass them on.
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I have watched many riders use the Equicube and it works! One of the fascinating things about it is that it can help to detect different problems in different riders. Many riding issues come from not properly engaging your core while you ride. If it is bouncing on your horses withers your core is not engaged enough to keep your elbows independent of your horses movement. It does limit your ability to supple with the fingers but most of us do too much of that instead of leg and seat. I have had riders say that what they like the best is that it does a lot of the work for you when you are trying to find your body position, in say shoulder in for example. Without working so hard to find the position they get to feel more where their body is. Muscle memory development for the future!
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My old trainer would do pretty much the same thing with a short crop…
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[QUOTE=Ibex;8025953]
My old trainer would do pretty much the same thing with a short crop…[/QUOTE]
And a whole lot less expensively.
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I can see where the weight could help with keeping elbows bent and posture - but where it could also create bad habits, depending who’s using it and how much they use it with eyes on the ground!
I agree with alibi about getting rid of finger movements. It’s a good thing!
I think there are other, less expensive options to get the same effects. My trainer used a bungie I had to hold up that was attached to my saddle which had the same weight effect, for example. This is a simple one which seems like it would help if you just can’t resist spending the money, though.
At this point, I prefer one-handed riding when I start to rely on my hands. Both of my horses are immediately happier when I feel as if I am using my hands too much if I switch to one. I haven’t had to do it nearly as much lately, at least.
The crop thing is definitely helpful for hands, but this is a core stability training tool, not a keep-your-hands-here tool. If you taped a smallish dumbell to that crop (and could still manage the reins, lol) then you’d be closer to the feeling.
Riding with it feels a little like the core-engaging effect you get doing squats with a medicine ball arm extension. I like it, but to each their own!
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Found this blog online - a person’s experience with the Cube: https://throughthebridlelightly.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/ride-with-an-equi-cubediscover-your-core/
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[QUOTE=macmerlin;8025889]
If it is bouncing on your horses withers your core is not engaged enough to keep your elbows independent of your horses movement.[/QUOTE]
I found that the cube was too large to keep off my horse’s withers without holding my hands several inches higher in the air than they should be. Or, perhaps more accurately, than my horse likes.
Blog review about it here:
http://piasparade.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-torturous-lesson-ow-ow-ow-ow.html
My trainer had me try it for a lesson, it is heavy and its work to hold it off the withers. I have an extremely sensitive Morgan and I hit his withers quite a few times but it never seemed to upset him just made me angry at my self. it did point out several issues, one that I didn’t realize I had been riding with my reins too long. the other is I had no idea I was steering so much with my reins. when I suddenly couldn’t steer so much, I went to using my legs and body more and voila, had much better circles, turns and lateral work. My instructor also commented that our rhythm got very steady, something we have struggled with. so one little cube accomplished a lot. I’ve only ridden with it the one time (thanks to winter temps in the single digits and snow) but I’m going to be very curious if continued use, helps muscle memory and learning correct technique, or becomes a crutch. But I’m willing to give it a go.
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Sounds like it’s worth the money then? I saw this in Flying Changes, PNW sport horse magazine, and I’ve been wondering about it ever since
