Free jump collar

[appendix100]

Can someone tell me anything about the freejump collar?

I am looking for things to help give me a little extra help, both psychologically & physically with my confidence. Am just getting back over fences after an extended hiatus. Horse is usually good, but occasionally gets spooky & can swap ends & head off the other direction before I even realize what’s happening. Usually during warmup.

In a western saddle, I have the horn to grab but in my English, it’s obviously another story. I have a grab strap, but can’t seem to get to it in time.

Yes, we are working with trainers. Yes, I am working on my core, yes we are working on flatwork & basics.

I am mostly looking for help to get through the spring stupids in one piece. I don’t bounce like I used to & if I can find something to help my in my head to sit up & ride, that would be great. I get defensive much faster than I did when I was younger.

[PonyPenny]

I got one to help me transition to dressage from hunt seat. Until my core muscles are strong enough, I use it so I do not use my horses mouth for balance. It is adjustable to a dressage rein length. My horse has a lofty trot and canter. I figure I will really need it when I start back to riding seriously after this COVID 19 virus thing is over.

[appendix100]

How, exactly does it work? I’m having a hard time picturing it from just the photos I’ve seen.

[Jackie_Cochran]

I got one when I thought I still had some hope of jumping again.

The main thing I did not like about it is how the breast band came up the horse’s neck riding on contact so the rider pulls on the horse’s wind pipe. This WILL affect the horse’s breathing, otherwise heavy draft horses would not wear the collars with hames to spare the windpipe and spread out the pressure.

So I got an old stirrup leather, passed it through the slot for a martingale on the mid front of the Free Jump collar and passed it between the front legs to the girth. That solved this problem.

It also does not have anything to hold it up at the wither area. This collar can also get distressingly low on the breast of the horse at inconvenient times if the rider, pulling on the hand-pieces, does not keep it up. An old bradoon hanger fixed that.

I also added some straps, like a dog collar plus a ring and snap, so I could fit it better to the horse using the Ds on the saddle.

I finally realized that there is no way I will ever be able to jump again (my MS has destroyed too much of my central nervous system.) I talked with my riding teacher and she agreed saying if I ever HAD to go over a low jump (under 2’) I was probably strong enough to make it to the other side still on the horse.

I gave it to the stable I ride at that sometimes helps kids with handicaps. The collar will give the kids something to pull on when they panic instead of just the reins.

[appendix100]

thank you, that helps. I am looking for something that I can just have in my hand on the occasions he decides to rapidly exit, with or without me. I was looking at the RS tor system as well, but it looks like it is a pain to take on & off. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I just can’t seem to get ahold of the grab strap or neck straps in time.

[Scribbler]

I looked this up online and found some videos.

I get the idea and I see why it would be useful in particular situations. But I can’t help thinking that the ultimate effect would be to train muscle memory to use the hands and reins for balance which is not good.

As far as neck or grab straps, whenever I have an incident in an English saddle my hands are doing something to stop the spook, bolt, buck, etc. It’s instantaneous that my hands come up and out or wherever they need to be. And my body reaction is to sit up and back and in. So my hands are nowhere near any possible grab strap and if they were I would be tilted forward and in a compromised position.

I’ve never used one for jumping. I have grabbed mane in two point though, maybe that’s the same thing.

[PonyPenny]

@appendix100

How, exactly does it work? I’m having a hard time picturing it from just the photos I’ve seen.

It has these straps with elastic that come up from the collar that you hold on to with your regular reins. The straps and collar are adjustable. I have them adjusted so my hands are right above the pommel, so I can sit up and work on my core. I have short arms and learning to sit up and not perch has been hard. I have not found it to interfere at all with breathing. I like it. I have not used it for jumping though. My horse seems to like it too. I use it to keep my hands steady and not use the reins for balance.

[Scribbler]

@PonyPenny

It has these straps with elastic that come up from the collar that you hold on to with your regular reins. The straps and collar are adjustable. I have them adjusted so my hands are right above the pommel, so I can sit up and work on my core. I have short arms and learning to sit up and not perch has been hard. I have not found it to interfere at all with breathing. I like it. I have not used it for jumping though. My horse seems to like it too. I use it to keep my hands steady and not use the reins for balance.

But if you are using the straps on the collar to balance aren’t you training yourself to balance off your hands?

[appendix100]

I don’t want something to use all the time - just on the occasions when he spooks badly. Like scribbler pointed out, when things go sideways I am not usually anywhere near a neckstrap or grab strap & I can’t get them in time.

I just want something I can have in my hand so I have a sl better chance, not something to aid my general riding. If the collar requires me to hold it up, then it’s not what I need. If it stays where it is supposed to & I can have it in my hands loosely unless needed, then maybe it will work. Just expensive to “try” if it is going to be patently unsuitable

[Daventry]

Neckstraps are used all the time in the sport of eventing. Many people recommend this company. https://tapestryequineproducts.com/products/tapestry-neckstrap-1

[appendix100]

I can’t seem to grab the neckstrap in time. I am not looking for help over fences, he’s fine there, he’s concentrating on his jumps. But on the flat, there is occasional unseen stuff that is apparently really scary. I am not usually in 2point when this occurs. We are working on the training aspect of it, but I am looking for a little extra security in the meantime. He is wicked fast in doing a 180 on me when he’s hysterical. I am pretty sure I look like Wiley E. going off a cliff when he spooks. He has not unseated me recently, but it’s been close & that makes me nervous which doesn’t help

[Scribbler]

@appendix100

I can’t seem to grab the neckstrap in time. I am not looking for help over fences, he’s fine there, he’s concentrating on his jumps. But on the flat, there is occasional unseen stuff that is apparently really scary. I am not usually in 2point when this occurs. We are working on the training aspect of it, but I am looking for a little extra security in the meantime. He is wicked fast in doing a 180 on me when he’s hysterical. I am pretty sure I look like Wiley E. going off a cliff when he spooks. He has not unseated me recently, but it’s been close & that makes me nervous which doesn’t help

I honestly can’t see any kind of grab strap helping on a spook and especially on a spin.

In my experience a spin starts with a fast stop that tips you forward and then the spin unseats you sideways when you are already tipped forward off balance.

I was riding a horse last summer that had a stop and spin on the trail (but was great in arena). I found she spun much less once I started riding proactively sitting in engaging my core all the time. I think to some degree she tended to spin if her spook halt tipped me forward. If it didn’t, she was much less inclined to try to spin because she knew I had her between hand and leg.

This was the first spinning horse I’ve ridden and she wasn’t that big a spinner compared to many. So my suggestions might not be that useful for a really athletic dirty spinner!

But the reason I can’t see a grab strap or collar working is that the stop tips you forward and then the spin tips you sideways.

I think the grab strap and collar work best to keep you from being left behind going in a straight line. That’s why they work for jumping. They aren’t going to stop you from being tipped forward and they aren’t going to stop you from going forward off over the outside shoulder in a spin.

”‹”‹”‹”‹

[Jackie_Cochran]

While I gave my Free Jump collar away, I have been using the RS-tor, it stays on my saddle (and it is not too difficult to move to the next saddle so long the stirrup leathers are somewhat easy to put on and take off.) The RS-Tor does not prevent the rider from falling off, but when the rider falls off it helps the rider to land on their feet.

BUT the RS-Tor only works if you are holding it in your hand. The one time I fell off in the past decade my hands were full trying to calm down a pissed off TB so I was not holding it, and splat. To make it even more humiliating the horse was at a WALK when he decided to become airborne.

If I had been able to go ahead with jumping I would still have the Free Jump collar, as a preventive for hitting the horse in the mouth when I got left behind. If you are using it for security and shorten the collar’s hand straps then there is not much room for the horse to extend his neck over the jump. If I had been using it for security on the flat I would have shortened the hand straps a good bit.

Another thing I noticed is that it acted somewhat like the corderos(sp) as long as I used the stirrup leather to the girth to keep the collar lower on the neck. Some people use the cordero rope for bitless/bridleless riding, and the horses seemed to appreciate having a little warning before the bit got activated when I used my hands for halting and backing up.

[Daventry]

@appendix100

I can’t seem to grab the neckstrap in time. I am not looking for help over fences, he’s fine there, he’s concentrating on his jumps. But on the flat, there is occasional unseen stuff that is apparently really scary. I am not usually in 2point when this occurs. We are working on the training aspect of it, but I am looking for a little extra security in the meantime. He is wicked fast in doing a 180 on me when he’s hysterical. I am pretty sure I look like Wiley E. going off a cliff when he spooks. He has not unseated me recently, but it’s been close & that makes me nervous which doesn’t help

@Scribbler

I honestly can’t see any kind of grab strap helping on a spook and especially on a spin.

In my experience a spin starts with a fast stop that tips you forward and then the spin unseats you sideways when you are already tipped forward off balance.

I was riding a horse last summer that had a stop and spin on the trail (but was great in arena). I found she spun much less once I started riding proactively sitting in engaging my core all the time. I think to some degree she tended to spin if her spook halt tipped me forward. If it didn’t, she was much less inclined to try to spin because she knew I had her between hand and leg.

This was the first spinning horse I’ve ridden and she wasn’t that big a spinner compared to many. So my suggestions might not be that useful for a really athletic dirty spinner!

But the reason I can’t see a grab strap or collar working is that the stop tips you forward and then the spin tips you sideways.

I think the grab strap and collar work best to keep you from being left behind going in a straight line. That’s why they work for jumping. They aren’t going to stop you from being tipped forward and they aren’t going to stop you from going forward off over the outside shoulder in a spin.

”‹”‹”‹”‹

Agreed! I didn’t realize this was a problem on the flat rather than over fences. I don’t think anything is going to be much help other than a western saddle with a horn. One thing that will help a lot is to stay off this particular horse and use a safe, kind horse to help you build up both your confidence and fitness level. In my opinion, if you have been on a hiatus and are just getting back into the swing of things and need a confidence builder, this is not a horse you should be riding.

[Scribbler]

Western saddle does give more security. But the horn can cause problems! My adult beginner friend got a bad ribcage bruise in a spook and spin because she tipped forward and slammed into the horn. I have never had that happen to me, and I rode mostly Western for years on a horse with a big sideways spook (but no spin).

In other words if you tip forward rather than sit up in emergencies nothing will reliably save you.

[PonyPenny]

@Scribbler

But if you are using the straps on the collar to balance aren’t you training yourself to balance off your hands?

No, because once I have the core strength I won’t need it anymore. It is no different than using the pommel or a grab strap except for me It puts my hands in the correct contact position. I have short arms, so I want my hands put in front of me and in front of the pommel. You probably would not like it, but my trainer, horse and I do. That is what is important.

[Jenerationx]

@EventerAJ

Race horse exercise riders have used it forever: the yoke. It’s what the “rings” (short triangle running martingale) attaches to; it’s basically the martingale neck strap. And when you gallop the squirrely ones, you will learn to always keep two fingers curled on the yoke, because you never know when a fit, fresh horse might prop, spin, drop a shoulder, or buck. And it DOES help keep you “with” the horse, limit pulling on the mouth, so you can ride FORWARD out of the skirmish and get on with the ride.

I like to adjust the neck strap of the yoke so that it has enough slack to let me hold it with my hands in normal/low position, about 4" above withers when sitting up. I can use the yoke as a neck rope, too, encouraging the horse to slow down or turn in conjunction with rein and body aids. I use a yoke frequently when starting youngsters, with martingale attachment. It’s only about $18 at any racing tack shop for nylon, about $30 for leather. It’s similar to a hunting breastplate, but the yoke is only half inch wide; I dislike the thick wither breastplate strap and prefer more freedom from the saddle dees that the yoke offers.
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Yep. I’ve used that years ago on young OTTBs to keep my hands from coming up and back with my body if they get squirelly. Helps keep you out of the face as you regain balance. I had a pretty sticky seat at the time, but even then a really athletic ottb can throw the best out of balance at times, and then yanking on their mouth while you sort it out would just add to the issue.

[exo.pragmata]

Waldhausen has something as well. I think the martingale attachment would be removable if someone wanted.

https://www.waldhausen.com/en/horses/training-equipment/waldhausen-secutrust-breastplate-with-safety-reins.html

[Pippigirl]

@appendix100

I can’t seem to grab the neckstrap in time. I am not looking for help over fences, he’s fine there, he’s concentrating on his jumps. But on the flat, there is occasional unseen stuff that is apparently really scary. I am not usually in 2point when this occurs. We are working on the training aspect of it, but I am looking for a little extra security in the meantime. He is wicked fast in doing a 180 on me when he’s hysterical. I am pretty sure I look like Wiley E. going off a cliff when he spooks. He has not unseated me recently, but it’s been close & that makes me nervous which doesn’t help

The only thing I found that helped with the horse that rode who did the spooking (followed by the dart and exit stage right) was making sure she was tuned into me the whole ride. I was constantly ‘checking in’ with her that she was paying attention to me at all times. At first mentally I found it draining because initially it kept my brain really busy making sure her brain was busy being occupied by me. It got better though. Gradually I could go longer and longer stretches of time without having to do something to get her attention back to me.