.
Correct riding over a long period of time improves how a horse carries himself on the flat and over fences.
I would NEVER recommend using one, let alone jumping in one. I’ve seen many horses flip over in them.
I’m not a fan of neck stretchers. I do not understand the concept of this … It puts pressure on the poll and the bars of the horses mouth, nothing that will ever be replicated by a rider. It also can encourage the horse to curl behind the vertical which can be an extremely hard thing to fix. They can also be dangerous if used under saddle as the horse can trip and then have a hard time getting back up without the freedom of their head. I condone the use of the neck stretcher in two situations: 1. You have a rearer, and having a “reminder” in place is helpful if they try to flip their head up. 2. You are LUNGING and the neck stretcher is adjusted very loosely, again, as a reminder for head flippers. But even then I would be careful as it would be very easy for a horse to step through it if they decide to stretch down
When I see them I always feel so sorry for the horses. Draw reins are one thing - but you can give and take with these. Neck stretchers are such a domination thing and horses are always behind the vertical - makes me sad.
I would never use one over fences, and see no reason to use one at all most of the time. That being said, I did use one on a horse that wanted to rear with me. The pole pressure discouraged that when he raised his head to rear. Otherwise, it was loose enough not to come into play.
[QUOTE=Brooke;8469104]
I would never use one over fences, and see no reason to use one at all most of the time. That being said, I did use one on a horse that wanted to rear with me. The pole pressure discouraged that when he raised his head to rear. Otherwise, it was loose enough not to come into play.[/QUOTE]
I HATE THESE THINGS… Although like the poster above, I did use one on a confirmed rear-er that i hacked for someone else occationally, as loose as possible.
If you want real results, ride and improve the hind end. I wouldn’t say this gadget stretches the neck. It brings the neck behind the vertical and causes the horse to suck back. Jumping in one is downright dangerous
I use the neck stretcher on my green horse but we only use it on the flat training his truck for his neck to be more down. (he thinks he’s a giraffe (
My trainer and I have noticed that he’s very tense in the neck. As someone posted above you never want to use one when jumping, it’s way too dangerous.
I actually like neck stretchers and have used them at various times in some of my horses’ training over the years…though only when I had a horse that was struggling with the idea of stretching down. Never found that they made my horses curl or suck back. Seems like you’d have to have them pretty tight to make that happen. Only reaction from mine was what I was looking for - to get them stretching down and out while still pushing forward from the hind end.
With that being said, I wouldn’t ever jump in one.
[QUOTE=PNWjumper;8472343]
I actually like neck stretchers and have used them at various times in some of my horses’ training over the years…though only when I had a horse that was struggling with the idea of stretching down. Never found that they made my horses curl or suck back. Seems like you’d have to have them pretty tight to make that happen. Only reaction from mine was what I was looking for - to get them stretching down and out while still pushing forward from the hind end.
With that being said, I wouldn’t ever jump in one.[/QUOTE]
This has been my experience with a neck stretcher… I adjust mine loose until they raise the head up, then it comes in to play… they typically self correct themselves. My TB mare is a giraffe to work on the lunge, plays around, doesn’t focus races around ( and not from lack of knowledge or balance, shes just a mare like that!) . She is a MILLION times softer and relaxed with the stretcher. She actually quite enjoys it. But I very rarely ride in mine. Its main use is when I want quiet focused lunge work done.
[QUOTE=PNWjumper;8472343]
I actually like neck stretchers and have used them at various times in some of my horses’ training over the years…though only when I had a horse that was struggling with the idea of stretching down. Never found that they made my horses curl or suck back. Seems like you’d have to have them pretty tight to make that happen. Only reaction from mine was what I was looking for - to get them stretching down and out while still pushing forward from the hind end.
With that being said, I wouldn’t ever jump in one.[/QUOTE]
I’ve had the same experience, PNW. I used one on my giraffe horse to help him remember that his giraffe-i-tude was not the right choice. It saved me a number of hair-raising rides when he was rehabbing.
I prefer them over draw reins as they aren’t reliant on the rider at all. And honestly, the only way they would teach a horse to curl is if the rider’s hands are too restrictive. The point of the neck stretcher is to encourage down and out. If the head goes down and the hands release to allow the reins to stretch, there is no pull to tempt the horse to get behind the bit.
I would also not longe in one unless there was a neck strap to keep the stretcher away from the feet. All of my horses have been pretty willing to stretch long and low on the longe line, so there really isn’t a point for me to try. The only time I’ve seen people jump in one, they also used a neck strap to keep it away from the legs. I’m not fond of the idea of jumping in one.
It’s just another tool and really…I see far more horses behind the vertical that aren’t wearing a neck stretcher than ones who are.
I used one on my old gelding. He had never learned to carry himself in any manner besides giraffe. Two years spent working with two different dressage trainers did not help. So on the advice of my former hunter trainer, I tried a neck stretcher as loose as possible. I started him on the lunge line and then undersaddle. We did jump in it, but small stuff. And not every ride or even the entire ride. What I liked is that it functioned completely independently of my hand and as soon as he relaxed, it was an immediate release. It worked wonders for his brain and body and once he grasped the concept that there could be another way, we no longer needed it.
I never had a problem with curling or sucking back.
What the heck is a neck stretcher? I’ve never heard of it before
I would never use one under saddle let alone over fences. maybe very rarely I can think of a situation where one might use one lunging. But even at that as loose as it can go.
I have owned a neck stretcher for a couple years, but ironically never used it. Actually trying to sell it now. I have had the greatest success with the Chambon and my horse loves it. I have it loose on him, but its a good reminder. I only use it on flat and he never curls behind it. But he is very accepting of this.
No, you would never want to jump in one. And no, they don’t improve movement, either, unless the reason the horse is moving poorly is because they are going around like a giraffe.
Personally, I find they are useful for greenish horses that have a strong natural inclination to carry themselves like a giraffe. They can help a horse “get it” that you are asking for something different. But, they are limited in that eventually you need to train the horse to carry itself a certain way because of training and a proper connection between the hand and the mouth, not because the horse’s head is tied down.
If you are trying to improve a horse’s movement, you need to start with flatwork. Building a horse’s strength and training them to use their body to its best advantage is a process. Some horses will never move much better than what you see on day 1.
Re: trying to improve a horse’s jumping style, I don’t know any gadget or bit that will help you. Jumping style is developed through practice, training, and setting gymnastic exercises to educate and encourage the traits you want. Again, often jumping style can be improved, but some horses have more or less a certain ability and style–both mental and physical–that can be difficult to fully change.
I would never recommend jumping in a fixed system like a neck stretcher. That is asking for an accident and a setup for a traumatic situation for the horse.
[QUOTE=OTTB_;8473013]
I would never use one under saddle let alone over fences. maybe very rarely I can think of a situation where one might use one lunging. But even at that as loose as it can go.[/QUOTE]
I find this comment funny because people won’t hesitate to put a tight standing martingale on a horse that can actually be more restrictive than a neck stretcher. And side reins? There are so many other pieces of tack that are much more restrictive and more offensive to the horse than a neck stretcher. I guess I don’t get all the “OMG, I would NEVER” comments.
Unless someone has adjusted the neck stretcher extremely tight, it is pretty harmless and only comes into play when the horse raises its head significantly. Even then it has enough give to not feel restrictive to the horse. If these horses have been properly trained on the ground to give to poll pressure, they will respond properly under saddle.
[QUOTE=RugBug;8473279]
I find this comment funny because people won’t hesitate to put a tight standing martingale on a horse that can actually be more restrictive than a neck stretcher. And side reins? There are so many other pieces of tack that are much more restrictive and more offensive to the horse than a neck stretcher. I guess I don’t get all the “OMG, I would NEVER” comments.
Unless someone has adjusted the neck stretcher extremely tight, it is pretty harmless and only comes into play when the horse raises its head significantly. Even then it has enough give to not feel restrictive to the horse. If these horses have been properly trained on the ground to give to poll pressure, they will respond properly under saddle.[/QUOTE]
I do hope that the anti-neck stretcher crew is also anti-tight martingale and uses side reins sparingly. That said, I have a theory that a neck stretcher, being a relatively simple device that appears to be forgiving with the bungee nature, is particularly likely to be used improperly. If I have a horse who runs around with his head in the air and I’m a person who doesn’t know how to fix that, a bungee that I don’t have to interact with while the horse is working seems more accessible than figuring out how to ride in draw reins or adjust side reins. Consequently, I bet a lot of people have had bad experiences & negative observations from them being used incorrectly.
THAT said, I’m not a fan of neck stretchers and, specifically for this thread, wouldn’t consider one a useful tool to improve a horse’s jump. But in general, I use gadgets sparingly, adjust my martingales with plenty of room, and follow the two-finger rule for nosebands, so maybe I’m just a hippie.
[QUOTE=BigMama1;8472866]
What the heck is a neck stretcher? I’ve never heard of it before[/QUOTE]
All I am going to say is if you Google it (even with the word horse in there), you will get all kinds of weird images. It is strange the things humans will do to themselves.
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/neck-stretcher-4980
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTQzN1gxNjAw/z/wmcAAMXQPW5SG2uF/$T2eC16F,!)kE9s4Z-TzWBSG2uEksSg~~60_1.JPG
Also known as a bungee!
It runs from the poll (where it’s adjustable), through the bit on either side and clips to the girth at the bottom of the barrel.
As others have said, if the horse understands the idea of giving to poll pressure, I have found them quite useful with the greenies on the flat (only).
I prefer it to draw reins because the rider is taken out of it, there is no sense of timing you can screw up. The horse lowering his head directly results in reduction of poll pressure.
Sorry, OP, no before/after pics. Haven’t used one long enough. They usually ‘get it’ within a few rides.
