This is the first time I have ever seen a chambon(the forked strap with the ring hanging under their chin) used in the training of a liberty horse. It is only used when lunging a horse to develop the muscles of the back and topline by making him stretch long and low, and is not a quick way to fix his headset. It attaches to the surcingle between his front leg. I can't imagine why it would be used in the training of a liberty act.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
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Wade G. Burck
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It doesn't have to attach to the surcingle. It can also be used (and usually is) for lunging rather than snapping the lunge onto the bit rings.
http://www.kingstons.net.au/category114_1.htm
Anonymous,
I have never heard or seen it used, as an alternative to snapping to the bit rings. A halter is used for that purpose in the early stages of training a liberty horse/act, who are in a basic sense lunging, but not in a controlled situation, and not just around and around in a set circle:
Chambon's are advanced equipment, and should only be used by knowledgeable trainers who are excellent in the art of longeing. A chambon is not a way to quickly fix the head set of a horse. It is merely to help develop the correct muscle. Chambon's help a horse to develop the muscles of their back and topline. It applies pressure to the poll and mouth of the horse when he raises his head, releasing when the horse stretches long and low, down toward the ground. When a horse is lunged correctly, and the chambon is correctly adjusted, the horse stretches down and raises his back.
Before using a chambon, it is important to teach a horse to give correctly while worked in hand. If not, the horse may not know to lower his head to the pressure, may panic when he feels the upward and ungiving pressure on the bit, and possibly rear. The advantage of the chambon is that it only comes into effect when the horse raises his head, so the horse has some control on its action. It generally works very well on horses in adjusting their head position. However, it has no direct effect on the hindquarters, so it must be used skillfully.
If a horse is not lunged properly, he may begin to go on his forehand. Chambon's can also cause sore neck muscles. Incorrect use can therefore spoil a horse's gaits, which would then require weeks of retraining.
Wade
In a free and competitive world, I would suggest: www.doversaddlery.com
Oops, you're 100% correct - after enlarging the picture, I see that the ring is not connected to the bit rings. I stand corrected.
Anonymous,
Maybe my use of the word chambon is what was confusing. I really don't know what this rig is. It is almost a bastardized version of a chambon/standing martingale/tie down over the poll, instead of the bit(chambon) or nose band(standing martingale/tie down. I have never seen it before, and I just can't see it's use to a liberty horse, which may need to lift it's head quickly to keep from getting kicked in the mouth.
Wade
Hi Wade,
I don't think this has anything to do with training. Older European harness sometimes has two leather straps that hang down from the crown of the bridle and meet at a ring, like this. Dyed-horse hair is hung from this, and it looks something like a beard. The Schumann's had at least one set of harness like what I am describing. If I can find a picture, I will send you the link.
On a separate note, the harness is from Circus Barum, so I am guessing that the trainer is Ignat Ignatov, who followed Sandro Montez.
-Chris
Chris,
Thank you. That is similar to a shoo fly which is attached to the cinch, breast collar or bridle, usually made out of horse hair. It's swinging action discourages flies, knat's from pestering the horse. Often it too is decorative to emulate the "buckaroo" style of dress/tack.
Wade
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