Equine Market Harborough

Market Harborugh
This is a training aid for ridden work and assists the horse to lower their head carriage and to work in an outline.

Use
The Market Harborough encourages the horse to lower and carry their head and necks.

Action
The Market Harborough has a milder action than that of the De Gogue. When the horse lifts or hollows their head and neck the Market Harborough comes into action. As soon as the horse lowers their head the pressure is released, the horse can therefore release the pressure itself without too much interference from the rider. The Market Harborough applies a downward pressure on the corners, bars, tongue and poll.

Fitting

The Market Harborough is composed of a leather strap which attaches to the girth.
The leather strap then runs in between the horses legs and up from the chest.
From the chest the leather splits into two with one strap going to either side of the bit rings.
The leather then goes through each side of the bit rings from the inside to the outside and attaches to the reins via rings on the rein.
The snaffle rein should come into action before the Market Harborough allowing the Market Harborough to only be used when required.

How To Use

The Market Harborogh will come into action off a very light contact so care must be taken not to have the rein contact too tight.
The horse must be ridden forwards or the horse will simply learn to fix their their heads and not use the rest of their bodies for balance and engagement.

Safety

Only use with a snaffle bit.
Only to be used by experienced riders.
Ensure that the snaffle rein comes into action before the Market Harborough.
Gradually introduce the Market Harborough by using a mild setting to begin with and correctly warming your horse up before use.
If the horse shows any sign of discomfort or panic then the rein should be released to immediately reduce the pressure that is being applied.
Try where possible to avoid using the Market Harborough all the time remembering that it is only a training aid.
Only to be used by experienced riders.
If you have not used a Market Harborough before then seek professional guidance.