I don’t normally air my annoyances, but tonight I’m feeling incensed by seeing yet another 'new gadget', purporting to encourage the horse to improve its posture, whilst negating to highlight the potential pain the horse could endure whilst forced to comply to this 'ideal frame'.

How can tying the horse’s mouth to its tail EVER be acceptable and this is being promoted by a supposed centre of education and excellence. I know the studies, I’ve heard the veterinary advocation for gadgets many times, but in my opinion, there is never an acceptable situation to abuse a horse’s mouth and body by strapping their mouth and body into an instrument of force. As a civilised society I thought we’d moved on from middle-ages torture devices.

What is wrong with the horse world? Where has common sense gone? Force causes resistance, pain, mental anguish. These things in turn cause bracing patterns in horses which causes the horse to compromise its movement and can lead to lameness. The very opposite of what 'dressage' is supposed to create.

I wholeheartedly understand that training horses without gadgets takes knowledge, but the knowledge is out there, I’ve learnt it, I’ve walked it, I’ve taught it. Take the time to really learn about other ways to train your horse, methods that don’t rely on force - quick fixes tend to tie US up in knots.

The below quote and picture sum up the opposite mindset and one I am proud to support.