Why do you use a chambon?
We use a chambon mainly in the beginning when we first start teaching a horse to lunge. It encourages horses that have been moving with a hollow back to stretch their frame down and out. Horses with undeveloped toplines need to lower the poll down and forward to allow the back to begin to lift and give room for the hind legs to swing deeper under the body.
A horse must first learn to move forward with impulsion but many horses aren’t ready for side reins (they haven’t developed the correct contact with the bit) and a horse will never be able to reach under his body with his hind legs if his back is hollow. We will also sometimes have riders ride with the chambon who haven’t developed enough themselves as riders to ask the horse stretch. This works in a twofold system; the horse continues to work on his frame, development and way of going while the rider concentrates on his balance, use of the aids etc.
6 responses to “Why do you use a chambon?”
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Keith says: I am bringing my Mare back into work after a 2 year lay off due to a check ligament injury sustained in the field…..and then another year off work whilst she had a foal which is now weaned from her. She is 16 now and behaves like a 5 year old even now! I am walking and trotting her on hacks in strait lines as advised by the Chiropractor. We are doing lots of hills, both up and down in walk and trot in strait lines …no school lounging or circles .My problem, as has always been with her, is that she like to up the speed….DRAMATICALLY!!!…..and to achieve this she hollows and throws her head up to take control, which if I allowed it to, escalates into an extended power trot, then a canter, then a full on out of control gallop…even going AWAY from home!! In the past in a school environment she works well and is used to the Chambon. However I find in the fields its a VERY different story! I am thinking that riding her in the Chambon in the fields will encourage her to to keep her neck down and nose out which will enable her to remain relaxed as well as using her back. The impulsion from the back is never lacking in these sorts of environments! My question is…. do you think this is a good strategy to “rebuild” her strength as well as her mind? Looking forward to your advise as this is something I have battled with her for the 11 years I have owned her! Interestingly her 5 year old son is exactly the same, but I have nipped this behaviour in the bud and NOT allowed it to become a learnt behaviour which his mother has learnt I believe from before I owned her, but I still need to rectify it….so far without success, so any advise from your would be greatly appreciated.
Keith says: Just re ready my post about my Mare! I discovered the
Effect d’ Ensemble since then. Problem is now solved…..Merci M. Baucher!!!!
Ryan says: Hi have been following your chambon posts as am lunging my horse in it. We have developed a lovely walk with stretch down with it but find he is not really stretching down in the trot, we have moments were he starts to stretch down at the trot but it takes a while. Would you say this is normal to develop the stretch at the walk and take a while to get it at the trot? Thankyou!
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Kali says:
It sounds like you are on the right track but without seeing how you are lunging and how the horse is responding it is difficult to give the proper advice. There can be reasons the horse is not responding well in the trot and it may be a very easy solution. I would suggest you send in a video through our critique service so I can see where the issue is and what you would need to change.
Renee says: Wondering if you can recommend a Brand/Model of Chambon ? There are so many out there with varying reviews? Thanks!
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Don’t really have a brand that I would recommend off the top of my head most of them are about the same. But do not get one that is also a combination De Gogue, As the Rope parts are too long.
I am bringing my Mare back into work after a 2 year lay off due to a check ligament injury sustained in the field…..and then another year off work whilst she had a foal which is now weaned from her. She is 16 now and behaves like a 5 year old even now! I am walking and trotting her on hacks in strait lines as advised by the Chiropractor. We are doing lots of hills, both up and down in walk and trot in strait lines …no school lounging or circles .My problem, as has always been with her, is that she like to up the speed….DRAMATICALLY!!!…..and to achieve this she hollows and throws her head up to take control, which if I allowed it to, escalates into an extended power trot, then a canter, then a full on out of control gallop…even going AWAY from home!! In the past in a school environment she works well and is used to the Chambon. However I find in the fields its a VERY different story! I am thinking that riding her in the Chambon in the fields will encourage her to to keep her neck down and nose out which will enable her to remain relaxed as well as using her back. The impulsion from the back is never lacking in these sorts of environments! My question is…. do you think this is a good strategy to “rebuild” her strength as well as her mind? Looking forward to your advise as this is something I have battled with her for the 11 years I have owned her! Interestingly her 5 year old son is exactly the same, but I have nipped this behaviour in the bud and NOT allowed it to become a learnt behaviour which his mother has learnt I believe from before I owned her, but I still need to rectify it….so far without success, so any advise from your would be greatly appreciated.
Just re ready my post about my Mare! I discovered the
Effect d’ Ensemble since then. Problem is now solved…..Merci M. Baucher!!!!
Hi have been following your chambon posts as am lunging my horse in it. We have developed a lovely walk with stretch down with it but find he is not really stretching down in the trot, we have moments were he starts to stretch down at the trot but it takes a while. Would you say this is normal to develop the stretch at the walk and take a while to get it at the trot? Thankyou!
It sounds like you are on the right track but without seeing how you are lunging and how the horse is responding it is difficult to give the proper advice. There can be reasons the horse is not responding well in the trot and it may be a very easy solution. I would suggest you send in a video through our critique service so I can see where the issue is and what you would need to change.
Wondering if you can recommend a Brand/Model of Chambon ? There are so many out there with varying reviews? Thanks!
Don’t really have a brand that I would recommend off the top of my head most of them are about the same. But do not get one that is also a combination De Gogue, As the Rope parts are too long.