I did it, I purchased a gadget. Actually, I purchased two. A De Gauge and a Neck Stretcher.

I actually used to have a Chambone, which is essentially a De Gauge without the running attachment. I used it on Frankie for a few weeks a long, long time ago. I didn’t like him in it because 1. he didn’t care and just braced against it and 2. he was too young and imbalanced to benefit from it. Then it was “borrowed”….forever.

Since I have been struggling so much with Frankie hollowing out, getting tense, and generally avoiding having to use himself “correctly”; I thought why not cheat.

Really it helps my riding too. When he gets tense and hollows out, I react by getting firmer and also getting tense which doesn’t help either one of us.

I put the De Gauge on him and had to fit it tight because he had already started evading it by tucking his neck and head in so he could still be upside down.

It was raining, so we went inside. Frankie was a little pissed he couldn’t stick his head straight up in the air. But, 70% of the time he was really using himself, 20% he was trying, 10% he braced against it and didn’t even care.

I only rode for a half hour. He was really trying and most of the time working muscles he tends not to use. I didn’t want to over do it. He was really good and part of me feels bad. His giraffe neck is so part of him and his personality. I feel like I’m punishing him. But dressage says we cannot accept the Frankazoid neck.

Good ride and I think I will continue to use the De Gauge and see how much it differs from the neck stretcher once I get that.