Chambon

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For other uses, see Chambon (disambiguation).

A chambon is a training device used on horses. It runs from the girth or the bottom of the surcingle, forks about half way, and continues to rings on the horse's head at the base of the ears. Running through those rings it follows the direction of the cheekpieces and attaches to the bit ring.

Chambons 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.

The chambon was originally intended for longeing and free schooling. However, some people now use it while riding.

[edit] Uses of the chambon

Chambons 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 longed 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.

[edit] Disadvantages of the chambon

If a horse is not longed properly, he may begin to go on his forehand. Chambons can also cause sore neck muscles. Incorrect use can therefore spoil a horse's gaits, which would then require weeks of retraining.