Game Changer Tiedown Headsetter #CST0
Price range: $242.00 through $392.00
Description: The Game Changer Tiedown Headsetter #CST0 cheek pieces are made of 3/4 inch harness leather with beveled stainless steel adjustment buckles. The bit ends have optional (see dropdown) stainless steel snaps for bit attachment. The other ends of each cheek piece have a 1 1/4 inch stainless steel ring where 2 pieces of twisted nylon rope are attached on each side. One piece of rope goes over the poll and the other in front of the ears. The Game Changer’s noseband is also made of twisted nylon rope.
The tie down strap is made of 1 inch harness leather. It has a stainless steel snap for attachment to the cinch. It also has a 3/4 inch stainless steel ring at the top. A single piece of hard lay rope connects from the rings at the top of each cheek piece through the rings on each side of the back of the noseband to the ring on the top of tiedown strap. The hard lay rope will last for years and holds it’s shape well.
How it works: The Game Changer is a combination tiedown and headsetter made into one very useful piece of tack that your horse will understand and respond to. When adjusted correctly, it applies pressure to your horse’s head and nose only when your horse hollows out its back and raises its head. When your horse gets out of position the tie down strap causes pressure to be applied to its nose, poll and forehead. At the moment your horse gives to the pressure, the tie down strap instantly becomes loose again and the pressure is released.
Besides the adjustment holes in the cheek pieces there is only one simple adjustment on the Game Changer: the adjustment holes in the tiedown strap. The tie down strap should always be adjusted so the headsetter doesn’t apply pressure on your horse’s head unless its gets out of position. The majority of horses ridden in the Game Changer respond to it quickly and easily. It can give your horse more confidence in it’s maneuvers and really make a difference in your horse’s ability to perform successfully.
The Game Changer was not designed as a training tool to teach collection. Martingales are useful aids for that.
Choices: The Game Changer can be used with any bit and reins. We offer it alone or with the following best-selling snaffle bit choices. Please select your preference in the dropdowns.
Bits: Choice of bits include the Ring Snaffle Bit #17-9 with a 3/8th inch 2-piece mouthpiece or the Ring Snaffle Bit #17-42 with a 3/16th inch twisted wire mouthpiece. If you prefer a different bit, you can order this with almost any of the bits we make by calling 832-529-9226.
When riding with the Game Changer do not let your horse drop its head to the ground because it can step through the rope or on the tiedown and cause an accident. When you dismount, immediately unsnap the tiedown from the cinch.
The Game Changer should be adjusted loosely when initially used on your horse. Be sure to let your horse know the Game Changer is attached by pulling the reins back and to both sides from the ground. Assistance from a professional is necessary to learn safe use of any headsetter or tiedown, including the Game Changer. If you’re not familiar with the proper use of the Game Changer, get the help of a professional trainer who is experienced with the use of headsetters.
Shown on the horse in addition to the Game Changer is the Snaffle with 3/8th inch 2 piece mouthpiece #17-9, the Latigo on Latigo 5/8″ Reins, Medium Weight#BLL1 and the Single Buckle Leather Curb #CU31.
Related products
-
Kick Chain #KC1
$67.00Description: The Kick Chain #KC1 is made of doubled and stitched 1 3/4 inch burgundy latigo. It has a leather cuff that fastens to a rectangle to secure it to the fetlock. The rectangle, dee and 12 inch chain are all smooth stainless steel. This kick chain is made to fit the front or back fetlock of any size horse.
How it works: This is an ideal aid for horses that want to kick or paw while in the stall or trailer, or paw while tied up. It can be fastened to either a front or hind fetlock. Most horses will stop pawing or kicking after a short time with the kick chain but a small percentage will need to wear it indefinitely. Generally, one kick chain can be used for a session and then transferred to the other front or back fetlock for a session and the problem will be solved. Occasionally a horse that has been pawing or kicking for a long time will need to wear a kick chain on both legs at the same time.
This is sold as a single kick chain. If you need more than 1 please order additional kick chains in the ”quantity” box.
This is not a tool to be used for teaching horses to not kick at people.
Shown on a horse that is 15.1 hands and 1100 pounds.
-
German Martingale Complete #CM1A
$527.00How it works: The key to any German Martingale is the release of pressure on the bit. The Y-cord on my German Martingale is made with a very tightly braided cord with a hard finish. This cord runs from the cinch, through the rings of the bit and connects to the reins at the Y cord rein knot (please see diagram). This cord releases immediately, with no drag, when you release finger-tip pressure on the reins. The horse learns to respond to pressure on the bit from this quick and rewarding release.
The neck strap on my German Martingale is long to give the correct angle from the cinch to the bit. This angle is very important in the training process because it encourages a horse to lower its neck from the withers before flexing at the poll. You will not find this angle on other German Martingales. The safety hobble on the neck strap goes through the gullet and over the horn to prevent the neck strap from sliding forward and getting caught behind the ears. Without the safety hobble pressure from the martingale sliding forward may cause a horse to rear up and possibly fall over backwards.
There is only one simple adjustment on my German Martingale; the adjustment knot that leads to the cinch snap. This can be adjusted so this Martingale fits any size horse correctly. This is a great tool to use on any age horse. It helps relax and collect a horse and helps eliminate dropped shoulders in preparation for advanced maneuvers.
A German Martingale needs to be used correctly and with caution. Always check a horse from the ground so they know the German Martingale is there before you get on. Do not let the horse drop its head to the ground because he can step through the martingale rein and cause an accident. When you dismount, immediately unsnap the martingale from the cinch.
Description: The complete German Martingale includes the #HS24 3/4″ Browband Headstall, your choice of the #17-9 Heavy Ring Snaffle with 3/8th inch 2 piece mouthpiece, the #17-42 Heavy Ring Snaffle with 3/16th inch twisted wire mouthpiece or the #18 Egg Butt Snaffle and your choice of 3 harness leather reins. The choice of reins includes: the #ASR6 DM Harness Leather Split Reins which are 6 1/2 to 7 feet and work well on the smaller horse, the #ASR3 XX Harness Leather Split Reins which are 7 to 7 1/2 feet and are a good length for the average horse of 14.2 to 16 hands, and the #ASR2 XXX Harness Leather Split Reins are 7 1/2 to 8 feet and work well on horses 16 hands and over.
Also shown on the horse is the #CA1 3/16th” Rope Cavesson with Rawhide Braided Nose. This cavesson is sold separately and not included in the price of the German Martingale.
Assistance from a professional is necessary to learn safe use of a German Martingale. If you’re not familiar with the proper use of a German Martingale, get the help of a professional trainer who is experienced with its use.
-
Nylon Rope Cavesson w/Rawhide Braided Nose #CA1
$155.00Description: The noseband on this 3/16″ Nylon Rope Cavesson w/Rawhide Braided Nose #CA1 is made of round 3/16 inch rope. The nose button and heel knot are covered in hand braided rawhide. The headstall is made of 1/2 inch burgundy latigo leather with a leather loop keeper. The buckle is beveled stainless steel. The headstall leather just below the buckle is handsewn together to prevent the buckle from slipping when the headstall is adjusted. There are hand braided rawhide ring knots on the noseband to hold the headstall in place.
This cavesson comes in small (19 in.), medium (21 in.), large (23 in.) and extra large (25 in.) (see dropdown). In general a small will fit a horse under 14.2 hands and 900 lbs., a medium will fit a horse between 14.2 and 15 hands, a large will fit most horses between 15.1 and 16 hands and the extra large is for those over 16 hands.
Size Measurement: An easy way to be certain to get the correct cavesson size is to wrap a leadrope around the nose where the cavesson will lay, mark the leadrope with a magic marker, straighten it and then measure the leadrope. When measuring, be sure to wrap the leadrope loosely enough that the horse will have enough room between his nose and the cavesson to be comfortable and to be able to hold the bit. A good rule of thumb is 2 fingers width between the nose and cavesson (which is the diameter of most leadropes) if the horse is trained to a cavesson.
This is our favorite for a horse that has advanced beyond the leather and string cavessons. It gives the strongest signal of any of our cavessons. It looks good on a horse.
For more information on cavesson fit and use visit: There’s More to a Cavesson than Meets the Eye: How and Why to Use Cavessons
-
No Buckle Hobble with Leather Center #H3L
$105.00Description: This No Buckle Hobble with Leather Center #H3L is made of 1 3/4 inch doubled and stitched latigo leather. It has a 3 inch long latigo leather link in the center to separate your horse’s legs. The rings and squares are made of smooth stainless steel. This hobble has an easy “on/off” latch that makes it so quick and simple to take on and off your horse’s fetlocks. This should only be used on horses that are completely hobble broke.
Visit “Hobble Along” to read my Tack Talk article on the safe and proper use of hobbles.
Only for use on horses that are hobble broke.
-
German Martingale with Split Reins #CM1C
$202.00Description: The German Martingale with Split Reins #CM1C is the same as the German Martingale Complete #CM1A but without headstall or bit. The martingale is made of 1/4 inch tan nylon cord and comes with your choice of 3 harness leather reins: #ASR6 DM Harness Leather Split Reins are 6 1/2 to 7 feet long and work well on smaller horses, the #ASR3 XX Harness Leather Split Reins are 7 to 7 1/2 feet long and a good choice for horses 14.2 to 16 hands and the #ASR2 XXX Harness Leather Split Reins are 7 1/2 to 8 feet long and work well for horses 16 hands and over. See dropdown to order.
How it Works: The key to the German martingale is the long neck strap giving a good line from the bit to the cinch. This allows the neck to lower from the withers before flexing at the poll. The 1/8 inch solid braid cord that runs through the bit to the reins has a high quality hard finish so slides very easily allowing a quick release. The release is more important than the pull but you have to pull to get the release. A horse learns from the release. The safety hobble strap attached to the neck strap goes through the gullet of the saddle and over the horn to prevent the neck strap from sliding to the ears.
Assistance from a professional is necessary to learn safe use of a German martingale.
The martingale is a very useful tool to aid a horse in learning proper head position as he learns collection. If adjusted correctly a martingale does not force the head to stay in any given position but allows the horse a guide for head placement through automatic release of pressure on the reins when correct head placement is achieved. This can make it easier for a horse to reach a more collected frame over time by allowing assistance with head position as the rider teaches the horse to drive from behind.
The labeled diagram shows the Complete German Martingale #CM1A. This German Martingale with Split Reins #CM1C is the same but comes without headstall and bit.
