The Art of Natural Dressage

I have a narrow string I use as a cordeo (progress string, made of yacht rope), is this perfectly adequate or would a slightly stiffer one be of benefit? There is a nice lariat one on the TTEAM website. Opinions please!

(When I say stiff, it's because I wonder if a stiff one would be easier to hold completely off the neck when I do not need it; not so that I could press her harder with it!)

I prefer leather, but I guess you just have to try out various sorts to find out what you and your horse likes best

I like the TTEAM one as well, I have one too!

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www.equusuniversalis.com

I think a progress string would work nicely, and I wouldn't worry too much about it being thin, because the yacht rope is pretty soft and if you use only the lightest cues on it it shouldn't be a problem. I do see your point, though, about wanting something slightly stiffer -- I'd probably agree.

Right now I'm converting some western 4-plait round braided reins into a cordeo, so we'll see how that works. I've been using a 6' dog leash up until now, however.

I'm not sure how big your horse is, but I have found that a 6' cordeo is not long enough for riding, but then, I have a big TB.

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"Do you give the horse his strength?"
~Job 39:19a

www.cambriahorsemanship.com

I know one person that uses the stiff tteam neck rope, but most people I know prefer a softer material. I use (or re-use, really) old reins and make them into a cordeo. I love the kind Josepha sells...one day I will order one (along with a pretty cavesson!).

But yacht rope works very well! If you tie in a small ring, you also have something you can attach a long line to.

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"Ride reverently, as if each step is the axis on which the earth revolves"

Thanks. My horse is a short arabian so the 6' string is long enough.

I'll experiment with different materials probably at some point!

I use a soft lead line (one that has the three ropes plaited) and then use the clip to make it the right size by clipping it on to one of the strands. I then just push the excess line through one of the ropes. The clip is not very heavy but just enough to keep the weight at the bottom. This works really well for me and if I need to use a line I can take it off and attach it to the halter. I like my horse to be free as much as possible but if I am walking on others property I will leave the halter on and put the line as a cordeo.

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Annette O'Sullivan

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. - John Lennon

From TTeam I use the Balance Rein, like this. It's rolled (not flat) with a synthetic strap with buckle. A student on a horse I had at the time posed for me:

It can be found here
http://www.ttouch.com/shop/index.php?productID=213

They do sell the braided one, but some of her books and a video (I think it's one of the TTeam ones) shows how to loop and chain it so you can make your own:
http://www.ttouch.com/shop/index.php?productID=234

Could someone tell me where the word cordeo comes from and it's history? Or point me to another thread that goes into that? Thank you!

~ Becky

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~ Becky ~ http://horseideology.wordpress.com/

Josepha,

Where is your shop? Maybe I misunderstood but I thought I read that you sold a leather cordeo. I looked in the AND shop but didn't see any there.

Thanks,
Pam

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Pam, Shelby and Linus

www.equihof.be

tho i am not Josepha but a neighbur

Thank you! I found them and they are beautiful. Cant wait to get one!

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Pam, Shelby and Linus

I came across this by accident yesterday...
http://shop.imagine-discoverthemagic.com//index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=181&zenid=c1c8e2f4256acce7c62f853e37b61b7b

I don't know anything else then what is listed on the shop page. Thought I'd post it for reference.

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~ Becky ~ http://horseideology.wordpress.com/

Hey Pandora, thank you!
That link of yours was very useful.
Actually I placed an order with them about the DVD's and they asked how I found out about them.
So I referred them to this post.

I am pretty new to this forum
I have had 3 horses for 7yrs now, to which I added a 2yr old mare last week.
I keep them as natural as possible and have been busy with natural horsemanship over the years (on the ground mainly).
Thus, riding is not the main issue and I have not yet started with a cordeo.
I bought a Tteam one many years ago, in a sort of harder white plastic.
But I have not really used it yet.

Maybe with the help of the dvd's things might change...

Oh I'd be intersted in what you think of their videos and if you find them informative or just a lot of nice eye candy.

Some people are using the cordeo from the ground; I have not tried that yet but may to help translate some signals from the ground to the saddle for my 2.5 year old filly.

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~ Becky ~ http://horseideology.wordpress.com/

The dvd's are on their way, I will certainly make a post about them when I have seen them.

Good luck with your filly, mine is integrating perfectly in her little herd.
But then she still knew my boys from last year when they have been together at a farm for 5 months until we could move to our own prairie.

Makes me very happy to see how the 3 boys are feeling more lively again.
The energy is so much more balanced now.
I hope this does not change when she will be on heat...
I have never had a mare myself before, so it is all very exciting!

Aren't we happy that we may have such beautiful creatures in our Arc !