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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
 
Location: MN | Does anyone have any advice for a horse that does this?
What bit do you ride your horse in that leans on it?
I was initially told to put a wire wrapped steel nose band on him so that when I ask him to "come to" he won't lean on it. Which I'm not opposed to doing being that I'm not heavy handed but I just wanted to see what everyone else does. This advice came from a well known trainer.
Any advice or what you have done would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.
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 Goat Giver
Posts: 23166
  
| One rein stops, mild bit. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | first id not give him anything to lean on..Id put a ring 3 piece snaffle and id work slow work with him and alot of half halts and transitions to get him to bring his weight back.. half halt release alot... even in loping.. if he grabs id let go and repeat.. they cant lean if there isnt anything to lean on.. |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | one rein stop the moment they lean or push on the bit...use a snaffle. This will soften and teach respect for bit pressure. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| What are you currently riding him in?
One rein stops, but also make sure you are riding him back to front, pushing his rear end up under him and making him keep his shoulder elevated and out of the way.
As soon as he feels heavy, stop and back. If at first you have to start with the one rein stop then do so. Back to shift his weight to his rear and then go on. You might only make it a few steps at first before he falls forward again.
I've come to prefer a bit that doesn't have a lot of lift and rather teach the horse to carry himself vs his mouth holding him up. Mouthpiece is really your choice, I know they say more breaks are harder to lean on but if he's leaning because he's heavy on his front end I don't think it really matters. My little horse was lugging around on his front end in a chain mouth (that I had on him to prevent him leaning on the bit). Now we are in a 2 piece mouth and doing great as long as we continue to work off our rear end. |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | As riders we are trainers too. You constantly need to be aware of how your horse is responding and have tools in mind to how to fix the unwanted response. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | A horse can't lean if you don't give them something to lean against. The fix is all in your hands. |
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 Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | Three 4 Luck - 2016-09-11 8:38 PM A horse can't lean if you don't give them something to lean against. The fix is all in your hands.
I don't necessarily agree with this. I have a mare that works nice at the house. Mostly light in the face unless she gets excited (and yes I make her back off the bit in this case). However, when we get to shows I can not release pressure on the bit. I went to a show yesterday and during exhibition I literally had a death grip on the reins because had I given her any release she would have taken off. The mare is very business like and has a hard time understanding why we need to go slow around barrels. It doesn't matter how much I work her on giving to the bit, breaking at the poll, bending, blah blah blah. She becomes a different animal in the arena. I'm sure people think I'm heavy handed if they see me ride her. I've tried different bits, head setters, you name it. I've just come to terms with the fact that she is hot headed and requires me to keep a hold of her.
To the OP, obviously your case may not be the same as mine. Some horses are not hot headed and still lean on the bit. I would go back to basics for a little while. Work on teaching the horse release. Horses don't want us to be pulling on their mouths. Some just need to be reminded that there is another way. I've never had much success with one rein stops. I have seen the most improvement out of my mare by placing a port bit in the mouth at home and getting her to respect it. It's a very direct pressure that's uncomfortable and she does not lean on me when that is in her mouth. If I notice her getting extra pushy at shows she go back to that for a short time. I focus mostly on my body position and verbal cues and only use the bit when she doesn't respond to those - and it gets her attention. That way, when I go back to her normal bit she focuses a little more on those things rather than what is in her mouth.
Good luck! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Three 4 Luck - 2016-09-11 7:38 PM
A horse can't lean if you don't give them something to lean against. The fix is all in your hands.
I thought this way too.
After speaking with Dave Elliott, and Dutton bits, both say the same thing, after time horses will lean or brace against the o ring bridle, it doesn't matter how light you are.
To the Op
The Dave Elliott, Sue Smith Spur Up bits are awesome to get horses to back off and stay light. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| I would use a German martingale. |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | cheryl makofka - 2016-09-11 10:53 PM
Three 4 Luck - 2016-09-11 7:38 PM
A horse can't lean if you don't give them something to lean against. The fix is all in your hands.
I thought this way too.
After speaking with Dave Elliott, and Dutton bits, both say the same thing, after time horses will lean or brace against the o ring bridle, it doesn't matter how light you are.
To the Op
The Dave Elliott, Sue Smith Spur Up bits are awesome to get horses to back off and stay light.
Oh, I can't get the feel I want on most finished horses in an o ring, but still they can only lean if they have something to lean against. |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | Sure thing! Your horse will just keep getting stronger on the pushing into the bit. A more severe bit will only stop it for awhile. You need to teach your horse to respect the pressure if you like a responsive horse. The best way is through lateral bending like the one-rein stops if done properly. You may need to tune a horse up to it once in a while. The best thing to do is find someone to work with you on this. |
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 Queen Bee Cat Owner
Posts: 3629
Location: Way up North | I see you are in MN, I highly recommend going to the Kevin Vesey clinic at Arrowhead coming up this fall if you can. I am not sure if he has any sooner but he will really help get a horse soft the right way. He is a reined cowhorse trainer and he helps you get them actually broke and not just bandaid the problem. They are general horsemanship clinics so you don't have to worry that your horse isn't a cowhorse or anything. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| The only time my gelding gets to pushing and leaning is when something is sore, that's his indicator. Front or back, doesn't matter. If he's leaning, he's hurting and needs to go to the vet.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
| I teach them how to ride balanced so they don't lean. |
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Horse that leans on the bit