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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
  
| Let me start by saying that this horse is very much broke and has had her teeth checked and worked on recently.
My 4 year old fights the bit just about every time you put pressure in the left side of her mouth. Nose in the air until I have to stop and work it back down and get her breaking at the poll. She will give to the bit but I always have to work at it, it just doesn't come as natural to her as the right side does. Seems like its only the left side that we have trouble with. She runs to the left and our first barrel is always a struggle because when I ask her to turn her nose goes up in the air and its a constant battle. To the right she is a dream and will do whatever I ask. Hopefully all that makes sense.
What exercises or techniques can I do to have her effectively give and respect the bit and my hands to that side? |
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 Ms Bling Bling Sleeze Kitty
Posts: 20917
Location: LouLouVille, OK | What bit are you using?
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 Peecans
 
| threecanman - 2014-07-28 2:02 PM
Let me start by saying that this horse is very much broke and has had her teeth checked and worked on recently.
My 4 year old fights the bit just about every time you put pressure in the left side of her mouth. Nose in the air until I have to stop and work it back down and get her breaking at the poll. She will give to the bit but I always have to work at it, it just doesn't come as natural to her as the right side does. Seems like its only the left side that we have trouble with. She runs to the left and our first barrel is always a struggle because when I ask her to turn her nose goes up in the air and its a constant battle. To the right she is a dream and will do whatever I ask. Hopefully all that makes sense.
What exercises or techniques can I do to have her effectively give and respect the bit and my hands to that side?
My first thought with your explanation is your horse is out some where and locked up.
I think this because its only the one side and your horse does eventualy give, im guessing shes willing and trying but having to work through some pain.
Just my guess though hope you get some good advice :-) |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I would get her vet checked as if the nose is going in the air when turning, generally they are hurting in front leg opposite hind leg. |
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Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | You didn't say if she was doing good in the past, & just started being resistant. If thats the case, then I would suspect pain. but, barring any vet, dental, Chiro issues, if she has always been resistant to the left, then I wouldn't call her " broke". She needs to go back to basics. Just because she goes well to the right, doesn't mean that she knows how to respond to the left. Also, do not expect a good barrel turn until she is solid off the pattern. Good luck. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Are you sure its not pinching her.
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2014-07-28 5:20 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| I had her chiropractored in May and again in June; she was out all down her right side in several places. She hasn't always thrown her head, but I noticed it getting worse earlier in the year, that's when I had her teeth done and had the chiro check her.
She rides in either a smooth or twisted wire D ring snaffle. No pinching that I can see of.
This mare is wicked quick and can turn on a dime. She only gives me trouble when I ask for speed to the left, that's when the head goes up.
I guess it could be that she still doesn't trust turning to that side due to some sort of previous pain. I plan to have the chiro out again soon to go over her once more. |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24954
Location: WYOMING | Some horses just dont like the direct pull of an o ring. Dont be scared to try something with shanks which will give her a completely different feel. I like the shanked Mylers Level 1's with the comfort mouth. They are very comfy and non intimidating. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| geronabean - 2014-07-28 6:39 PM
Some horses just dont like the direct pull of an o ring. Dont be scared to try something with shanks which will give her a completely different feel. I like the shanked Mylers Level 1's with the comfort mouth. They are very comfy and non intimidating.
Thanks for the suggestion! I will look into that! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| threecanman - 2014-07-28 5:36 PM
I had her chiropractored in May and again in June; she was out all down her right side in several places. She hasn't always thrown her head, but I noticed it getting worse earlier in the year, that's when I had her teeth done and had the chiro check her.
She rides in either a smooth or twisted wire D ring snaffle. No pinching that I can see of.
This mare is wicked quick and can turn on a dime. She only gives me trouble when I ask for speed to the left, that's when the head goes up.
I guess it could be that she still doesn't trust turning to that side due to some sort of previous pain. I plan to have the chiro out again soon to go over her once more.
If she was out I would say she has been compensating for pain. I would get her vet checked.
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 Regular
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| Had a friend with a horse doing similar things she had him looked at up and down and chiro'd. Took him to a different well known chiro and it was a vertebrae in his neck they missed. I want to say it was rotated or something strange? He has ran 1D after that.
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