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boon
Posts: 3
| My daughter has a horse she is running barrels and poles on in junior rodeos and she is having an issue with the horse running wide on the barrels and end poles at times. Its not every time but when she does run wide she says the horse is pulling out of her hand. We are currently using a twisted wire bit (that's what we call it). Its not supper aggressive we don't think but we are wondering if we could maybe step it up somehow and get more response from her horse. We are looking at the Martha Josey Million dollar bit but Ive read where this may be too harsh. Anybody have any other bits to suggest? Weve only had this horse since May and shes working out great and super fast but a little more response in her turns would be great. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
  
| Is the bit you are using now the same bit the person you bought her from was using? This may not be a hardware issue but an experience issue. Before switching bits I would suggest doing a lot of slow and most importantly CORRECT work on the pattern as well as drills. There are a lot of different and extremely helpful drills that can be utilized to get a horse back in your hand and responsive. Also, if there is a respected trainer in your area or even someone with a lot of knowledge try to get her some lessons. Sometimes we as jockeys make subtle mistakes in our riding that can contribute greatly to the performance of our horses. If you would like you could even post videos here but you better have a thick skin to do so. You will get some great advice and some not so good advice!
I would have to agree that a the Million Dollar Bit is probably to much. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Can you talk with the previous owner and see what daily slow work they were doing? Or, if you can go ride at their house, they might be able to give you some pointers. For example, if, in their daily riding, they stop and back a lot or end their circles with a one hand stop... the horse can slowly start to lose some of that muscle memory if it's no longer incorporated in their every day riding. |
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boon
Posts: 3
| Thanks for the input. Yes we showed our bit to the previous owner when we picked the horse up and its the same he said. we lope patterns and pasture ride and walk/lope the poles. We have had some help from other racers but at the last rodeo it was suggested a change in the bit or loosen or remove her tiedown may be an option. We are taking this horse slow and not pushing her much. My daughter was taught to one handed ride and switch hands on an earlier horse by the late Ann Lewis' father. We got this new horse and got some help from a barrel racer that's on a college rodeo team and she switched us to a 2 handed technique. The moral of my story is we are trying new things, but we are still open to suggestions to consider and that's why I posted on here. we are always looking to improve not only the horse and tack, but the rider as well.The bit is just an option and I appreciate you guys input on that. That's why I posted on here.:-). Keep em' coming. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Last vet check
Since the horse is doing it in turns, I would suspect hocks are sore |
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boon
Posts: 3
| I have never had to doctor sore hocks before but I have maintained a horse with a sore shoulder with glucosomen ( I think that's spelled right ). I'm assuming I'd have to wrap this horses hocks? With some sort of DMSO concoction? This horse is a very hot horse that prances when she is aware that she is about to run. This horse also sweats more than any other horse I've ever owned. I have just been under the impression that she was so high strung and eager to go run that we just need to get her focus back and redirect any wasted energy to control her as best we can. |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | I would find a smooth mouth bit and work her in that and save the other bit for competition. Glucosamine needs its partner Chondrotin before it is fully utilized. Absorbine never gets old as leg brace and body wash. switch it up with a poultice. |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | What age is your daughter? I've usually "over-bitted" some kids horses, because lets face it - they are not as strong as an adult.
Maybe try a Mike Beers chain bit. That was one of my favs. Another was a Rutledge Roper (and yes, it looks severe but it is not).
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 Lived to tell about it and will never do it again
Posts: 5408
| It is possible that she might be coming out wide from not having enough pocket coming in. |
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Expert
Posts: 1586
Location: west of East Texas | My old faithful mare started doing this with my daughter and we tried several things, sometimes they worked, sometimes they didn't. I started thinking it was because the horse was older and just couldn't turn as hard. Then I started working and running her and realized most of it was caused by not pushing her far enough into the turn. This horse knows her stuff (she's 25). Kiddo was letting her gear down too soon and they were starting the turn too soon so the horse wasn't able to make the snappy barrel. This last six months have shown me it's the rider and the position causing our problem. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1343
Location: Oklahoma | Also, holding the inside rein too long in a turn can cause a horse to do this. I have a problem with doing this, myself, coming out of a turn. |
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