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 Veteran
Posts: 173
 
Location: Wyoming- where its always windy! | My mare who is 13, has absolutely no mouth, what so ever. Someone seriously did a number on her. I took her in on trade, not much info on her from the lady I got her from as she only had her a short time. She is a naturally hot horse, prances around, jigs when you try to walk, etc. Try to stop her and it's like pulling on a post. I will not be running her at all until she settles down. Is there any hope to get whoa put back into her? | |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
 
| First thing I would do is bit her up with a twisted o-ring (make sure her teeth are good). I am big big fan of hitting them up. It teaches them to pull on themselves and only they can give themselves relief. Doesn't make you the bad guy. | |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| chasincans85 - 2014-09-02 3:52 PM
My mare who is 13, has absolutely no mouth, what so ever. Someone seriously did a number on her. I took her in on trade, not much info on her from the lady I got her from as she only had her a short time. She is a naturally hot horse, prances around, jigs when you try to walk, etc. Try to stop her and it's like pulling on a post. I will not be running her at all until she settles down. Is there any hope to get whoa put back into her?
I'm not sure if this will work for her... but my gelding likes to ignore me sometimes. I did a lot of transitions with him walk, trot, walk, lope, trot, walk, trot, lope, etc. back.
If she locks her jaw up then give her pressure and release at any sign of give. Let her know its easy to give to the pressure. Although horses get a built up tolerance, I dont believe she completely feels nothing. Even if its just an irritance or annoyance, when you give and eliminate that she will enjoy it.
I also do long lining and work on the same transitions using the voice commands I use under saddle. Whoeever had her probably relied on hands instead of seat or other commands. | |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| What u need to do after show season. Go back to square one and bit the mare and go back to walking stoping backing to,lighten her up. I assume you are not riding her,with the same bit you are showing. Findmyou a reing/working cowhorse person that rides very softly and tale the horse and some lessons. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | How does she do with a hack? | |
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Veteran
Posts: 173
Location: Wyoming- where its always windy! | I was thinking about putting her back into a snaffle and just riding her off the pattern for awhile and see if she will soften. I haven't tried a hack but that sure could be an option! Any recommendations on a type of hack? | |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | stayceem - 2014-09-02 5:34 PM chasincans85 - 2014-09-02 3:52 PM My mare who is 13, has absolutely no mouth, what so ever. Someone seriously did a number on her. I took her in on trade, not much info on her from the lady I got her from as she only had her a short time. She is a naturally hot horse, prances around, jigs when you try to walk, etc. Try to stop her and it's like pulling on a post. I will not be running her at all until she settles down. Is there any hope to get whoa put back into her? I'm not sure if this will work for her... but my gelding likes to ignore me sometimes. I did a lot of transitions with him walk, trot, walk, lope, trot, walk, trot, lope, etc. back. If she locks her jaw up then give her pressure and release at any sign of give. Let her know its easy to give to the pressure. Although horses get a built up tolerance, I dont believe she completely feels nothing. Even if its just an irritance or annoyance, when you give and eliminate that she will enjoy it. I also do long lining and work on the same transitions using the voice commands I use under saddle. Whoeever had her probably relied on hands instead of seat or other commands.
I try to work on this with my mare. She was started later (first time when she was close to 5, the second time after I got her when she was 9), and I even had a trainer tell me she is naturally a little hard mouthed because of it. But I can ride her in a smooth snaffle, but occasionally she needs a reminder to get soft again. Just transitions...or like a friend of mine taught me, start at a stand still and just give her a little pressure with your pinky finger...when she gives, release, but don't release until then. Then do that at a walk, then a trot, and so on. So far it has been working for me.  | |
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Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | chasincans85 - 2014-09-02 9:18 PM
I was thinking about putting her back into a snaffle and just riding her off the pattern for awhile and see if she will soften. I haven't tried a hack but that sure could be an option! Any recommendations on a type of hack?
A beetle or a S hack would probably be my best bet besides a regular sidepull. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2135
Location: Somewhere else | Had one that was extremely hard mouth......took everything out of his mouth and put it on his nose and he did amazing. Never put a bit back in his mouth.... | |
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