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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
 
Location: My own little world :) | I have this gelding that I have been working with and he is just kind of hanging on me a bit with a smooth snaffle. He has always been a little heavy since he was started as a 2 year old...I don't know if heavy is the right term but he has always been a little lazy and he will just kind of hang on you so I'm wondering if I should move him into a different bit? I was thinking about moving into a square mouthpiece snaffle or a twisted wire for a little while and see how we do with that. Does that sound like a good idea or should I try something different? Thanks! Also, are there any good drills to try to just get them a little backed off the bit and more responsive? |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
 
| personally I would go to a "harsher" mouthpiece and try to work on getting his as soft as possible and gradually move to softer and softer mouths. Obviously some horses are just harder mouthed than others but I'd like to think you wouldn't have to keep him in a square or small twist. My kiddos ride in a medium twist and if they get tough I put the small twist in for a few rides until the soften back up again. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
Location: My own little world :) | RoaniePonie11 - 2014-03-25 9:50 PM
personally I would go to a "harsher" mouthpiece and try to work on getting his as soft as possible and gradually move to softer and softer mouths. Obviously some horses are just harder mouthed than others but I'd like to think you wouldn't have to keep him in a square or small twist. My kiddos ride in a medium twist and if they get tough I put the small twist in for a few rides until the soften back up again.
So harsher than a square or a twist? I was just planning on riding in something like that for few days to a week and then hopefully going back to the smooth mouthpiece. Is that what you are saying to do? All I have is a square and a medium twisted wire...you think a small would be better? Thanks :) |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| Zanadoo88 - 2014-03-25 9:58 PM
RoaniePonie11 - 2014-03-25 9:50 PM
personally I would go to a "harsher" mouthpiece and try to work on getting his as soft as possible and gradually move to softer and softer mouths. Obviously some horses are just harder mouthed than others but I'd like to think you wouldn't have to keep him in a square or small twist. My kiddos ride in a medium twist and if they get tough I put the small twist in for a few rides until the soften back up again.
So harsher than a square or a twist? I was just planning on riding in something like that for few days to a week and then hopefully going back to the smooth mouthpiece. Is that what you are saying to do? All I have is a square and a medium twisted wire...you think a small would be better? Thanks : )
lol sorry I must have been thinking faster than I was typing. I meant put the square on him for a bit and sharpen him up a little and try to work your way back to a lighter mouthpiece like your smooth.
some horses are just made for certain bits. I have a 3yo that does great in a med twist o ring and another that I HAVE to ride in a hack.... they are just different :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
Location: My own little world :) | RoaniePonie11 - 2014-03-25 10:14 PM
Zanadoo88 - 2014-03-25 9:58 PM
RoaniePonie11 - 2014-03-25 9:50 PM
personally I would go to a "harsher" mouthpiece and try to work on getting his as soft as possible and gradually move to softer and softer mouths. Obviously some horses are just harder mouthed than others but I'd like to think you wouldn't have to keep him in a square or small twist. My kiddos ride in a medium twist and if they get tough I put the small twist in for a few rides until the soften back up again.
So harsher than a square or a twist? I was just planning on riding in something like that for few days to a week and then hopefully going back to the smooth mouthpiece. Is that what you are saying to do? All I have is a square and a medium twisted wire...you think a small would be better? Thanks : )
lol sorry I must have been thinking faster than I was typing. I meant put the square on him for a bit and sharpen him up a little and try to work your way back to a lighter mouthpiece like your smooth.
some horses are just made for certain bits. I have a 3yo that does great in a med twist o ring and another that I HAVE to ride in a hack.... they are just different : )
Awesome! So we are on the right track! Do you think a german martingale or any martingale for that matter is a good idea or no? |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| Is the horse trained?
On my young ones I don't like to bit up or use training aids as this is just a bandaid, once the bandaid wears out then most people have to increase in severity of bits and tack.
I would be spending time making the horse give his head, once he gave to me, I would release. I do this till they give right away, then I start increasing the length by a second.
I would also check the horses teeth to make sure there are no hooks |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
| I ride my 3 year old in a square and he loves it... he wont hardly ride in anything else.. I throw draw lines on him sometimes as a refresher or a german martingale but he generally is pretty respectful of the square bit |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
Location: My own little world :) | cheryl makofka - 2014-03-26 9:17 AM
Is the horse trained?
On my young ones I don't like to bit up or use training aids as this is just a bandaid, once the bandaid wears out then most people have to increase in severity of bits and tack.
I would be spending time making the horse give his head, once he gave to me, I would release. I do this till they give right away, then I start increasing the length by a second.
I would also check the horses teeth to make sure there are no hooks
Yes he's trained. I flex him everyday and try to do a lot of slow work away from the barrels. I also have really been trying to work on my release so the moment I feel like he gave me what I'm asking for a release and reward him. He still just seems like he hangs on me a little. The best way to describe him is he's just kind of lazy.
I had his teeth done last fall but maybe i need to get him checked again. Thanks :) |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1053
Location: Arizona | cheryl makofka - 2014-03-26 7:17 AM
Is the horse trained?
On my young ones I don't like to bit up or use training aids as this is just a bandaid, once the bandaid wears out then most people have to increase in severity of bits and tack.
I would be spending time making the horse give his head, once he gave to me, I would release. I do this till they give right away, then I start increasing the length by a second.
I would also check the horses teeth to make sure there are no hooks
I agree with the above. Maybe bump up to a twisted wire snaffle but I wouldn't go up too much. I would work on counter arcing, pressure and release, asking for a softer jaw, driving him up in to the bridle from the hind end, perhaps bitting him back in his stall, etc. It sounds more like a willingness to give to pressure issue than a bit issue to me. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
Location: My own little world :) | TNcowgirl88 - 2014-03-26 9:30 AM
I ride my 3 year old in a square and he loves it... he wont hardly ride in anything else.. I throw draw lines on him sometimes as a refresher or a german martingale but he generally is pretty respectful of the square bit
I think I will try the square tonight. I hope my gelding works with it like yours! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| azleigh - 2014-03-26 11:46 AM cheryl makofka - 2014-03-26 7:17 AM Is the horse trained? On my young ones I don't like to bit up or use training aids as this is just a bandaid, once the bandaid wears out then most people have to increase in severity of bits and tack. I would be spending time making the horse give his head, once he gave to me, I would release. I do this till they give right away, then I start increasing the length by a second. I would also check the horses teeth to make sure there are no hooks I agree with the above. Maybe bump up to a twisted wire snaffle but I wouldn't go up too much. I would work on counter arcing, pressure and release, asking for a softer jaw, driving him up in to the bridle from the hind end, perhaps bitting him back in his stall, etc. It sounds more like a willingness to give to pressure issue than a bit issue to me.
You might focus on how your riding him. Make sure when he's pulling on you your not kicking your legs out in front of you and trying to pull him to you. when he starts hanging use your seat, so when he pulls he pulls your seat into his back and your arms aren't having to do the work. Sqeeze with your legs and push him into the bit, maybe even drop him and then pick him back up. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
Location: My own little world :) | azleigh - 2014-03-26 11:46 AM
cheryl makofka - 2014-03-26 7:17 AM
Is the horse trained?
On my young ones I don't like to bit up or use training aids as this is just a bandaid, once the bandaid wears out then most people have to increase in severity of bits and tack.
I would be spending time making the horse give his head, once he gave to me, I would release. I do this till they give right away, then I start increasing the length by a second.
I would also check the horses teeth to make sure there are no hooks
I agree with the above. Maybe bump up to a twisted wire snaffle but I wouldn't go up too much. I would work on counter arcing, pressure and release, asking for a softer jaw, driving him up in to the bridle from the hind end, perhaps bitting him back in his stall, etc. It sounds more like a willingness to give to pressure issue than a bit issue to me.
Yes that is it exactly! He doesn't really want to give. I have never really utilized bits much. I pretty much have stayed in a smooth mouth snaffle and it works well for me but I wasn't sure if that was the best idea or not. When I use training aids such as martingales I use them as exactly that...training aids to be used for a small amount of time...not forever. |
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Veteran
Posts: 185
| Just going to put this out there it really worked for a gelding I leased - a waterford snaffle. He was very forward but would leaned/pull on your hands to support himself or something. Very on the forehand. Not saying a bit is a magical fix for training but with its help I was able to get the horse to carry himself much better. It is not a solid piece so he had nothing to hold on to/lean on and was forced to carry himself. He was just a much better horse with it. I had intended to swtich back to a regular snaffle once he was better but he just went so well in it I never did. Got him working off his hind nicely. Lovely moving horse really - part morgan.
Here is the bit:
http://greenhawk.com/wdItemDesc.asp?strilhID=Web&strmdNumber=BIE001...
I should mention this horse was 16-17 and was spoiled rotten and let get away with murder! So I was fighting years poor training. |
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Veteran
Posts: 185
| Oh I found this video really helpful. I know its trying to fix head tossing but
softening is universal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aCagVRL5W8 |
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