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Expert
Posts: 2685
   
| Hey y'all I posted the other day about my OTT QH and I have another quick question. This horse is stiffer and more resistant to the bit on the left. When he feels pressure on the left he wants to stick his nose up and brace. Not every time, but most of the time. I have been just applying gentle, constant pressure until he gives and I give. It has helped a lot but I just wanted to see if there was something else I should do? I have not switched bits yet (using twisted snaffle) but I am thinking I'll try a dog bone. I feel like maybe the snaffle action is scaring him?
I'll add he was on the track until last spring and then rode in a stock saddle and turned out. He has had a year off. Had him vet checked- he is sound and his teeth are good. That's not to say he doesn't need a chiro or acupuncture though.
I just feel like maybe I'm too early in riding him and "re-breaking" him to run to the "he hurts" band wagon as I have only rode him 4 times.
Thanks all
Edited by RoaniePonie11 2015-01-15 9:09 PM
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| Most horses will vet check sound if they have had time off and just pulled out of the pasture. Problems start showing up after the horse has been rode a little. This might be what you are seeing.
The horse may also need chiropractor work, ribs, tmj
When was the last time dental was done?
As of course ulcers as it takes only a few days to develop |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| cheryl makofka - 2015-01-15 9:25 PM
Most horses will vet check sound if they have had time off and just pulled out of the pasture. Problems start showing up after the horse has been rode a little. This might be what you are seeing.
The horse may also need chiropractor work, ribs, tmj
When was the last time dental was done?
As of course ulcers as it takes only a few days to develop
dental is almost a year old. He is 6yo.
I had also considered the ulcer deal since he kind of a sensitive horse. I have some gastrogard I can give him due to my high maintenance mare I keep some on hand 0.o
I know every horse has one side that is better than the other, so I'm crossing my fingers that's what this is but.... with my luck lol |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | I would teach him to give to pressure with a rope halter on the ground then when he gets soft, I may even ride them in it. Lots of race riders and excercise riders will really haul on their mouth and they get away with it because most horses are ridden with rings (really short running martingale) all the time. The horse never gets a chance to get away from the pressure so they learn to get bracey and it is more common to the left.
A three piece or a chain mouth may help after he learns to get soft with the halter, some horses have a shallow palate and a two piece bit is very uncomfortable.
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| Barnmom - 2015-01-15 9:39 PM
I would teach him to give to pressure with a rope halter on the ground then when he gets soft, I may even ride them in it. Lots of race riders and excercise riders will really haul on their mouth and they get away with it because most horses are ridden with rings (really short running martingale) all the time. The horse never gets a chance to get away from the pressure so they learn to get bracey and it is more common to the left.
A three piece or a chain mouth may help after he learns to get soft with the halter, some horses have a shallow palate and a two piece bit is very uncomfortable.
Thank you.
I have been working on him getting soft to pressure and relaxing and realizing if he gives, we will give. I just thought about the chain mouth. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| I will probably get flamed for this. But on some colts with stiffness like that, i will braid there tail with a ring in it and gently tie to the bad side not short but where they have a slight bend i only do for about 20 minutes befor i ride. Then i do some release exersises, i i do start with release on there good side first and then do the bad side, then i ride and do a lot of release exercises when finished with riding. Once imget the side to side i just do pick up and release, just do tons and se how light you can be. |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | RoaniePonie11 - 2015-01-15 9:28 PM cheryl makofka - 2015-01-15 9:25 PM Most horses will vet check sound if they have had time off and just pulled out of the pasture. Problems start showing up after the horse has been rode a little. This might be what you are seeing. The horse may also need chiropractor work, ribs, tmj When was the last time dental was done? As of course ulcers as it takes only a few days to develop dental is almost a year old. He is 6yo. I had also considered the ulcer deal since he kind of a sensitive horse. I have some gastrogard I can give him due to my high maintenance mare I keep some on hand 0.o I know every horse has one side that is better than the other, so I'm crossing my fingers that's what this is but.... with my luck lol
If his teeth haven't been done for almost a year, I would def have an equine dentist look at him. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| daisycake123 - 2015-01-16 6:18 AM
I will probably get flamed for this. But on some colts with stiffness like that, i will braid there tail with a ring in it and gently tie to the bad side not short but where they have a slight bend i only do for about 20 minutes befor i ride. Then i do some release exersises, i i do start with release on there good side first and then do the bad side, then i ride and do a lot of release exercises when finished with riding. Once imget the side to side i just do pick up and release, just do tons and se how light you can be.
not flaming you! I do the same, with about every colt that I start. Time can very between 5minutes to 20 minutes. Make sure you do both sides, and don't tie it off so tight that it wont jerk free incase of a total blow up. some will tie around to the saddle but I don't care for it because some colts will hang on it, they won't want to hang on their tail. Be present the whole time and as soon as you see him give and relax untie! the bend shouldn't be extreme either, he needs to be able to bend enough to get release and still be comfortable. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Barnmom - 2015-01-15 9:39 PM I would teach him to give to pressure with a rope halter on the ground then when he gets soft, I may even ride them in it. Lots of race riders and excercise riders will really haul on their mouth and they get away with it because most horses are ridden with rings (really short running martingale) all the time. The horse never gets a chance to get away from the pressure so they learn to get bracey and it is more common to the left.
A three piece or a chain mouth may help after he learns to get soft with the halter, some horses have a shallow palate and a two piece bit is very uncomfortable.
I was also going to suggest starting out in a rope halter. It's so different from what they're used to that they don't immediately think to brace. I also have used treats as incentive to get them started with the idea.
Strange that you say its more common to have trouble to the left, because Streak is OTT and he's pretty soft to the left but the right is his weakness. It always has been, so I feel a little better knowing it's not entirely just me who struggles with him on anything to the right! LOL. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| When I had his vet check done I forgot to have his coggins pulled (exp in feb) so I have to go back next month anyways. Can have them floated then. The vet looked at them and said they were in good shape which is the only reason I didn't have them done that day. I left there and forgot to have coggins on all my horses I brought done. Major blonde moment so in a week or so I'm going to have to take them all back up there. |
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Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | RoaniePonie11 - 2015-01-17 8:39 AM When I had his vet check done I forgot to have his coggins pulled (exp in feb) so I have to go back next month anyways. Can have them floated then. The vet looked at them and said they were in good shape which is the only reason I didn't have them done that day. I left there and forgot to have coggins on all my horses I brought done. Major blonde moment so in a week or so I'm going to have to take them all back up there.
Most vets don't want/like to do teeth. Find an equine dentist to go over his mouth extensively |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Have you tried treat stretches? using a treat to have them voluntarily move his head from straight in front to their shoulder, then to their ribs, then to their hip on both sides?
I had a stiff horse and felt like every time I tried to introduce flexion to him he fought it so I made it into an instant gratification while I rode. I got on him with just a rope halter so he can chew. I also bumped the rope halter like I would if he had a bit in his mouth to give him the indication that's what I want when I bump you is for you to round that rib cage and follow your nose!
I did start doing it on the ground as my chiropractor suggested, she said doing that will help loosen up his body. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Ting to the tail reallt teaches them to get there body round, trick is not to,tie very tight, very subtle. They will give easy to,the tail. I dont tie to saddle, the tail does much better. It will give you a start. Then when they give a little you can do some softing on the ground and then on the horse. It will all be additive. |
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 Loves to compete
Posts: 5760
Location: Oakdale, CA | I would get her teeth checked again by a good dentist and then start bitting her up to the left and right and maybe the left a little longer. Also make sure you bit her up where she can easily get releif. I go through the stirrup and tie to the tail.... Learned that from a sharon camarillo clinic.......in 86 lol |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| I am interested in the tail thing but afraid to do it without FULLY understanding. I have him a lot better now. I bit him up yesterday and lunged him at a trot a little (because I was to sore to ride lol) and it did a world of good. He was MUCH better today. We worked on bending and moving/ crossing over the front end. Its all very new to him. He is being such a trooper. I am interested in the tail thing because like someone mentioned above, I think it will teach him to bend his entire body and not just head and neck. He has a hard time turning and keeping forward motion and I think its because he doesn't know how to bend his body.
Thanks all!
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| If you are not about his teeth, you can tie his tail with a rope halter or a side pull. |
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