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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
   
| Suggestions for a horse that evades and braces on the bit? This mare has a really nice cowhorse handle on her, great stop, etc. But she over-flexes at the poll to get away from the bit. If I try to gather her up she is either evading the bit or stopping (did I mention she has a great stop!). But for as much as she wants to evade the bit vertically, horizontally she wants to brace against the pressure. At a standstill she has excellent horizontal flexion.
This mare is younger and has been turned out for several months. I know that I ride differently than the people that have ridden her before me, so I'm thinking that is most of the problem. I'm working through it and have my own ideas, but it would be nice to get some input from others. I have heard others say that her sire and at least a few of his offspring are stiffer turning, but also want to evade the bit like this. These horses have made 1D/rodeo horses, so I don't want to give up in frustration. But I'm also wondering if I just need to let her travel the way she wants and figure out how to ride her that way. She is current on dental with a qualified dentist. I have tried a couple different bits to see if that makes a difference - solid mouth, donut, dogbone, as well as different shanks - longer, shorter, tear-drop. I do have a chain that I was thinking about trying today.
Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 425
Location: California | Maybe go bitless to see if it's an actual bit problem? I like to mess around bitless just to see a difference with how the horse responds. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | Lift her shoulders and drive her hind end. Once she does then let her go.....she will in a couple strides go down, then repeat, over and over. Do this until she keeps her shoulders up and has collection in her back, her head will then come up and she will not be so evasive. Also, that is her not wanting to move her feet or body. So, you need to make sure when you ask for collection or foot movement, she doesn't get away by simple giving her face. Some of it is natural for her, some of it probably trained.
Post a video and that will be the most helpful in figuring out your issue. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 966
Location: Loco,Ok | I have had several here like this.Take it out of their mouth and put it on their nose.I put every one in one of my sidepulls.A couple started over by drivig them.They get bracy evasive and such because they have been over done so to speak. The horse feels trapped.I took the stop out of them.Made them go on.And trickle to a stop.If they have stop in them it will not go away.I put them on the flag then on cattle The flag and cow will draw them.Take their attention off of the rider.On two I roped on them.Turn a calf loose in the pen and drove the calf up the pen and used a breakaway.
And use your feet more than your hands.Took several mounths to get this done.When been bridled up so much its hard to get that out so the horse will go on.
One had been spur stopped and spurred to back and like to of never go him to go on and run.Come at them different |
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Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| Thanks for the ideas. She's also bracey through the body. Usually I can get the lateral flexion (just realized I was calling it horizontal flexion! See, she's making me lose my mind!) by getting them to quit bracing through the body, but she just braces even harder. I've been working on elevating the shoulder, but I feel like she almost gets heavier. I've only put a handful of rides on her, but they haven't been enjoyable! I'll give your suggestions a try, and hopefully we'll make some progress.
Edited to add - She's not lazy and really does want to move out. But when I ask her to gather up she just tucks her nose and keeps moving. If I ask her to stop, she stops. It's like I can't get that in-between. It's been a couple months, but she was started tracking a lead steer, breakaway, and heeling a little. I just can't seem to get the response I like, and she's fighting me the whole way. Part of me thinks it's training, but part of me thinks she's just being a witch.
Edited by Jenbabe 2016-01-14 1:37 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | Have her TMJ checked and injected if needed. What you are describing sounds alot like my gelding. I suspected this about him, but failed to follow up on it sooner than I should have. Finally took him, had it checked and injected and WOW what a different. |
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Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| ampratt - 2016-01-14 1:36 PM
Have her TMJ checked and injected if needed. What you are describing sounds alot like my gelding. I suspected this about him, but failed to follow up on it sooner than I should have. Finally took him, had it checked and injected and WOW what a different.
I'll look into that. I always want to give them the benefit of the doubt and rule out any pain issues. Thanks! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | Jenbabe - 2016-01-14 1:38 PM
ampratt - 2016-01-14 1:36 PM
Have her TMJ checked and injected if needed. What you are describing sounds alot like my gelding. I suspected this about him, but failed to follow up on it sooner than I should have. Finally took him, had it checked and injected and WOW what a different.
I'll look into that. I always want to give them the benefit of the doubt and rule out any pain issues. Thanks!
I hear you. At first I kept thinking mine was just being a butt and not wanting to soften and listen to me which wasn't the issue at all. Lots of things can cause TMJ pain. Using a speculum when having the teeth floated can be a major factor in causing TMJ pain. It's always worth a shot to check it out. I just wished I had done mine much earlier. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| ampratt - 2016-01-14 1:36 PM
Have her TMJ checked and injected if needed. What you are describing sounds alot like my gelding. I suspected this about him, but failed to follow up on it sooner than I should have. Finally took him, had it checked and injected and WOW what a different.
I had a pony that would occasionally when asked to collect up just tuck her chin and keep going, when she did this i would counter arc her in circles that way she would have to reach up and shorten her stride by crossing over and minding her steps. You have been given some good advice! If you think she's doing it more because she's "witchy" I would definitely look into soreness in her TMJ she might be protecting herself and crabby from the pain. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Carol Goosetree Simplicity Chain mouth, and Tdoves advice. She can't brace on the chain and you'll have an easier time working on her body. |
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