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Member
Posts: 21
| After much time, money and head scratching, my barrel horse just tested positive for 2 variants of PSSM2. I am actually relieved to have some answers and a direction. I have switched his diet and seen good improvement. I also have a plan to do some back strengthening exercises this spring. I am really hoping to also get some opinions on everyone’s favorite bit for helping this process along while tuning. My horse is very broke and I can move shoulders and hips great and get flexion at the poll, but he is t hunting being round for sure. The PSSM has made him lower back sore/weak so I want to slowly get him to bring that back back up and get him using hind end better. I ride at home in a smooth snaffle. Any bit advice???? |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
 
Location: Claremore, OK | A snaffle and lots of leg. The back will lift and hind end will engage if you soften the ribs first. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 705
Location: Weatherford, TX | Liana D - 2019-01-05 4:09 PM A snaffle and lots of leg. The back will lift and hind end will engage if you soften the ribs first. ^^^This. Absolutely. You and your horse will definitely get a leg and butt workout if you do it correctly...head low and driving into the bit. Long and low. I also have the horse do a lot more stretches on the ground/in the stall before these workouts. As part of my stretches, I also make them raise their backs a few times by running my finger/fingernail down their underline. Some horses do resist this at first, but they get used to this stretch.
I have 2 (16.1 and 16.3H)...both with different types of PSSM.
Hope that all makes sense.
Edited by Gator Bug 2019-01-05 5:04 PM
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Member
Posts: 21
| Thanks guys! These are things I know but hearing it from others helps reinforce it. I can’t get him to do a belly lift stretch to save my life which just confirms I need to stengthen him more. I am also going to take him back to the vet this spring to make sure he hasn’t developed kissing spine on top of his other issues, but regardless we will continue to work on strengthing him. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | shany5 - 2019-01-05 5:12 PM Thanks guys! These are things I know but hearing it from others helps reinforce it. I can’t get him to do a belly lift stretch to save my life which just confirms I need to stengthen him more. I am also going to take him back to the vet this spring to make sure he hasn’t developed kissing spine on top of his other issues, but regardless we will continue to work on strengthing him.
Do under belly scratches, my gelding's love this and will bow/lift their backs to get a good scratch..  |
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  Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7617
Location: Dubach, LA | Lots of side to side work to find the right break for your horse. Soft hands and forward motion with legs and seat. Done in baby steps. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Leg. When in doubt, more leg.
Get a more aggressive/longer set of spurs if you need to - like a reiner spur. I worked some with a reining trainer and had hamstring cramps by the end of the first lesson with the little roper spurs I normally wear, went home and bought reining spurs. I also have very long legs and ride shorter horses, so I was physically having the pull my heel up into them.
Honestly if you have someone locally that you could lesson with to work on the concept - it’s SUPER helpful to have a set of eyes on the ground until you really get to know the feeling you’re looking for. |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24953
Location: WYOMING | Here are some videos that will help. Great explanations.
As far as the bit... I let the horse decide what bit they prefer. I do ride them in a lot of different headgear but they tend to prefer and respond best to one or two. Why fight mother nature. Not every horse learns best in a ring snaffle.
https://youtu.be/WQWNHepTKzM
https://youtu.be/m_B5XflRQtE
https://youtu.be/9H4u1SBlEZk
Edited by geronabean 2019-01-07 2:34 PM
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | Neck stretcher with a snaffle on the longe line |
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Folks on-line