9 replies to this topic

[lil~daisy]

Hi guys, right now I have a problem where my (relatively) new horse is being very strong on the bit. I have tried hackamores and pretty much every snaffle under the sun, but he still pulls very hard. His vet confirmed there isn't anything wrong with his mouth, and he's 13, so I don't think being unfamiliar with bits is the problem. I was thinking maybe trying a Pelham or other "mid-tier" bit would work, can anyone else share their experiences with them? Thanks.

[bamboo the hamster]

I wish Icould help, But I don't know much about horses. I rode a few times, and must say That they are amazing creatures.

[UltimateCowgirl]

Hi guys, right now I have a problem where my (relatively) new horse is being very strong on the bit. I have tried hackamores and pretty much every snaffle under the sun, but he still pulls very hard. His vet confirmed there isn't anything wrong with his mouth, and he's 13, so I don't think being unfamiliar with bits is the problem. I was thinking maybe trying a Pelham or other "mid-tier" bit would work, can anyone else share their experiences with them? Thanks.

Hey sorry I'm kind of late to reply. I am defiantly not a fan of bits so I'd say a hackamore is the way to go. Maybe try a mechanical, and make sure you know how it works and that you're using it properly. Honestly if your horse isn't being very responsive I would try and work out something other than the bit. Hows your relationship with the horse? What are you asking him to do? Personally I don't like bits and think that it's way more important to have a relationship with your horse based on respect and not ultimate control. It's pretty controversial to most of the equestrian world so I'm not going to go too far with this. You say he's a fairly new horse? You just need to explore more options. Respect him and gain his respect. I can guarantee you that will get you further than any bit. 

Edited by UltimateCowgirl, 28 June 2017 - 12:28 AM.

[lil~daisy]

Hey sorry I'm kind of late to reply. I am defiantly not a fan of bits so I'd say a hackamore is the way to go. Maybe try a mechanical, and make sure you know how it works and that you're using it properly. Honestly if your horse isn't being very responsive I would try and work out something other than the bit. Hows your relationship with the horse? What are you asking him to do? Personally I don't like bits and think that it's way more important to have a relationship with your horse based on respect and not ultimate control. It's pretty controversial to most of the equestrian world so I'm not going to go too far with this. You say he's a fairly new horse? You just need to explore more options. Respect him and gain his respect. I can guarantee you that will get you further than any bit.

As I pointed out earlier, I have already tried bitless bridles and mechanical hackamores, and I show hunter, so they aren't allowed anyways. Jake just thinks he's king of the world in them, and is a danger to both himself and me when I can't control him. And by new, I mean he's new to me, but has been ridden since he was rescued at 9. He is good at the walk/trot, but ask him to canter or jump and he starts flipping his head and rearing. Two different vets have confirmed it isn't health problems, and that he's just being sassy and lazy.

Edited by lil~daisy, 02 July 2017 - 02:03 AM.

[Pookie&Biscuit]

My horse does too when he throws his head toward pulling really hard on the reins l just try to be gentle with the bit because when l pull back that's when pulls his head foward good luck!

[nebit]

As I pointed out earlier, I have already tried bitless bridles and mechanical hackamores, and I show hunter, so they aren't allowed anyways. Jake just thinks he's king of the world in them, and is a danger to both himself and me when I can't control him. And by new, I mean he's new to me, but has been ridden since he was rescued at 9. He is good at the walk/trot, but ask him to canter or jump and he starts flipping his head and rearing. Two different vets have confirmed it isn't health problems, and that he's just being sassy and lazy.

Hmmm, how does your trainer recommend dealing with this?

 

That is indeed potentially quite dangerous behavior, so I'd really want an adult with horse training experience to evaluate him in person.

[UltimateCowgirl]

As I pointed out earlier, I have already tried bitless bridles and mechanical hackamores, and I show hunter, so they aren't allowed anyways. Jake just thinks he's king of the world in them, and is a danger to both himself and me when I can't control him. And by new, I mean he's new to me, but has been ridden since he was rescued at 9. He is good at the walk/trot, but ask him to canter or jump and he starts flipping his head and rearing. Two different vets have confirmed it isn't health problems, and that he's just being sassy and lazy.

Ok, like nebit said you need to find an experienced trainer to help you. I know a harsher bit will give you more control but all you're doing is putting your horse in more pain and eventually it's not going to work out between you. If you can't control him find someone who can and have them work with him. I only mentioned using a hackamore because as I said, not a big fan of bits because I've seen so many people wreck their horses using them, even people who claim to have soft hands. But if that's not going to work for you because you do hunter than that's ok. I would then say go with a snaffle, which I know you said he doesn't respond well in but if you can't control your horse without the use of a harsh bit than your horse isn't trained well enough for what you're asking him to do. So I'd suggest going to a trainer who can help you with this.

[tbiM20]

As I pointed out earlier, I have already tried bitless bridles and mechanical hackamores, and I show hunter, so they aren't allowed anyways. Jake just thinks he's king of the world in them, and is a danger to both himself and me when I can't control him. And by new, I mean he's new to me, but has been ridden since he was rescued at 9. He is good at the walk/trot, but ask him to canter or jump and he starts flipping his head and rearing. Two different vets have confirmed it isn't health problems, and that he's just being sassy and lazy.

 

Rearing isn't sassy and lazy. He is trying to tell you something.   

Some horses need a very light hand or need handled in different situations. My horse is very fast and very energetic, but if you are heavy in his mouth, he gets aggravated and runs through the bit because he gets confused. So even though he's fast, and a big boy, I can't crank down, it's constant give and take. Another horse at the barn, tends to be very nervous and unsure of herself... she thinks "when in doubt, rack" if you're not clear on your cues   so she needs very steady hands with the tiniest pressure on the bit to remind her that you're still there and talking to her. 

 

Your devices are only tools, you're the one who has to do the work. A stronger bit also won't help a rear, if anything it will make it worse. If your horse threatens to rear, you should not even be touching the bit, you should be pushing them forward in every way you can. They can't rear if they can't collect their butt under them. 

 

Listen to how you "talk" to him, listen to his body when he's shaking his head or rearing. Why is he doing that? What are you doing or could you be doing to cause or help fix it? Horses don't want to misbehave, they enjoy a positive relationship. 99% of the time, it's not the horse's whims, it's a breakdown of communication with you. Your horse sounds frustrated. You will not win any pulling match with any horse. It's time to change tactics

 

If your horse is rearing at the cue, then try letting up on the reins completely and cue only with your heel. Let him go forward. All reasonably-trained horses cue easily - a touch of a heel in the rail side, and a twitch of the rail rein - but many riders (especially once a horse makes them nervous) anticipate the gait change and crank down on the bridle. That's how horses get antsy with canter cues and start backing up or jumping into the canter.

 

 

Since your horse is perfectly fine at other gaits, maybe you need to practice cantering on a different horse, while your trainer gets yours back on track. A bit switch won't fix a behavior issue. There are a lot of ways to fix general headstrong behavior, but usually it seems mental activity helps since they have to start paying more attention. My horse is a big ol' Saddlebred but he's much more settled after we run through reining horse exercises (spins, switchbacks, circles, etc). Other horses need a good run on the lunge line to get their quirks out. Some do well with dressage and equitation patterns.

[tbiM20]

One last thing to consider:

 

If your horse is, in general, just too energetic for you, try changing his feed. If he's on sweet feed, put him on senior feed. Alfalfa hay to timothy. Reduce the grain and increase the hay.

 

High-calorie and high-sugar food will often contribute to them being head strong, because they have so much energy to burn off. Adjusting the food is something definitely worth discussing with whoever feeds... and could save you a lot of headaches.

[lil~daisy]

Hi guys, sorry I haven't been back in a while, I've had the stomach flu for the last four days and it hasn't need much fun :( anyways I tried taking out his sweet feed and giving him low cal foods and it's helped him calm down quite a bit. I have found that giving him a roller bit - really anything to let him fidget with he's anxious - helps a lot. I tried riding him outside recently, and I now believe there was something inside freaking him out. He still wouldn't jump anything bigger than a 2' crossrail so I asked yet another vet to come check him out, and she gave him some anxiety medication and recommended lunging him indoors every day - every other day for a few weeks. He's currently with a trainer who says he's been doing very good. Apperently exercises to get him relaxed and on the bit have led him to jump 2'6 for the first time - I couldn't be prouder! He's worked on a consistent schedule now while I'm in bed doing some high-quality meme viewing and consuming an ungodly amount of soup :P