| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| pippic |
Posted - 10 Oct 2012 : 6:36:01 PM
yes me again 
Okay after a couple of weeks of exploring in hand with my lovely new boy. Got on board today.  He's in a seet iron roller link bit as his previous owner had him in a tomb thumb sweet iron on the snaffle ring. she just hacked him around her farmland for the past five months two or three times a week. When I tried him I felt he was over light in it, but felt it could have been not knowing me...
But he doesn't like it, I'm not at all heavy handed, but as soon as I took a contact of any kind he overbent - couldn't see his head or ears it was that dramatic. I've seen pix after he was backed in which he's in a full cheek snaffle and side reins which could be part of the cause of his behaviour.
Ended up riding around the block with reins like washing lines, but obviously he's quite green so i need a bit more steering and some more brakes - he doesn't understand seat aids yet - but he got better as we went on.
Any ideas on what to try next? |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Quarabian |
Posted - 14 Oct 2012 : 09:16:42 AM
echoing what mrs vlacq says, i am not suggesting togo permanently in a halter, just to give him time to forget any over bending and learn to reach forward. will send you the link
no capita;s as pup on my knee. |
| pippic |
Posted - 13 Oct 2012 : 10:24:24 PM
Thank you Mrs Vlacq, That's good advice! I think a halter/hackamore would work for him but I would like to see if he will accept a bit in case he enjoys flat work or we do some showing at some stage. Got him a korstel flexi mouth straight bar eggbutt, now I just need to try it when he's better!!!
We reckon he popped his stifle skidding in the wet field when he was playing. Last night he was dragging his toe and to start with I thought he'd broken his leg. But by tonight you wouldn't know anything had happened at all. Chiro's checking him again this week, but basically he's lacking muscle tone and its either a weakness or unlucky injury. Either way he needs correct work to build the muscle up. if we do that then we shouldn't get anymore problems - how about that for incentive! Funnily enough I know all about it as I've dislocated my patella three times now. As long as I keep exercising and I'm fit then I'm fine. Horse following owner I suppose!
Quarabian, that would be great if you could find a link for the halters, am very interested.  |
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 13 Oct 2012 : 7:21:31 PM
If you want to eventually be bitted, he needs to learn to be more forward and take the contact (seek for it) so I'd find something he was happy in and get out long reining - initially perhaps wearing his bit but long reining off cavesson/headcollar/halter. You need to de-programme his response to the bit (and side reins), going beyond and overbent, hiding there. If you think he's happy with a joint but not metal try happy mouth or nathe jointed snaffle, or the straight nathe / sprenger duo. Once he's a forward thinker the front end will largely take care of itself.
Good luck, you're both still getting to know one another. Hope his injury isn't anything too dramatic!! |
| Quarabian |
Posted - 13 Oct 2012 : 09:11:18 AM
I have ridden in an ordinary head collar but prefer the parelli type rope halter. You don't have to pay Parelli prices though. I'll have a rummage and send you a link.
You need to do some practice in hand getting him turn his head to gentle pressure. |
| pippic |
Posted - 12 Oct 2012 : 10:52:08 PM
What halter would you use Quarabian? He's as light as feature when i take him out in hand in a basic headcollar, so have been thinking that way too! |
| Quarabian |
Posted - 12 Oct 2012 : 8:50:16 PM
Why not try a halter pippic? It sounds like your horse could do with forgetting some of his early training in a bit. |
| pippic |
Posted - 12 Oct 2012 : 7:59:24 PM
He's gone and got himself a stifle injury in the field. Chiro up tomorrow |
| Vik1 |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 9:24:22 PM
Ive got my youngster in the NS starter bit and think its fab. Its loose ring and has a lozenge. Im not keen on single jointed bits. He was backed using a mullen mouth eggbutt but found he kept trying to put his tongue over it because of the pressure on the bars of his mouth and his tongue. He also has very fleshy lips and tongue so it didnt have alot of give. He mouths the NS one nicely, so far have breaks. Thinking of getting the NS full cheek when he starts to come back into work next spring.
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| pippic |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 8:13:45 PM
sensible advice, thank you! Am getting a mullen mouth eggbutt and see how we go with that! thanks again xx |
| pinkvboots |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 6:19:05 PM
At least you know his teeth are ok, as his overbent I wouldnt use anything with a curb rein as your then using a bit that uses poll presure as well as curb action, pelhams are also quite a heavy bit for young sensitive mouths, i would try just a straight snaffle, a waterford or even a happy mouth to start, once a horse gets confidence in one bit you often find you can try something a bit stronger or with a different action and they will accept it, i just think with the pelham it would be too much bit for him at this stage thats just my opinion, let us know how you get on x |
| pippic |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 4:18:49 PM
His teeth were done four months ago, got the paperwork, by a good equine dentist. When I tried him before I got him I got the same sensation in that he was going below the bit. I didn't ride him much before I got him because he had some sore patches on his back that we've sorted with the chiro.
Am thinking straight bar too. I've got a straight bar mullen mouth pelham with elastic curb. Might try that with two reins... If he's not happy with that I'll get the dentist out again to see if something has happened since he was last checked over.... thanks again |
| Callisto |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 02:58:03 AM
Another vote for trying an unjointed bit - took me a long time to find out that my youngster is a lot happier in a mullen mouth pelham than she is in the variety of expensive recommended jointed snaffles I tried (including a loosering waterford). But they are all different - two of our arabs are very happy in a waterford and the other was ridden in a french link before she retired. Can you find a bit bank so you can try before you buy? |
| pinkvboots |
Posted - 10 Oct 2012 : 11:15:39 PM
I would get his teeth looked at before you carry on, once that is done try the bit his been used to and see how you go, make sure its not too high in the mouth I find horses mouth better when its lower, if his still not comfortable I would try something without a joint, my arab hates jointed bits, i first rode him in a waterford snaffle, I now use a cambridge snaffle which is a mouthpiece like a pelham with snaffle rings, i find so many horses dislike jointed bits my other horse is a warmblood and she also goes better in a straight bar and i use a happy mouth on her most of the time.
I would not use a fulmer snaffle on a young horse, its too fixed for my liking i prefer loose ring bits anyway i find most horses go better in them in general, but before trying anything i would make sure his mouth is ok for sure, good luck! |
| RUTHIE |
Posted - 10 Oct 2012 : 6:38:57 PM
Hi. I will read this topic with interest....especially thoughts on the Fulmer Snaffle as a bit for a young horse in training. |
