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Author
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Topic: my horse hates a contact
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hApPiNeSs
Member
Member # 1082
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posted November 29, 2003 01:02 PM
hi evry1 one big prob here! my pony wont accept a contact to her bit, if i try to take up the reins she pulls her head back so they are floppy again. she has not got a soft mouth and im very gentle when i stop her. any ideas guys? ![[Running Horse]](graemlins/horse.gif)
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winner of the prettiest pony competition 2004!!!
www.freewebs.com/happy_the_horse
Posts: 475 | From: cornwall | Registered: Nov 2003
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Dawn
Member
Member # 14
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posted November 29, 2003 01:34 PM
What type of bit are you using? When was the last time her teeth were floated? Does she have wolf teeth?
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Heard in the midst of a handwriting exam ~ "And to think, we could've been bio-chem majors."
Posts: 6885 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Nov 2002
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hApPiNeSs
Member
Member # 1082
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posted November 30, 2003 12:01 PM
she is wearing an unjointed snaffle - she had her teeth rasped a few months ago
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winner of the prettiest pony competition 2004!!!
www.freewebs.com/happy_the_horse
Posts: 475 | From: cornwall | Registered: Nov 2003
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Blistering Winds
Member
Member # 843
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posted November 30, 2003 12:13 PM
Unjointed snaffle? Try a jointed one. Might make some progress. Check for wolf teeth as well. Wolf teeth have to be surgically removed. A simple dental rasping won't take care of them
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Horses should not be treated as people. They should be respected for who they are and what they are capable of doing!
Born Free Now Expensive
Posts: 4337 | From: Texas | Registered: Oct 2003
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Jumpers
Member
Member # 961
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posted November 30, 2003 05:41 PM
Only about 20% of mares have Wolf teeth, so I doubt that is your problem. Check to be sure though. Definitely have the vet check her teeth for rasping issues.
After that's all squred away you could begin lunging her with her bridle (reins removed). You can use a bit connector or you can run the line through the inside bit ring, over the poll and attached to the outside bit ring.
This is very helpful for horses who resist contact. It will gently get her accustomed to the contact.
Make sure you're using a gentle bit. I love the Dr. Bristol (double jointed, large mouth, smooth) snaffle. You can order them for about $60 out of most catalogs. It is a very very gentle bit since it causes no pain on the roof of the mouth as a single jointed snaffle does.
The combiantion of lunging with a gentle bit may very well be the key to teaching her that contact on the bit is "okay" and won't hurt her.
This is what I would do if she were my horse.
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"If I fail - I fail. But at least it will be a monumental failure." Mel Gibson
Posts: 3011 | Registered: Nov 2003
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crazi4horses
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Member # 690
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posted November 30, 2003 05:42 PM
i agree...i also love the dr bristol
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*Lil Bit~O~Honey*
*Honey's finally home!*
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=6&uid=1892570&
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Onyx~*1960~2003*~
*Onyx, you taught me almost everything i know about riding and im SO glad i did learn on you. I will always love you and miss you little girl!
Posts: 2836 | From: New Hampshire | Registered: Sep 2003
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QHlover
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Member # 226
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posted December 01, 2003 10:30 AM
While it could be her bit, it's probably just a habit now. Horse's learn quickly. The horse probably has learned he can pull the reins through your hands and you won't hold on to them until he gives and softens. 99.9% of the time it's not the horse's fault. We teach them what they know, good and bad. So we can't just blame the bad stuff on them can we?
Just a thought. Try locking your hands on your hips and hold them there until he softens. Then immediately release. After a while you should be able to pick up on the reins and he'll frop his head and soften. It takes time and PATIENCE. This won't happen over night so don't expect it to.
Hope this helps. lol.
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"Do what you have to do to get the job done. Be as gentle as possible but as firm as necessary." -Clinton Anderson
Posts: 260 | Registered: May 2003
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Rocket is Magical
Member
Member # 1018
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posted December 01, 2003 11:32 AM
I believe the above posts were correct. You should always check for pain issues first, because no training will cover the horse's pain. Have teeth checked again. My gelding had wolf teeth and he refused to take any bit at all. Before this he had always opened his mouth willingly. Have her teeth checked soon to rule that out.
Then I agree with QHLover. If she has learned how to get away with this, she will keep doing it. Horses are great creatures, but they are also sneaky and sometimes lazy. If they find an easy way out, they will try to take it. They will see what they can get away with. If she has gotten away with this before, she thinks she can do it all the time now. You have to let her know that she isn't allowed to get away with it, but that doesn't mean fighting with her. After you have ruled out the teeth and bit, when she pulls on the reins, just don't give in to her. Hold them firm, and as soon as she stops let them loose. You will have to do it a few times, and will probably have to remind her every once in a while because she may still 'test' you sometimes.
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Rocket: 1/2 mustang & 1/2 QH
He is 15 & I've had him since he was a yearling. He is the best pole bending horse around!
Magical Tommy: AQHA-Registered QH
He is 6 & just ran his last race @ the track in June of this year. I'm now training him to ride. Possibly barrel race in the future.
Trying to teach my husband to ride;)
Posts: 62 | From: Louisiana | Registered: Nov 2003
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Dawn
Member
Member # 14
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posted December 01, 2003 12:17 PM
I agree, you should try a jointed snaffle. I would use a french link and not a Dr. Bristol. If you're not experienced with jointed snaffles or your horse isn't, you want to start with the least harsh one.
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Heard in the midst of a handwriting exam ~ "And to think, we could've been bio-chem majors."
Posts: 6885 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Nov 2002
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hApPiNeSs
Member
Member # 1082
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posted December 02, 2003 04:45 AM
u have tryed the hands by your waist thing for a few days and she has softened. i tryed lunging but i dont think her old owner ever taught her how to lunge cos she stood there in a confused haze and whn a flickd the whip she tryed to run across the field!
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winner of the prettiest pony competition 2004!!!
www.freewebs.com/happy_the_horse
Posts: 475 | From: cornwall | Registered: Nov 2003
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Jumpers
Member
Member # 961
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posted December 02, 2003 04:58 PM
French link is least harsh, Dawn? Hmmmmm. I always thought a round smooth link was softer and gentler than a sharp edged flat one.
My mare absolutely detests the french link - throws her head - balks behind the bit - but with a Dr. Bristol she softens into it beautifully.
I know several people who tried French links and their horses hated them. That's why I prefer the Dr. Bristol.
Three large, round smooth links with nothing to pinch, dig in, or nutcracker the jaw.
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"If I fail - I fail. But at least it will be a monumental failure." Mel Gibson
Posts: 3011 | Registered: Nov 2003
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Dawn
Member
Member # 14
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posted December 02, 2003 05:02 PM
A French link is less harsh than a Dr. Bristol. If the Dr. Bristol is made properly that is. It is made to not lay flat against the horse's tongue. A french link is made to lay flat. I will agree that some will go better in the "harsher" bit, but as a general rule, no. And I'm not sure of what you mean by a "round" link.
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Heard in the midst of a handwriting exam ~ "And to think, we could've been bio-chem majors."
Posts: 6885 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Nov 2002
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Dawn
Member
Member # 14
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posted December 02, 2003 05:11 PM
This is a french link. Notice how the link lays flat, and ironically is smoother than the Dr. Bristol example below.
It is very difficult to see from this angle, but if you will observe how the light is reflected off of the link, you will notice that it does not lie flat as the french link does.
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Heard in the midst of a handwriting exam ~ "And to think, we could've been bio-chem majors."
Posts: 6885 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Nov 2002
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Jumpers
Member
Member # 961
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posted December 02, 2003 06:25 PM
Sorry! I meant a KK Snaffle. I don't know why I thought "Dr. Bristol." Dr. Bristol has a larger, harsher centerpiece - you're right.
The KK Snaffle has the round smooth center piece instead of being flat.
Here is a link. You will have to scroll down and look at the pictures.
KK Snaffle
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"If I fail - I fail. But at least it will be a monumental failure." Mel Gibson
Posts: 3011 | Registered: Nov 2003
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Dawn
Member
Member # 14
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posted December 02, 2003 06:27 PM
What type of riding are you wanting to do Sam? That might make a difference in what bit is appropriate or that you're even allowed to use.
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Heard in the midst of a handwriting exam ~ "And to think, we could've been bio-chem majors."
Posts: 6885 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Nov 2002
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Jumpers
Member
Member # 961
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posted December 02, 2003 06:31 PM
Here's another pic but it's kind of small:
KK Snaffle - 2nd Picture
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"If I fail - I fail. But at least it will be a monumental failure." Mel Gibson
Posts: 3011 | Registered: Nov 2003
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hApPiNeSs
Member
Member # 1082
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posted December 03, 2003 11:26 AM
i am hacking her out this winter but i hope to do m/m classes and gymkana with her i the summer
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winner of the prettiest pony competition 2004!!!
www.freewebs.com/happy_the_horse
Posts: 475 | From: cornwall | Registered: Nov 2003
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Dawn
Member
Member # 14
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posted December 03, 2003 11:31 AM
I personally don't know about the rules on that, but I think all you'll be allowed to use is a plain broken snaffle.
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Heard in the midst of a handwriting exam ~ "And to think, we could've been bio-chem majors."
Posts: 6885 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Nov 2002
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