how do i get my horse to stop biting the bit? last spring we would ride in a big field and do all of the gaits. then the grass was about 3 inches tall so i could see holes. but he would always want to go into the really tall grass that hadn't been cut from the previous yr. he would do this at a walk & trot. then at a canter he wouldn't turn, so i thought he was off ballance. the other person i rode with would ride him and he would be fine. he also didn't like stopping from any gait. so i was wondering if you think i am off ballance or if he bites the bit. and if he does how do i stop him. the first bit was a tom thumb i think. the new bit has a high port so i would pull very lightly and he would ignore me so i pulled harder and nothing.

Bratt

[cassidy]

to be honest i think your horse is trying to take the p***

i would think about doing some schooling in an arena with a trainer until you have control then when you think he is listening to you take him out again

if he is allowed to get away with this his problem could get worse making him dangerous to ride!!

[Blistering Winds]

He is ignoring the high port? Wow.

i would do some serious schooling and possibly a CROP to pop him back into reality and move him away from the tall grass.

Does he grab the grass and munch usually? I"d correct that immediately. My horse wouldn't even THINK about grabbing a bite of grass tacked up cause he knows that either the bit will BITE into his mouth or he meets my FOOT if I'm on the ground. Bad manners and HUGE safety issue.


NOw, if it is from the holes everywhere, then you might consider riding in an area without holes....as holes are dangerous for a horse.

[Simon Says]

if he is biting the bit maybe a flash or figure 8 would help, is it a continual CHOMP at the bit, or maybe try a bit with roller on it.

[SammyDoodle]

Do you mean he is chewing his bit or he is taking the bit in his teeth and ignoring you?

If it is the second then I would try a flash nose band like simon suggested

[arabchic]

you should try a nose band, and a jointed mouthpiece like your tom thumb (make sure the curb chain is loose enough to put two fingers in flat) so if he dosent want to stop you can pull his head to your knee, and if that wont work, use the high port with a nose band so he cant open his mouth to avoid the bit when you pull back. But it really sounds like you should work him in a contained area and just walk then whoa, gradually up to a lope, basically re-teach him to stop when you say so.

he doesn't act like he wants to eat. he just wants to go into another fiel that if full of gopher hole. ( i have never taken/let him go into that field) when he goes faster than a walk he wont turn. i can slowy/graduly pull his head to my knee and nundge him and he still goes straight. i don't want to pull so hard that he falls over. i don't know if this has anything to do with it, but his tung(sp) sticks out when he has a bit in his mouth about 1/2 inch.

[PoochtheMighty]

Ok, so this is going to sound rude but I really think that you are the problem.

Hear me out before you get offended because I'm not trying to hurt anyone's feelings; this is why I think you might be causing (or making it worse) the problem-

"..can slowy/graduly pull his head to my knee and nundge him and he still goes straight. i don't want to pull so hard that he falls over... "
"...the other person i rode with would ride him and he would be fine..."
"...and he would ignore me so i pulled harder and nothing."

First things first- do not ever, ever pull on those reins. Your hands are what should be stopping him, not the reins. When you pull back, not only are you giving him something to brace himself against, but you aren't communicating clearly enough for him to understand.

Think of the reins as a sponge in your hands. Instead of pulling on the rein, squeeze your fingers so that you are working the bit in his mouth with your wrist and your hand. Tighten up your reins so there is a straight line from bit to hands, with no loops, but do not put any tension on them. Follow his head with your hands by moving your hands forward when his head goes forward, so that you can keep that firm line and close your fingers on the reins so that he cannot pull them through your fingers. The shorter your reins are, the better communication there is, the less rein pressure you have to use.

When you go to turn him, turn that way in the saddle, and look where you want to go, then gently open that rein ( move your hand to the side). Give him a squeeze with your legs and a kiss if he is lagging.

When you want to stop him, do not pull back, as he'll just have something to brace on. Alternate squeezing both reins gently, sitting back and deep, and telling him whoooa in a deep, firm voice- don't yell or plead- tell him whoa. It also helps to rock side to side in the saddle, not extremely, just rock your seat bones a little bit. This unbalances him a bit and makes him hesitate.

I think you need to go back to arena work to work with him. Work on circles, reversing, figure-eights, and other patterns at all gaits to get him focused on you and responding to the bit. THEN when he's under control there, you can take him out on trails. As someone mentioned, it's a good idea to use a crop when he misbehaves. Just a firm 'THWACK' on the shoulder and a sharp 'NO' or 'Cut it out' will do, don't hit him in the neck or head or butt. (use the crop behind your leg when he is being lazy)

Also, I think you should get his teeth checked by a dentist or veterinarian, especially if he is reluctant to turn. That could indicate overgrown wolf teeth or some other problem in his mouth.

( In my opinion, you need to get that high port out of his mouth, especially if he isn't listening to it. If he has a hard mouth, you need to avoid jointed snaffles (like tom thumbs) and curb bits. A three peice snaffle is your best bet- like a loose ring french link, which did wonders for my hard-mouthed horse.)

Good luck.

thank you very much, that was helpful. i havn't ridden him i 3 months at least. i was seeing if there was a way to stop that before it got to be as bad as before. i will do more arena work with him.

Bratt

[PoochtheMighty]

You're welcome. Good luck, be careful, and have fun.