Inconsistency in the bridle

Horsed · 10-20-2009, 09:25 PM

Okay, so background on my horse. She is a 5 yr old half-arab and I've had her for almost five months. Her previous owner rode her with a lot of gadgets like draw reins and side reins and things like that.

When I first got her, she always had her head tucked to her chest (I don't use anything but a regular hunt bridle and snaffle bit), and would ocasionally lift her head up for a stride then stick it back on her chest. I was told to encourage her to stretch down and out and teach her that it's okay to do so. Well soon she realized she wasn't wearing any gadgets and I wasn't in her face when she picked her head up. I let her poke her nose in the air during transitions and didn't ask her to bridle up. So then I had her teeth checked and they needed to be done so she got them floated recently. I hoped that would fix it but it hasn't. Now she doesn't go behind the vertical so bad but now goes from a little behind, to correct, to her head in the air, to behind, to air, to correct, you get the drift. So then I decided to stay out of her face completely. She can w/t/c and halt with very little to no rein aids, and she only flops her head around with contact. I rode her in a rope halter and she didn't move her head all around; just stretched down or had her nose in the air. Her teeth aren't hurting, and her bit and bridle fit perfectly.

So now that I've written a novel, how can I fix this? I don't know what the next step is to keep her on the bit, collected, and consistent. Will it just come with age and time?

She will go in real training within a month or two, so hopefully that will help.

MysticRealm · 10-20-2009, 09:34 PM

I think you need to think of taking a touch more feel. MY green horse has a very long rubbery neck which can easily curl behind the bridle, and a sensitive mouth. So he was either way to light and head sucked in or head up in the air. Always too light and bouncy on the reins.
SO my dressage instructor said for right now we were gonna ignore the fact that he is curled behind the bridle and just go for a consistent feel (not a pull or heavy hand but a hand that was always just 'there") and once he was accepting of this contact then we would slowly work on being able to bring him up and out.
He has gotten loads better and rarely does he get behind the bridle while jumping like he used to but still needs some work on the flat.
Recently we had a break through where I forced myself to sit the trot (he is a VERY big lofty trotting horse!) for most of the ride. After 5-10 minutes he was SO much more 'through' ( connected into a pleasant contact) that is was awesome. He was less behind the bridle b/c he was able to gently take my hand up and out. The sitting trot just encourages the roundness so much because you have that additional aid (your seat) that you don't have while rising.
And once he is connected, sitting trot is easy!

Horsed · 10-20-2009, 09:39 PM

That does make sense, I will try that. I have done that before, and she just balls up with her nose between her knees, and then lifts it to her chest. Maybe I need to keep a firmer hold so she can't do that? She's complicated and a mare lol. But I'm not the best either so it's not all her.

shaiarabs · 10-20-2009, 10:25 PM

shes arab she needs to relearn that it wont be painful.. remouth her...

JBandRio · 10-21-2009, 05:16 AM

No firmer hold - that's what she's running from. Light contact, always, and just encourage her forward forward forward.

You're finding out the hard way how difficult it is to re-train these incorrectly drawreined horses

It can literally take months or a year to get a horse comfortable enough with contact that they can stretch into it.

spinandslide · 10-21-2009, 06:43 AM

I would say dont throw away your contact, but keep it light and consistent..and drive her forward with your seat and legs.

what a sad situation..

perfect example of draw reins being used incorrectly.
Sarah

Horsed · 10-21-2009, 02:13 PM

Thanks everyone. I will keep doing what I'm doing then.

I hate hate hate draw reins SO much.

And shaiarabs, what do you mean by that?

JBandRio · 10-21-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horsed

Thanks everyone. I will keep doing what I'm doing then.

I hate hate hate draw reins SO much.

Don't hate them specifically. Hate their misuse

They are FAR too easy to misuse, unfortunately.

meljean · 10-21-2009, 03:54 PM

And keep your hands low, and quiet. Where the reins go the horses mouth goes.

Use a cup of water to steady your hands.

red00jeep · 10-21-2009, 04:03 PM

I think what is lacking here is a relationship of contact and forward impulsion. You don't want to be riding her in loopy reins, try to keep a taunt rein without excessive pressure. When you do pick up light contact, you need to concentrate on pushing her forward into the slight contact. Leg, leg, leg, slight check to bring her back. The check should only be a squeeze of the reins, maybe a pull back an inch or two. Then leg, leg, leg. Try to remain very soft in the hands at all times.

Don't become discouraged, she'll get it

. It's hard for sensitive horses to get over harsh training. Consistency and patience are your friends.

10-20-2009, 09:25 PM	#1
Horsed Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 831 Images: 9	Inconsistency in the bridle Okay, so background on my horse. She is a 5 yr old half-arab and I've had her for almost five months. Her previous owner rode her with a lot of gadgets like draw reins and side reins and things like that. When I first got her, she always had her head tucked to her chest (I don't use anything but a regular hunt bridle and snaffle bit), and would ocasionally lift her head up for a stride then stick it back on her chest. I was told to encourage her to stretch down and out and teach her that it's okay to do so. Well soon she realized she wasn't wearing any gadgets and I wasn't in her face when she picked her head up. I let her poke her nose in the air during transitions and didn't ask her to bridle up. So then I had her teeth checked and they needed to be done so she got them floated recently. I hoped that would fix it but it hasn't. Now she doesn't go behind the vertical so bad but now goes from a little behind, to correct, to her head in the air, to behind, to air, to correct, you get the drift. So then I decided to stay out of her face completely. She can w/t/c and halt with very little to no rein aids, and she only flops her head around with contact. I rode her in a rope halter and she didn't move her head all around; just stretched down or had her nose in the air. Her teeth aren't hurting, and her bit and bridle fit perfectly. So now that I've written a novel, how can I fix this? I don't know what the next step is to keep her on the bit, collected, and consistent. Will it just come with age and time? She will go in real training within a month or two, so hopefully that will help.

10-20-2009, 09:34 PM	#2
MysticRealm Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,241 Images: 54	I think you need to think of taking a touch more feel. MY green horse has a very long rubbery neck which can easily curl behind the bridle, and a sensitive mouth. So he was either way to light and head sucked in or head up in the air. Always too light and bouncy on the reins. SO my dressage instructor said for right now we were gonna ignore the fact that he is curled behind the bridle and just go for a consistent feel (not a pull or heavy hand but a hand that was always just 'there") and once he was accepting of this contact then we would slowly work on being able to bring him up and out. He has gotten loads better and rarely does he get behind the bridle while jumping like he used to but still needs some work on the flat. Recently we had a break through where I forced myself to sit the trot (he is a VERY big lofty trotting horse!) for most of the ride. After 5-10 minutes he was SO much more 'through' ( connected into a pleasant contact) that is was awesome. He was less behind the bridle b/c he was able to gently take my hand up and out. The sitting trot just encourages the roundness so much because you have that additional aid (your seat) that you don't have while rising. And once he is connected, sitting trot is easy! __________________ Proud Owner of Elis (Canadian Sport Horse), Markie (thoroughbred), Bear (pomeranian/shih tzu/ terrier), and Styder (Toy Poodle) and Vega (thoroughbred)

10-20-2009, 10:25 PM	#4
shaiarabs Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Manjimup Western Australia Posts: 973	shes arab she needs to relearn that it wont be painful.. remouth her... __________________ It doesn't matter how high you are on the food chain, once you inflict pain you FAIL AS A HORSEMAN.

10-21-2009, 05:16 AM	#5
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 32,018 Images: 196 Blog Entries: 12	No firmer hold - that's what she's running from. Light contact, always, and just encourage her forward forward forward. You're finding out the hard way how difficult it is to re-train these incorrectly drawreined horses It can literally take months or a year to get a horse comfortable enough with contact that they can stretch into it. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173)

10-21-2009, 06:43 AM	#6
spinandslide Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: northwest Texas Posts: 1,728 Images: 22 Blog Entries: 2	I would say dont throw away your contact, but keep it light and consistent..and drive her forward with your seat and legs. what a sad situation.. perfect example of draw reins being used incorrectly. Sarah __________________ So I ask you, will you be a constitutional watchdog. The time has come to bark and to bark loudly. -Glenn Beck

10-20-2009, 09:39 PM	#3
Horsed Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 831 Images: 9	That does make sense, I will try that. I have done that before, and she just balls up with her nose between her knees, and then lifts it to her chest. Maybe I need to keep a firmer hold so she can't do that? She's complicated and a mare lol. But I'm not the best either so it's not all her.

10-21-2009, 02:13 PM	#7
Horsed Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 831 Images: 9	Thanks everyone. I will keep doing what I'm doing then. I hate hate hate draw reins SO much. And shaiarabs, what do you mean by that?

10-21-2009, 03:54 PM	#9
meljean Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NW MO Posts: 1,024	And keep your hands low, and quiet. Where the reins go the horses mouth goes. Use a cup of water to steady your hands. __________________ "If you listen to the horse, the horse will tell you what it wants to be." Dale Pugh "You can undo in five seconds, the training it took you five years to accomplish." Wyman E. Bennett

10-21-2009, 04:03 PM	#10
red00jeep Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Deep in the heart of Texass Posts: 415 Images: 2	I think what is lacking here is a relationship of contact and forward impulsion. You don't want to be riding her in loopy reins, try to keep a taunt rein without excessive pressure. When you do pick up light contact, you need to concentrate on pushing her forward into the slight contact. Leg, leg, leg, slight check to bring her back. The check should only be a squeeze of the reins, maybe a pull back an inch or two. Then leg, leg, leg. Try to remain very soft in the hands at all times. Don't become discouraged, she'll get it . It's hard for sensitive horses to get over harsh training. Consistency and patience are your friends. __________________ RUN LIKE A GIRL! Rachel Alexandra '09

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