[Cavalier]

On a horses mouth? If and when do you think it's ok to pull or yank on a horses mouth?

First of all, if you say you've never done it and never will, then its just as well for you that you aren't pinocchio, otherwise your nose would be hitting the computer screen

Ok...so we've all done it before, many times by accident when learning to ride and balancing on reins, or when a horse shies or bucks etc, pulling on the reins as a 'natural' response to gain balance etc.

But what about those times that you do it deliberately?

For me, it is VERY rare that I would pull or yank on a horses mouth. Sometimes however I have to - ONLY for my safety. Sometimes my horse will take off with me in the arena and I will have to change direction to catch him off balance (him being on the wrong lead) and I can get him back to trot, he may race off in canter again and completely ignore my aids, including running through all half halts and not responding to turning into a small circle - this is when I am forced to pull on his mouth.

Other times when i'm not armed with draw reins or a market harborough, during hard work he may throw his head up and run away, I will then be forced to do the above as he WILL NOT listen to any other aids. Of course this is my last resort and something I will never enjoy doing, but when i'm fresh out of options, this one has never failed me.

If a horse is behaving and listening then over my dead body would I deliberately pull on a horses mouth.

Unfortunatley, sometimes it can be a last resort, and in my books, it is not O.K for a horse to ignore and run through your aids, and if they do, they have to know that there is a consequence.

If I have that problem, I will then go back to basic work and establish control and get the horse to listen to me and work WITH me again before trying that movement. I also only ride in soft snaffle bits.

So...what are your thoughts on this somewhat 'touchy' topic?

[Quiggles]

You right it would be stupid for anyone to say they have never or will never deliberatly pull on their horse mouth.

I would use it as a last resort, or in the second you have before you know you horse is going to pull away and take off.Some times Tawny would just pull something shocking on my hand. I would try lots of things but as a last resort sometimes i had to let go of one rein and give her a few sharp pulls on one side.

[binkygirl]

ree with you and my response is practically the duplicate of yours. I will rarely ever pull on the horses mouth. the few times it has happened is when I was learning and when I got stuck on a bolting horse. I then realised that the horse was going to outpull me everytime no matter what I did. I resort back to basic principles instead of pulling when I have a problem. there has bee a few times when I have been falling of and accidently taken the reins with me. I try to always take good care of the mouthso my horse doesn't associate the pain with the bit or bridle.

[binkygirl]

I agree sorry. it took my words away hehe

[Kar]

I think that it as was said, at times a necessary evil. Non of us want to be hard on our horses.
However there are those times when we have no choice.

The ones that scare me are the ones whom are using long shanked, harsher types of bits, and are cranking on thier horses mouth like they are stopping a steam engine.
Those are the scenes I try to burn from my mind.

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Kar

I think that it as was said, at times a necessary evil. Non of us want to be hard on our horses.
However there are those times when we have no choice.

The ones that scare me are the ones whom are using long shanked, harsher types of bits, and are cranking on thier horses mouth like they are stopping a steam engine.
Those are the scenes I try to burn from my mind.

Oh definitely.

And I just want to add Binky, that I don't mean pulling and not releasing, i'm talking sharp pull, then release, sharp pull then release. There is no point pulling and hanging on thats for sure!!!

And i'm not saying it works everytime...sometimes it will make the situation worse, but sometimes it will save you...depends on the horse and your technique.

[cassidy]

i will pull on my horses mouth if they bolt an i have no choice but to try an put on some brakes an turn a circle to slow them down

also will has a habit when i am jumping he gets excited an puts his head to the floor an starts to bronk i have no choice but to pul on his mouth for him to put his head up an stop other wise i may just end up onthe deck

[freedom32]

I ride my horse western, and neck rein. I pull on her mouth for a simple correction (won't turn, heading off faster than I want). When I say pull, I mean a gentle pull, because I have a shanked bit. A yank is reserved for big bads, willfull misbehaviour, and even then I will usually give a smack with my rein ends first, thats why I have the long reins with the poppers

[Kar]

I ride Dunny in a big ring snaffle.. 98% of the time we have no troubles..
However, there are times when he gets anmesia, and we get to go in circles until his memory returns.. At those times, I use one rein and bring him around. But I also use my legs, so I use pressure, and release..
As freedom said, its only for those big bads.. Id personaly rather use my legs as much as possible..
Plus if you stay in Dunnys mouth, He will show you how high he can rear up.... No reason to be asking for that.
And as time goes on for Dunny, he is learning more and more.. He is actually doing very well He was started exactly 1 yr and 5 months ago

[Blistering Winds]

Like others have said. As a last resort, instead of nagging the horse to death and teaching the horse to ignore the bit (which seems to be more and more common problem these days...hmmm.....wonder why.....)......

Especially during breaking. I break with a halter then a side pull. That way when I DO have to yank on the bit, the nose band pulls some of the pressure.

Basically, I ask with leg, then face, leg, face, leg face....with a gradual increase in pressure.....when no response, leg, And ok...we are going to MAKE you do it now. THIS is what I'm asking....Got it? then we go back to leg, face.


If I'm still having to "MAKE" the horse do something, the horse is no where NEAR ready for curb bits.


And I HAVE yanked a horse around in a curb bit. But that is only reserved for OMG WE ARE GOING TO DIE. BIG RED SEMI going to SMASH our brains in!!!!!


But it should not be an every day occurance. It should be a last resort after you have asked several times, made sure you asked correctly, and THEN implement the, I"M GOING TO SHOW YOU NOW, type response.