This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Training & Conditioning Horses » Tack and Training » Bits and Bitting Horses » Bridle Topics Not Covered Above »
  Discussion on Event Horse - retraining issues with biting and Dressage
Author Message
Member:
Npreston

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 22, 2005 - 7:40 pm:

Hi all,
We have recently purchased a relatively experienced Prelim. Event horse. He is a 12 year old Warmblood. When we purchased him we knew that he had some issues with flat work due to a very heavy handed former trainer, but he is a phenomenal jumper. The problem is that he gets very tense when asked to "get round" - like someone just forced him into the bridle and resists by sticking his nose straight as an evasion. My trainer and I have been working him in a loose ring french link, with much emphasis on working off the seat and legs, but the problem is that he still resists and it is very difficult to let him down for the walk and free walk and then pick him back up without him throwing his head into the air for the transition. The first thing I did when we got him home was to get his teeth done - so I know that's not the issue. It is like he never will just give in to the bit and relax and get round. Does anyone have any good suggestions?
Thanks,
Nancy
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 22, 2005 - 10:43 pm:

Nancy, the horse could be protesting because of some muscle soreness or some foot soreness, too. If you are certain that neither of those things is an issue, then it may be that this horse has been forced into a frame and not asked respectfully to give his nose and flex at the poll. Probably was lunged in two side reins a lot and HELD in position. I don't know if you have a show schedule for him, but I would set it aside and just take this wonderful fellow back to some basic giving to the bit, and bending and DrOpping his head on a light rein. Because of his resentment to the bit, I would never ask this horse to give with BOTH reins until he can give 100% to one rein on a light hold. When he will give consistently and softly and willingly to one rein, (and the rider/handler is giving an immediate release of pressure as a reward) I would then ask for a slight give to the side with one rein and then immediately add the other rein to ask him to bring his nose to the front and get him vertical. You can definitely train him to get soft to the bit again, and I believe it is best done when you are just casually riding him and just focusing on the giving to the bit part. I retrained a 17 year old, off-the-track TB who was being used for polo. The rider got upset with her for throwing her head when he asked her to slow down or turn, so each day, before and after exercising her, I worked with her on giving to the side with a leadline and halter, then during riding, I only rode her in a snaffle and asked her to give to the side first before asking for her to break at the poll on the vertical . . . She was a very sensitive mare and, thus, learned very quickly and went from protesting with her nose in the air to DrOpping her nose on a light hold with both reins . . . even when she was ridden in a gag . . . and she went on to be the star polo horse that summer.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 22, 2005 - 11:54 pm:

Holly has given some good advice; the only thing I would add is that I'd go right back to the "beginning" and do a lot of ground work with giving before working from the saddle. Does the horse balk at giving to pressure to her side also? If so, there may be some deeper "mental" issues and I'd start her in a halter and lead and ask her to back by pressing on her chest, step to the side by pressing on her other side, etc. Just basic stuff, then when she is willing with this stuff, work on her giving her head as Holly suggests.
Member:
Npreston

Posted on Thursday, Jun 23, 2005 - 6:40 am:

Thanks for your suggestions. Holly, do you have any bit recommendations? Also, what do you think about the flash vs. none? Also, you are right about the side reins on the lunge line. We tried lunging him with side reins when we got him and you could tell that he definitely knew the drill. He never raised his head - he actually went behind the vertical. As far as the show schedule is concerned - the problem is we bought him for my 15 year old daughter to move up on and she is very anxious to compete him. Although, I think you are right about putting the schedule on hold.
Thanks and any more advice will be appreciated!!
Nancy
Member:
Morg1

Posted on Thursday, Jun 23, 2005 - 1:02 pm:

Have you ever tried a Myler bit? I have a mare that after a year of riding decided that she hated her snaffle bit. She would raise and shake her head, stick her nose out and try to run through the bit every time we asked for a stop. A friend told me about the Myler bits and I went on their web-site https://www.mylerbits.com and asked for their advice. They suggested a bit that offered her more tongue relief and does not pinch. Within one ride with the new bit I had a totally different horse. She's actually happy in the bit again. Just thought that this would be something that you might want to try.
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Thursday, Jun 23, 2005 - 1:02 pm:

Nancy, I am a full-cheek, (Dr. Bristol, French Link) convert, and I use a full-cheek on every horse I ride, especially if it is a horse I don't know. Neck-reining or not, the full-cheek has worked for me, and I have never felt a need for anything different. I have used different bits (Kimberwickes, training "snaffles" which are actually curbs, western curbs, gags, pelhams) but the bits aren't the key. The key is getting the horse to give softly and consistently to light pressure which is taught best with a full-cheek (due to the fact that it is a simple bit that helps the horse understand what to do with the pressure better than bits that push up on the jaw, gouge the cheeks and/or pinch the bars). Once the horse is 100% on coming to you with his nose and DrOpping his head on a light asking, then you can move to a different bit if you choose, but we must understand that the bit isn't the key . . . it's the respectful, patient focus of the trainer and the immediate release of the pressure once the horse responds correctly that gets the horse light and willing.

As for a noseband . . . I would dispatch with it for now. The only reasons they are used are: To keep the horse's mouth closed on the bit and/or to attach to a standing martingale or tie-down to keep the horse from throwing his head. If your horse is retrained so that he doesn't have to fear the feel of pressure in his mouth, you will need neither the noseband nor a standing martingale.

Your daughter has a dilemma . . . it has to do with priorities. If the showing is more important, then she may need to lease or buy a different horse . . . if it's the relationship with the animal and the growth of wisdom that she desires from her contact with horses, then she may have to postpone the showing this season OR just decide that she is going to use her practice time and showing experiences as times in which to retrain her horse, with no expectations of winning anything other than a willing equine partner.
Member:
Maggienm

Posted on Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 - 12:09 pm:

Karen, do you remember what your bit was called?
thanks
Member:
Morg1

Posted on Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 - 2:16 pm:

Yes, they recommended that I try one of two bits. They recommended the Low Port Comfort Snaffle, and the Mullen Triple Barrel. I ended up buying both of these bits. I bought the Low Port Comfort Snaffle with a shank to use on another horse, and I bought the Mullen Triple Barrel without a shank to use on the mare that I mentioned above. Since then, I have purchased another of the Low Port Comfort Snaffles with a Kimberwick cheekpiece to use on my stallion who was becoming resentful of his old bit. I am completely sold on the Myler bits and will never buy a bit that is not made by them again.
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC