Advice please on schooling a young horse

[djb]

I would like any suggestions as to exercises, etc that might help my young horse.

He is rising 5 - I have had him a month and am really pleased with him so far. He has got lots of muscling up to do yet and I want to know I am doing the right thing with him.
I have had his teeth and back checked and his saddle fitted when I got him.
He is in a french link with a flash at the moment and feels as though he is pushing his tongue against me and sometimes feels quite strong. I am waiting for a myler bit to come with a port to see if he is better with the pressure taken off his tongue. He feels as though he doesn't respect the bit at times and can feel quite strong as he is not soft in the contact. I don't want to resort to a strong bit at his age.

There are some very nice moments, don't get me wrong. I try to do lots of transitions to get him listening, circling, serpentines, etc, changes of direction to keep him listening.

I want to take it slow and get the basics right first but my instructor I think tries to get him to do much too soon and it ends up a bit of a struggle!

Thanks for reading - any bit suggestions or schooling ideas?

 

[Kelly1982]

I would definatly recommend trying the myler. My horse (she is rising 5yo) was always disrespecting the bit (she was also in a french link), i had trouble keeping her in an outline coz she was always fighting it and she was really strong when jumping. If i also tried to stop she would throw her head in the air and keep going.

I changed to a pelham for jumping and she was a saint!! I however felt it was too harsh to young. So i decided to go for something with a similar mouth piece but in a snaffle version.

I decided to go for the mullen mouth Myler and she has been a little star ever since. It was the jointed action that she didn't like. I changed her back to the jointed a while a go to see the reaction and she was back to her old tricks again so i now steer clear of jointed bits.

As for the schooling, i would say keep the sessions short and varied. If my mare is being good then i will take her out after 20mins as otherwise she gets bored and tired and starts playing up. I also do lots of transisitions and leg yeilding etc as it gets her listening to my leg more.

 

[cosmo_sam]

Yeah I agree short, varied, fun sessions. Not too much focus on outline or contact. Work on getting sharper reactions of your leg and makes sure you're not closing the door at the front as you do

Lots of transitions are a fab way to hone reactions and obedience in a quiet way

I hope you have fun with your new horse

 

[siennamum]

Horses don't really always have 'soft' mouth from day one. Very often you have to make the mouth with correct schooling.
I find youngsters are quite often a bit heavy in the hand it's something which will change as they acquire more balance and strength.
Be wary of doing anything which sharpens him up in front or makes him respect the bit more, you can create a false outline, and have him sitting a little behind the bit, he will only genuinely lighten in front as he lowers his behind.
Obviously if he's really tiring or heavy you need to do something, but if he's just a bit dead or leaning, then try and ride through it and really the less kit the better.

 

[djb]

Thankyou

Siennamum - interesting what you say and it fits in with what he is like - he is not too heavy but feels a bit dead! I am quite happy taking my time with him and don't want to feel we are asking too much of him too soon.