Advise on how to stop a horse rooting?

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EquiEquestrian556

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I've got a 9 year old, 14.1hh, Welsh Part-Bred gelding named Minstrel who's very naughty and cheeky.
He's not ridden all the time, as he's currently not up to what I'm doing at the moment.
Anyway, my 'main' girl Sunny has a bit of spasm in her back, and the phiso says that she shouldn't do jumping or XC for a few weeks, so this is where my gelding comes in. I'm hoping to go XC schooling in mid-April and am considering taking him instead of Sunny, but the problem with him is he roots very badly when ridden.

His teeth and back are OK and have been checked, he is currently ridden in a Dutch gag on the lowest ring, with a flash. The dutch gag works fine for my mare out hunting, but with him he just grabs it, leans on it, puts his head down under his legs and then takes off with you. I'm only 12, but I am fairly strong, but he's just too strong for me. He is a very strong horse on the ground too.


And no I'm not going to sell him or give up on him. I was thinking of trying a Waterford Cheltenham gag or Waterford Dutch gag? I have been re-schooling him, but I just want a temporary solution. (I'm not heavy handed by the way).

Any advise would be much appreciated!
 
I'm having the exact same problem and my instructor doesn't realise how much of an issue it is! I have had my geldings teeth, back - everything checked and there is absolutely nothing wrong with him - which is great but I still don't know why he is doing it. My horse is 7 but has the mental age of a 4 yr old because he's been out of work for a long time. It could just be a bad habit - I send him forwards when he is doing it or just before he does it he will brake into a trot a few strides and then every time he thinks about rooting he trot a couple of strides and now I'm just teaching him not to trot but increase pace in walk.
 
I know, it's so annoying! He is actually extremely lazy though. Yep, he also does that too. He's 9, but acts like he's still 3 haha! :'P I think it is a bad habit, no matter how much I school him he still acts up, and it's getting very, very irritating.
He usually takes off just after landing from a jump or in canter. If I tell him to go he'll just do it even more, so that's not an option. My other mare Sunny never does anything like this, she's such a sweetheart and does everything for you, bless her!
 
Do you have an instructor who might be able to help? It sounds like a habit which you might need to school him out of. But you also have to be safe in the meantime!

We moved my daughter's SJ'er from a 2 ring gag to a Waterford snaffle which did solve the issue of grabbing and leaning on the bit. Then moved again to a Waterford elevator for more control hunting and XC. My daughter is 14 - so a bit older than you. But I would have worries about just changing for a more severe bit without also addressing the schooling problem that leads him to be like this. Horses are always going to be stronger than us - we have to out think them, not just use stronger and stronger gadgets. If you get too strong with him his next evasion with you could be to rear. If they can't go forward they can go up - and that is very dangerous. So please get an instructor or knowledgeable adult to help as well!
 
Shay said:
Do you have an instructor who might be able to help? It sounds like a habit which you might need to school him out of. But you also have to be safe in the meantime!

We moved my daughter's SJ'er from a 2 ring gag to a Waterford snaffle which did solve the issue of grabbing and leaning on the bit. Then moved again to a Waterford elevator for more control hunting and XC. My daughter is 14 - so a bit older than you. But I would have worries about just changing for a more severe bit without also addressing the schooling problem that leads him to be like this. Horses are always going to be stronger than us - we have to out think them, not just use stronger and stronger gadgets. If you get too strong with him his next evasion with you could be to rear. If they can't go forward they can go up - and that is very dangerous. So please get an instructor or knowledgeable adult to help as well!
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Yes, I do have an instructor, Maddy Moffett, who is competing up to CCI Level. I'm not someone who agrees with just putting a stronger piece of metal in the horse's mouth, my mother and father are also knowledgeable, the only reason I asked on here was to see what peoples' experiences were with the bits I had mentioned. I am an experienced rider despite my age, just wondering which bit would suit him, as all horses are individuals. I regularly school him which does help a bit, but he is very heavy on the forehand, but schooling should help that. As I mentioned in the post I am not at all heavy handed, and am a very 'careful' rider. We have been recommend the Cheltenham gag with two reins. He was previously ridden in Pelham by his previous owner, but the Pelham encourages a horse to round and lower the head - the opposite of what you want with him. I am considering a Waterford snaffle, to see how he reacts to the action. As the main problem is grabbing and taking hold of the bit not actually rooting and taking off, the Waterford may well be useful.
 
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Seriously the best person to ask is your instructor as she can see you and the pony working together.
 
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