YasandCrystal
Well-Known Member
^^ This
Alternative to a Dutch Gag?
- Thread starter TeamWazz
- Start date
^^ This
YasandCrystal
Well-Known Member
I would like the poster who claims you should be abe to ride him in a headcollar put their bum in the saddle
Don't you just love armchair critics 
TeamWazz
Well-Known Member
I'm using a french link mouth piece.
I do raise my hands, its a bit of a nervous tic / habit I can't shake. As I say, the video doesn't look half as bad as how he feels to ride.
The snow issue is irrelevant and I went through significant precautions. This was like the only jump I did that day and then we went on a hack instead due to realising the snow was balling in their feet.
And YasandCrystal, the girl who posted that is actually a friend and its kind of in joke as I once had a 'expert' tell me that i was pulling on my horses mouth and was generally a bad rider and should move down to a plod / beginner pony. Mind this was when I was hunting and jumping 1m10 tracks at 14 on a 14.2hh pony - armchair critic indeed! They can do it all until you ask them to show you, then they suddenly go quiet.
I do raise my hands, its a bit of a nervous tic / habit I can't shake. As I say, the video doesn't look half as bad as how he feels to ride.
The snow issue is irrelevant and I went through significant precautions. This was like the only jump I did that day and then we went on a hack instead due to realising the snow was balling in their feet.
And YasandCrystal, the girl who posted that is actually a friend and its kind of in joke as I once had a 'expert' tell me that i was pulling on my horses mouth and was generally a bad rider and should move down to a plod / beginner pony. Mind this was when I was hunting and jumping 1m10 tracks at 14 on a 14.2hh pony - armchair critic indeed! They can do it all until you ask them to show you, then they suddenly go quiet.
Countrychic
Well-Known Member
Maybe lessons until you cure the habit before you up the bit then?
YasandCrystal
Well-Known Member
Maybe use and SOS strap on the front of the saddle to hold with the reins to break this habit? Just an idea
TeamWazz
Well-Known Member
Well I'm off for this lesson tomorrow so we'll see. First in a long time with a new, apparently no-holds barred instructor so may come back here crying.
Will let you know what she thinks.
Will let you know what she thinks.
oldjumper
Well-Known Member
Hope your lesson went well. Looking at the video, thats a lovely horse that really jumps. And, as you said, he really doesn't look very 'bad'. From what I can see, you are lifting your hands a little (understandably defensive riding if you're lacking confidence) but don't appear to be over restricting him with your contact. He doesn't look like he's throwing up his head to a dangerous extent either.
I suggest that when you jump him in the school, you never have just one fence. Coming round like that increases his anticipation, he gets exited, you get tense, he feels your tension (terror)!, he worries and goes faster....... a vicious circle.
I would also advise against straight grids as that often has same effect.
Always school with several small fences set out at various angles / distances. School around then without jumping. Only when he and you are relaxed, pop a fence. Each time, pop over a different fence. Try not to alter your position, especially don't take your legs off. If he rushes, carry on schooling as though nothing has happened. When he is relaxed again, pop another fence and so on. Only when he is jumping calmly in a rythm, go on to jump another fence.
I suggest that when you jump him in the school, you never have just one fence. Coming round like that increases his anticipation, he gets exited, you get tense, he feels your tension (terror)!, he worries and goes faster....... a vicious circle.
I would also advise against straight grids as that often has same effect.
Always school with several small fences set out at various angles / distances. School around then without jumping. Only when he and you are relaxed, pop a fence. Each time, pop over a different fence. Try not to alter your position, especially don't take your legs off. If he rushes, carry on schooling as though nothing has happened. When he is relaxed again, pop another fence and so on. Only when he is jumping calmly in a rythm, go on to jump another fence.
Copperpot
Well-Known Member
I swapped from a happy mouth Dutch gag to a NS universal on my horse. He went much better in the NS.
Springy
Well-Known Member
NS are brilliant
Id try a NS waterford
NS need to be 1/4 inch up from normal bit size but the waterfrd has to be 1/2inch bigger according to NS themselves
You can get them from the bit bank before you purchase to try before you buy
Good luck
Id try a NS waterford
NS need to be 1/4 inch up from normal bit size but the waterfrd has to be 1/2inch bigger according to NS themselves
You can get them from the bit bank before you purchase to try before you buy
Good luck
vixiem
Well-Known Member
I have a similar problem with my mare jumping. I ride her in a Tom Thumb
http://m.rideaway.co.uk/shires-sweet-iron-copper-tom-thumb
This one as I like the copper rings on mouthpiece.
I tried a Dutch gag and she didn't like it only had to tough reins and head went right up high. I also tried a Pelham and a kimblewick I had the control in these but she started leaning on them and got very heavy in the hand.
http://m.rideaway.co.uk/shires-sweet-iron-copper-tom-thumb
This one as I like the copper rings on mouthpiece.
I tried a Dutch gag and she didn't like it only had to tough reins and head went right up high. I also tried a Pelham and a kimblewick I had the control in these but she started leaning on them and got very heavy in the hand.
TeamWazz
Well-Known Member
oldjumper, thanks for your advice, tried putting the extra effort into setting up a course of angled fences, a dog leg and a grid and he was much better behaved as he was obviously having to sit back and guess which fence we were going to rather than just bomb off knowing it was around the corner!
My lessons went great, already feel a difference in him. Jumped him today and felt confident on him for the first time in a long time so very pleased. My friend actually commented on how different a horse he looks already! So think for now we might stay with the dutch gag for jumping and stick with a lesson once a week!
My lessons went great, already feel a difference in him. Jumped him today and felt confident on him for the first time in a long time so very pleased. My friend actually commented on how different a horse he looks already! So think for now we might stay with the dutch gag for jumping and stick with a lesson once a week!
oldjumper
Well-Known Member
Delighted things are going well and you're both enjoying jumping again!
Something else I've found worked with a very similar sounding horse (good jumper, honest but sensitive and VERY excitable over fences) was to leave a few jump up all the time. Every time he was ridden - flat work, hacking, whatever - before I put him away, we went over a fence/fences. It became part of his daily routine until jumping really wasn't that exciting anymore! However, the trick was to alter things every day. An upright became an oxer, an oxer was jumped from the other direction, ground lines and fillers came and went (lines of buckets appeared under fences, a rug was thrown over it) You get the idea...
This kept the horse from switching off with boredom and made it fun. It also gets away from the 'we're doing jumping today' approach which can unsettle horse (and rider).
Check it out with your instructor first though.
Very best of luck for the season.
Something else I've found worked with a very similar sounding horse (good jumper, honest but sensitive and VERY excitable over fences) was to leave a few jump up all the time. Every time he was ridden - flat work, hacking, whatever - before I put him away, we went over a fence/fences. It became part of his daily routine until jumping really wasn't that exciting anymore! However, the trick was to alter things every day. An upright became an oxer, an oxer was jumped from the other direction, ground lines and fillers came and went (lines of buckets appeared under fences, a rug was thrown over it) You get the idea...
This kept the horse from switching off with boredom and made it fun. It also gets away from the 'we're doing jumping today' approach which can unsettle horse (and rider).
Check it out with your instructor first though.
Very best of luck for the season.