Am I hurting my horse? (pictures)

Hi there

I'd just like to reiterate the main recommendations that have been offered.

1) Look at changing your bit to either a french link or a snaffle with a lozenge. Make sure it is the right size too, so that it doesn't pinch the corners of his mouth.

Here is an article with advice on how to choose the correct bit and the correct size.

http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/HowtoChooseBits.aspx

2) Refit his bridle, as the bit looks like it's sitting too low in his mouth. Also the throat lash looks very tight - which will restrict his movement. You should be able to fit 4 fingers between the horses cheek and the throat lash - so basically it is loose.

3) Definitely ride with a neckstrap or a breast plate, so you when galloping you can just hook your thumbs underneath it, and use it for balance, so you don't hang on to his mouth.

Good Luck!
 
@Eriskayowner
It's interesting you say you ride him in a "simple eggbutt snaffle" yet the picture shows a loose ring?

How much do you know about bitting?
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Not a lot to be perfectly honest, which is why I am here! :D

To everyone that commented on the noseband – Yes, it is very low! But it doesn’t go up any further because the circumference of his nose his much larger than my last horse, whose bridle this is.


@ ISHmad

I was wondering about the wolf teeth actually! I’m wondering if they’re what I’m seeing when I look in his mouth – they look to be at a very odd angle to be regular teeth… but I’m not sure if they’re normal, for his age. Will look into an equine dentist.

@ Lippyx

Also, a lot of people think a basic jointed snaffle is a "kind, soft" bit, but really, when you think about it, its not that kind.
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I basically thought any snaffle bit was much kinder to the horse’s mouth than most anything else! At least now I know better. Thank you for telling me.



@ Luci07
and check the size of the bit - there should be some 1/4" "alllowance" on either side of your horses mouth or it will be pinching.
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Thank you for this! Was unsure about the space I should leave clear of the bit.

@ MissTyc
How long have you ridden this horse with this tack? Has he always been uncomfortable, has it developed over a period of time, etc! Totally agree with all of the comments above regarding bits/snaffles/etc -- go softer and maybe get yourself a neckstrap to hang onto when galloping. You might then be able to let the horse have his head and learn there is nothing to fear from the hand.
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I have ridden him in this tack for a few weeks, but this was our first and only time galloping on the beach, and we were slowing down to come back into canter. With regards the neckstrap, I will try it out to see if it works… but I am comfortable balancing in gallop (even if my transitions aren’t the best) I was a bit scared because this fella has never been on a beach on seen the sea before! Plus he’s really, really strong! He kept trying to gallop away from the shore and into the very soft sand (which is harder work on the horse) so I was desperately trying to keep him on the harder sand, hence the very severe hands. I knew at the time I was doing it that it was wrong, it just didn’t feel right to me and I knew there was a problem. I should point out he was only in gallop for about 20 – 30 seconds!

@Picolenicole
why do you ride with your head collar on under your bridle? A friend did this and it made presure sores on her horse where the bridle crossed over it.
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I ride with a halter because the beach is a 4 mile hack from my fields… plus my fella had a previous life as a trekking horse, only walking along country lanes. I will keep his halter on for a few weeks until we’re entirely comfortable together. I was just a precaution in case he got freaked out by anything and I had to get off and walk!

@Amage
First of all what makes you think he will suffer respiratory issues? Horses breathe through their noses not their mouths
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I thought this because if his mouth is open it might affect his ability to breath through his nose… like, he could be taking air through his mouth as he galloped?

@Damnation
Put his noseband up a hole or two, if you feel your pony's nose you will feel 2 hollow channels where his airways from his nostils go up, then they stop about6-7cm above his nostrils, your noseband should be sat on the bone not the airways. If that makes sense?
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Thanks for this precise information on where the noseband should be! But as I mentioned earlier, this bridle is just much too small for him… the noseband literally can’t go up much further!

To conclude:::::::

I’ve heard a lot about the lozenge and French link (from the bit bank?), so I think I will choose one of either of them and fix it to a new, larger bridle where I can have the noseband fixed properly up the nose. I won’t be galloping on the beach again until I sort this issue out. After all, I bought a horse to have a partner, not so I could have something to abuse!!! Sorry to who ever said the pictures were distressing -- but rest assured I do love him very much and admittedly my riding is rather sloppy owning to my knee arthritis.

Thanks to everyone who commented and helped me learn more about correct bitting. That's why I'm here, to learn! :)

Thanks again.
 
Hi, just one more bit of advice to add, as this noseband really doesn't fit I would just take it off, as it is just a plain cavesson it isn't meant to be doing anything anyway (other than make him look pretty), but as this one only goes on so low it could be restricting his breathing and making him uncomfortable, also if it's too tight it may rub him. So I'd just remove it until you can get a bigger one. He'll be fine without one. I think most other things have been said! Good luck with him, I hope you can resolve the issues you've been having. :)
 
Either take the noseband off or buy a bridle that fits him. Im not going to repeat what everyone else has said regards bitting but I wanted to suggest that maybe some stable management course would help you learn more about horse care etc. A lot of riding schools run courses and teach everything about bitting, fitting tack, basic vet care and much more. Some run the courses to get people ready for BHS exams but you dont have to sit these exams.
 
Good advice, Paint it Lucky! I wasn't overly worried about the noseband to be honest, because it didn't seem to have any specific function in terms of riding and control. I will take it off! (even though his big white face will look bigger and whiter, lol!)
 
lara b said:
Hi

Just wanted to say I think you boy looks lovely (just my type) and it's great that you want to do right by him.

The blue cross do a fact sheet on tack just in case it is of any use:
http://www.bluecross.org.uk/files/H16 fitting tack.pdf

Best of luck and hope you have lots of happy rides together :)
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very useful document! i should point out again though that this bridle and bit were only a stop gap until I get him his own.... this is my former horse's bridle and he had a much smaller head than my new boy!
 
If you must have a headcollar on with your bridle put it on over the top and not underneath. As another post mentioned it could cause pressure points when under the bridle. The bridle is supposed to be closer fitting than a head collar would be so common sense would say put it over the top.

Agree with most others have said about bitting and bridle size and checks so won't repeat as you have obviously taken it all on board. Definately get rid of the noseband though it is probably doing more harm than good at that position anyway and could definately do without it.

Good luck getting it all sorted he looks a sweet horse.
 
Agree about taking the nose band off or borrowing a hole puncher and putting an extra hole in where you need it, and also on the throat lash until you get the bridle issue sorted. Also important to keep the nose band loose if his teeth are sharp and you're not sure when they were last done.
Don't worry too much, everything is easily sorted, the bitting should be relatively straight forward with a bit that fits correctly and suits his mouth. Very often cobs don't have a lot of spare room in their mouths with having a fleshy tongue which is why I like the lozenge. Loose rings can pinch on fleshy mouths particularly if pulled through,so an eggbutt or full cheek would prevent the pinching.


Neck strap or Jesus strap might be an idea while you are getting to know each other, it'll help you to soften the reins while feeling secure.

The photo is but a moment in time and I'm sure (in fact I have ) photo's where I look and think, yikes, did I do that ? There is a lot to like about the picture, its not distressing at all and I bet you'll have a mental image of it the next time you go for a run.
If only more people were as honest on their horses behalf as you are. I see much worse in the dressage ring.
Your horse is lovely and he's lucky to have an owner who wants the best for him. Don't let this stop you from having fun on the beach, I'm very envious.
 
TrakehnerFilly said:
If you must have a headcollar on with your bridle put it on over the top and not underneath. As another post mentioned it could cause pressure points when under the bridle. The bridle is supposed to be closer fitting than a head collar would be so common sense would say put it over the top.
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I've only ever seen the headcollar on under the bridle (my friend keeps it on under when she is breaking her horses). I was also going on the advice of a friend who does Le Trec... looking through her facebook photos just now, she also appears to have the headcollar on underneath... anyone else have an opinion on this?

@horserider

Thank you for your kind words. I do love him very much... but more than that, I feel for him! I wouldn't be able to enjoy my hacks with him properly if I didn't feel he was enjoying them too.

I have a video of us on the beach here if anyone is interested... you'll be able to see the beeline he makes away from the side of the shore and up on to the soft sand (which is where I didn't want him to go!)

Once I get these tack issues sorted, and become more comfortable with him, I'm sure we'll both improve leaps and bounds!
 
it's the best cure for mud rash i think! my friend's horse (17 y.o. TB) had very itchy heels all his life and the issue was entirely solved after a few weeks to the beach.

Hector lives out 24/7 so hopefully we can do our best to avoid mites and mud rash by taking trips to the sea. :D
 
roshah said:
I've only ever seen the headcollar on under the bridle (my friend keeps it on under when she is breaking her horses). I was also going on the advice of a friend who does Le Trec... looking through her facebook photos just now, she also appears to have the headcollar on underneath... anyone else have an opinion on this?

@horserider

Thank you for your kind words. I do love him very much... but more than that, I feel for him! I wouldn't be able to enjoy my hacks with him properly if I didn't feel he was enjoying them too.

I have a video of us on the beach here if anyone is interested... you'll be able to see the beeline he makes away from the side of the shore and up on to the soft sand (which is where I didn't want him to go!)

Once I get these tack issues sorted, and become more comfortable with him, I'm sure we'll both improve leaps and bounds!
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Woopsy. Your right sorry, just asked instructor and she said if you really must have headcollar on with bridle it must be under so no bit interference.
 
bah can't watch the video as am at work and its blocked. Boo.

Agree with the other comments about the bit and noseband.

Also I would say that your halter should be under the bridle, not over. This is how any trekking company would go, also driven horses sometimes. They do often use halters of a lighter weight though so they are less bulky.

Obviously you should check the fit of the bit, and his teeth etc. But I would say that one of my horse went very happily in his bit, in walk trot and canter, and gallop. However, if I wanted to pull up mid gallop he would also open his mouth and fight the bit becuase he didn't want to stop. So it may just be that you wanted him to go this way, he wanted to go that way and it was all at a quickish pace.
 
You're headcollar is just fine;) unless it's some ridiculous super bulky one then it'll only add a 2mm to his head thickness. He does more that that himself when chewing!

However I would take the noseband off completely when using a headcollar as they just get in the way of each other. I use a headcollar under my bridle (when I use one!) as standard as we have no stables or yard and tack up tied to a tree. Much dashes and safer to slip a headpiece straight over a headcollar.
 
Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my post/look at the pictures/watch the video.

I have read all the comments and taken everything into consideration.

A new bridle and bit will be purchased! Until such times as I get to go shopping, the noseband will come off and I will continue to ride with the halter on under the bridle ;) I won't gallop on the beach again until I buy him his own large-enough bridle.

He's getting a week off now just to bum around his field as I have too much work on to ride until next weekend! Not happy about this but needs must.

Thank you all again.
 
I have read the 1st 2 pages and then skipped some so forgive me if this is repeated.

Stronger bits don't make a soft mouth hard, hard hands do.

he is in my opinion evading your hands, especially since you said it doesn't happen in walk and trot, its a confidence issue with your confidence in him not to shy in gallop.


A little tip for those lovely beach gallops;

A horse will rarely shy in gallop when they are having fun, grab a handful of mane and let his mouth go and enjoy;)
 
looks like you are holding him too short, put your hands lower down on his withers and relax he wont tank off.
 
I love the look of your boy :-)
Just wondering if you'd seen the bridles that turn into a headcollar by unclipping the bit ?
They seem to be quite popular with endurance riders over here and save the need to have your horse wear halter and bridle.
Kx
 
The small teeth you mention sound like wolf teeth and these are frequently removed because they interfere with the bit.va visit from a BAEDT is a must :)
 
Gorgeous, gorgeous boy. I must say I've loved this thread and way to go to you op for being so thoughtful and brave.

It does look to me as if the snaffle is poking him in the roof of his mouth and that's why he's lifting his head and opening his mouth. Great advice given and may I add one other observation which may not be relevant but I notice when you are tensing (pulling) the reins, presumably asking for slow or stop, you also seem to be gripping with your lower legs and ankles. If he is taught to go forward with leg pressure he may well also be a bit confused by the bit pressure and leg pressure at the same time. One asking for slow and the other asking for go... :confused: Just a thought.
I do this if I'm tense and it's hard to stay relaxed. I always ride with a neck strap especially as I'm a bit of a weeble these days. :o
 
roshah said:
@Eriskayowner
- owning to my knee arthritis.

Thanks to everyone who commented and helped me learn more about correct bitting. That's why I'm here, to learn! :)

Thanks again.
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Regarding the knee, have you tried some of those 4-way stirrups. Sprenger do a very nice pair, (Bow Balance Safety Stirrups?) they sort of have rubber between the top and the foot pad, which makes them so much more forgiving and comfortable (and safer too, less likely to be dragged if you fall off). There are many 'me too' types of the market, I got a £17 pair and they have made such an enormous difference to my knees.

I also love the way you have taken all the points and used them intelligently, thats HHO at its most useful!!

And I adore your boy, just my type. You can see you two are going to have so much fun.
 
I have a 5.5" full cheek french link if you want it to try. pm your adress if you do.

I have recently gone to a ns verbindand (sp) it has made a huge difference to my mare.
 
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