An alternative to daisy reins?

C

Christmas_Kate

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 December 2005
Messages
12,933
Visit site
Please, someone tell me if this is a totally insane idea, but I'm fast running out of ideas.

fiistly background : greedy pony sticks his head down and munches whatever chance he gets. On LR he's fine, but soon as he gets off the LR he'll stop, stick his head down and munch to his heart's content. ATM is in a starvation paddock, and thinks he's being literally starved. We don't have access to a school, and can't get to one.
So, with yesterdays news on F&M, I decided it was good opportunity to make a makeshift school in the field and give the kids a lesson today.
On the LR with my 2yo... fine. She was doing most of the work herself and is fast becoming a good little rider, a definate for the LR classes next year. 7yo hops on, LR comes off, pony's head goes down. After 1/2 an hour my son said he didnt want to ride anymore... got off, untacked and said he'd had enough of being pulled down his neck.

We've tried daisy reins and a flash strap. No go, daisy reins just make him have a tantrum, and he can still eat with a flash strap on. My son wants to do PC next year, so we said if he can improve his riding we will buy him a bigger better pony, but in order to acheive that he needs to be able to have lessons. Unfortunately, this has to be on grass... which is too tempting for pony. So... I was wondering, if I got a greenguard muzzle, and blocked off the bits near the mouth, just leaving the nostril bits clear, could I attatch this to his noseband? Is that an insane idea??
 
What about a nose bag in a netty/mesh variety?

That's we used to have on one of the ponies where I worked. Think I've got a piccie somewhere

You could always try grass reins as they're connected to the bit, rather than having the pressure on the poll from a daisy rein
 
I've tried puropse made daisy rein, and home made grass reins (baler twine jobbie), and neither worked. He'd just have a hisy fit and throw himself on the floor. I'm pretty sure he'd just eat a net...


*note to self... NEVER buy another sh*tland*.
 
the nosebag/nets are big enough that he wouldn't be able to get his chops on it (it used to drown the pony we used it on).
 
See if I can find a piccie - we tended to use them on the head shakers before the actual nose nets as we know them today came in. But were also IDEAL for when the kids hacked out as we had to go through a set of woods to reach the main offroad hacking. Stopped the ponies snacking

Here you go: http://www.petercox-photography.co.uk/images/lavant%20house%20sept/pages/LH-S-0055.htm

Just attaches to the noseband with little velcro straps
 
Cover the whole lot - attached on the back of the noseband too.

Pony's gob is surrounded so NOTHING can get in
grin.gif
 
I used to have a pony that did that ALL THE TIME, my mum made grass reins with string, from the d on the saddle through the bit ring across his chin (where the curb chain would sit) and through to the other d on the other side. It worked a treat. A muzzle wont stop pony from putting its head down.
 
AHh yeah, won't sort the stopping bit, but once he realises he can't eat, he might just get on with it - lots of pony club style kicks and he might (only might mind, we are talking a shetland) start to walk on again
 
we've tried these things, and they just upset him. He hates being restricted, and has huge tantrums. I think stopping him being able to get grass would eventually stop him putting his head down and trying.
 
I use a pair of rug straps, they only cost a few quid, are much safer than baler twine (which is lethal), straight from saddle to bit like side reins. Have never known them not to work and in fact most of the small ponies in the PC live in them.
 
anything attatched to his bit, or any part of his bridle come to that, REALLY upsets him
crazy.gif
. On the last attempt, this afternoon, he backed into a fence and started bronking... (the time before that he threw himself on the floor).
 
Have you tried lungeing him for a while with them on so he gets used to the feel of them?

Having had a child's pony that used to try to eat grass, sadly I think you'll find the muzzles won't stop him having the urge to try and eat the yummy grass so the problem won't really be solved.

Worth a try, by all means, but I don't hold out that much hope.

Tweenie used to be a bugger. Basically they know the child is too weak to do anything about it. The pony feels them getting pulled out of the saddle and it's all far too easy for them....so they keep doing it! Tweenie NEVER does it now, which is telling as Hannah's older and stronger.
 
Yes, i lunged him in side reins which seems to be the only thing he doesnt object to (because they have an elastic insert) but unless I do them up tight he still gets his head down. Do them tight and he freaks.
 
perhaps a change of bit to something like the wilkie would help. the main problem is that your shetland knows he can pull your kid out of the saddle, so give the kid a bit more strength to get the head up, once hes managed to keep it up a few times and the pony gets the idea that it cant pull down then you can go back to the bit you have atm
 
I think this is a brill post, I have the same problem... and will use some of the idea's on here.. but i knew a friend who also had the same problem as you and she used side reins but the pony was having none of it and would buck and rear (a little) it turns out that the pony had a back problem and that's why the pony would be a minx's when used in side reins!!! there's a thought!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top