any suggestions please?

[Bluesparks]

hi, i have a 16,1hh cleveland bay gelding who is about 19. he is a bit of a quirky so and so and can be nappy and i am not the bravest but am a knowledgeable and experienced rider and qualified intructor, he is mainly ridden in winter when all the horses are stabled, we have another horse who my partner and i hunt and would like to see what mine is like, he is a fantastic jumper but can be silly in company even cattle running alongside a fence whilst out riding sets him off bucking!!his latest trick is trogging off in trot with his head on the ground nearly, which is a little unnerving with a horse that likes to buck! he is ridden in a copper training snaffle with a peanut/lozenge in the middle and does leave teeth marks in it! when i had him 6 years ago he was ridden by a fairly novice rider who used a waterford fulmer bit or a pelham, and he was scared of being pulled about so until now the bit i use has been ok, just wondered if a change of bit might help? he is also very nappy alone and i have no arena or field to ride in so find it hard to get him ridden enough. sorry to go on any help appreciated!!

 

[ThePony]

Hi,
Our CB mare can be nappy when hacked on her own, and can even be nervous when schooled out of sight of her particular friend. She is a very sensitive girl and lacks confidence - this seems to be quite a common breed trait. He will take so much confidence from you, so you need to feel ok about showing in your actions that what you are asking is safe! Our mare is v sensitive in her mouth, but on account of her being no slouch we also need to be sure breaks are in place!! She has settled very well in a NS eggbutt - the stillness of the bit seems to give her confidence and the shape suits her large tongue, but because it is comfy then she is sensitive to a squeeze to come back to you. There are lots of bit banks so worth a go? Our mare also is better when her mind is kept active, so lots of chilled schooling on a hack works really well - if her mind is left all to her then she tends to think up scary things and wind herself up!! Why don't you work on getting him happier with hacking, then start autumn hunting as it should be a good deal calmer and less likely to blow his brains!!

 

[Bluesparks]

thanks for your reply, a few people have commented on breed traits with clevelands!!one lady i was speaking with about him when she found out his breed said "oh god a cleveland bay.. thankless beasts!!" sounds like yours is similar out hacking, at the weekend i took him out with my partner on our hunter who is pretty perfect he was inventing ghosts in the hedges and napping going back behind him and all sorts until i got annoyed and got hold of him and did some leg yield up the road, then he took the lead concentrated started mouthing and was fine didnt even look at the spooky hedges!! think i will have to brave the hacking out alone and try it! will have a look at those bits online i did think his might be a bit thick in his mouth?