best it for new horse which is behind the vertical

meesha

meesha

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Hi all, have just bought new horse which both when ridden in school by seller and me and out hacking chooses to drop behind the vertical. He has only come over from Ireland 2 months ago and was of course hunted in Ireland! Seller rode him in full cheek peanut copper roller. He is very wobbly in school as only just 5 and ran through my hand in canter out hacking when I tried him (not nasty but was downhill and he just bowled on).

Should I stick with same as seller or opt for something different? It may be the bit she had him in was ideal but more time is needed, I am going to have lessons on him but initially want to hack him and get him relaxing and having fun (he is forward going). I want him to realise he won't have his nose pulled in and can reach into the contact.

Will be booking teeth/back/jabs Monday

Thanks in advance.
 
I'd personally give him a couple of weeks off for now. He's still only young, has 'just' come over from Ireland, has hunted already and is still very wobbly!

After that, I'd work on lots and lots of long and low in something like a rubber Mullen Mouth or a rubber French-Link Snaffle.

From there, raised poled to encourage a lower head and self-carriage.

Good luck with him!
 
Thanks, he has done very little in the 2 months after coming over, I would guess from chatting with seller she prob rode him less than dozen times. I want to crack on with him, he is now a good weight (although rugged to eyeballs as fully clipped and hogged) and loved hacking out when I tried him at sellers (avoiding school for minute until we know each other and he starts to understand no need for btv) It really will be just hacking to start with a couple of times a week but hopefully this will help us get to know each other.

Poles a good idea and will look at rubber bit options ��
 
I'd be tempted to stick him in a nathe bit to see where he is up to. Behind the vertical is a sign of weakness and lack of balance - not surprising with his history so give him time and he may just come good with out too much fiddling..
 
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Having ridden horses bought from Ireland in my youth in my experience they are not really broken just sat on and ridden away.
I would go back to basics, the bit will have been used literally as a brake, especially if hunted.
I would start by making sure he knows voice aids, change the bit down to a simple snaffle and work in halt, walk and trot teaching weight aids so you are not relying on your hands and the bit to stop. So you teach the horse to step in to your hand and halt or slow down is just a bit of extra tension or lack of give in the rein and a stiffening of your back. Forget canter until you have a basic understanding and control.
How ever grown up you think he is physically he will have not had much education as you think.
 
I have just bought a lovely Eldonian loose ring french peanut link I think its called a balancing bit the mouth piece is slightly curved and is a copper colour like the neue schule bits, as I have just got a new horse and felt he was overbending at times and he came in a french link hanging cheek which I felt was not helping as his mouth was very sensitive the slightest pressure and his head would shoot up, I have been using it for about a week now and his much better been getting him really forward and stretching down, he is really accepting the contact better with this bit as he felt like he was evading it with the other one.
 
Following, as I've just bought a 5yo not long off the ferry from Ireland and with a tendency to tuck BTV. I've got him in a loose ring lozenge bit. He is surprisingly well established on the flat so, for me, I think it's more a case of getting to know him, building up muscle/suppleness (for us both) and lots of lessons, as he doesn't do it if he's ridden properly (i.e. not by me!).
 
Nice to know I am not alone, have a breastplate as a backup as fully hogged but will keep the simple snaffle and practice lots of transitions,we are also working on standing still to be mounted as has ants in pants!

I thought he was a bargain, shod today for first time with me (only picked up sat) and will teach me not to get vetted! Missing heel quarter on back foot (old injury according to farrier no chance of growing back), trotted up after shoeing and totally sound (as was before) trouble is I should probably be worrying especially as he was bought as temporary replacement until mine is healed but just love him, first proper ride wed! Sooo excited!
 
Not all horses that are broken in Ireland are done so badly :rolleyes:

In your case OP I'd probably just stick with a full check French link, it's a simple bit that is gentle. I would also check the size of horses mouth, as a rubber bit coud be too wide and put more pressure on bars and tongue.
Enjoy him! He sounds as though he was probably pulled into an outline for selling so just needs time to stretch out into contact, so lots of hacking in a French link would be my advise :)
 
Mine was like this too, he was 5 rising 6 when I got him and he'd been in the UK for only a few months before I bought him. Very green in the school and very behind the vertical. Much better now with lots of work and a french link eggbut happy mouth bit that he's happy to take up the contact with as he's very soft mouthed.
 
Thanks even with the dodgy foot he is gorgeous! Have a French link so will try it as my loose ring is a little snug. Last horse never found thicker bits comfortable so I know its trial and error !

Have to say so far so good, apart from standing to be mounted issue, he hacks on own, good with dogs and crossed metal river bridge calmly. Also had chinnook helicopter go overhead when tacking up and barely reacted.
 
meesha said:
Have to say so far so good, apart from standing to be mounted issue.
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Lots of people wouldn't 'mount'' a horse as such over here, just jump up over their withers, wriggle up and swing into the saddle. No idea how they do it, lots of practice maybe? :D
 
Aoibhinn said:
Lots of people wouldn't 'mount'' a horse as such over here, just jump up over their withers, wriggle up and swing into the saddle. No idea how they do it, lots of practice maybe? :D
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Yep mine fidgets a bit and probably just been vaulted onto. No chance of me doing that, so he's got to learn to stand at the block for old creaky types to get on. I know it's not good for their backs anyway to jump on from the ground however athletic the rider may be!
 
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