bit problems/head carriage

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clairefeekerry1

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my horse is returning to work after 5 months off for an injury. were only walking out for about 30 mins a day but he's really chomping on the bit, pulling to stretch his neck out, playing with the bit, overbending and generally opening his mouth/tossing his head. he's ridden in the bit he's always been in (myler comfort eggbut snaffle) and he's getting his teeth checked next week although he is very up to date teeth wise, checked every 6 months by edt. he normally wears a flash as tries to put his tounge over bit, recently taken this off and he was even worse, seriously over bending, lip flapping, not going forwards. as part of his rehab he is also long lined and he does it whilst being long lined which makes me think its the bit rather than something else.... any ideas? could i try another bit?? why would his bit all of a sudden not be right? oh- he's not strong at all to ride so the milder the better!
 
it was a hind leg lameness, never really got a diagnosis but poss caused by a pelvic injury, maybe back hence why i am wary but if you long rein him he still does it. oooh, riding in a headcoller. yikes, its a good idea, bit scary tho!!!
 
Headcollar - yikes!!! Could you walk him in hand with bridle on to see if same problems are there? I take it you need to build the work up slowly so can't lunge? I think your boy is probably thinking riding after 5 months off is incredibly exciting. It may well be that he settles down once he realises life isn't so exciting after all! Do you have an arena you can walk around - safer to be enclosed if he is pratting about. Is he better with another sensible and calm companion?
 
ye he still does it to a certain extent if walked in hand with bridle on, it does seem a bit excitement related, i.e its always on the way home
 
Hold the reins on the buckle end, if his nexk isnt straight, it's a back problem, it his neck is straight it's a mouth problem. (Thats the general rule i work with.)
 
clairefeekerry1 said:
it was a hind leg lameness, never really got a diagnosis but poss caused by a pelvic injury, maybe back hence why i am wary but if you long rein him he still does it. oooh, riding in a headcoller. yikes, its a good idea, bit scary tho!!!
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Not scary:D You say he's not a puller. Try it in an enclosed area, if your nervous, have someone on the ground to grab him, just in case. :)
 
i can only really hack him out at mo, cant take him in the school. he'd never go anywhere just think it would be weird riding without a bridle and bit!!! really want to try it tho!! if i give him the reins fully, which i've been told to do to encourage him to really stretch thru his back, he stays straight, but the more rein i give him the more he faffs with his mouth/bit
 
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