Bitting advice for a horse with an attitude

[melv1lle]

I am reschooling a 10 year old ex racehorse who raced until only a year or so ago. I have been riding him in the school in a loose ring snaffle but for reasons best known to himself he has started to get a serious attitude and so I wanted people's thoughts. When we are in the school he spends his time a) trying to canter sideways irrelevant of the gait I am after b) shaking his head high and fast when I try to take a contact or tell him what to do and c) when that doesn't work he grabs the bit and snatches his head down to pull me off balance or his other approach is to now grab the bit and lean down heavily so that he can go faster and faster. There is no issue with his back or teeth as they have been checked and I honestly think he is just being a bit "teenage" about the whole schooling thing. I will obviously focus on the schooling side and getting his balance and attention etc. but do people think there are better options in terms of the bit I use? I am thinking of something he can't grab so easily or lean against.

 

[samp]

I would contaxt Rebecca at shop 4 bits. She has really helped me out with my horse that has a sensitive mouth

 

[the watcher]

Do you also hack this horse out (well done BTW, sounds like trying to ride a snake) and does it do the same things?

 

[AmyMay]

The thing with racehorses is that they only really have the contact picked up when they are racing. So for most - pick up the contact means go faster.

I would have thought that this is a question of patience, patience, patience. I would only school in walk and trot, as the horse is probably as stiff as a board, and won't have been worked on a circle of any type for a long, long time. A lot of the naughtiness probably accounts for this - as perhaps a little boredom.

Do you do lots of hacking out and suppling excercises with him??

 

[KatB]

Is it single jointed? If so, would try a lozenged snaffle.....

 

[melv1lle]

Do you know what the url is for the website? I looked up shop 4 bits on Google but nothing came up.

 

[KatB]

www.shop4bits.com

 

[melv1lle]

I would usually agree with you but up until the start of this year (i.e. all our schooling last year) he was becoming increasingly rounded and balanced and I did a lot of work on circles (see evidence below

). To be honest I am utterly confused why his behaviour has become so bad only this year but whilst I try and work that one out I was after a bit that would help me keep some control whilst in the school!

 

[AmyMay]

Aha - not a recent thing then. Sorry, I thought that you may have just got him.

 

[the watcher]

given that he was working quite well up to a short while ago, I think something has changed for him, either physically to him or maybe to his surroundings.

Is he on a calmer? In the short term it might help with a period of adjustment.

As for a bit, I like Mylers, nice wide centre section, so no pinching, independent sides, variety of cheek pieces to choose from and you can usually have them on trial for 7-10 days. I am a big believer in the 'less is more' approach with bitting, however it might not suit in your circumstances

 

[melv1lle]

Well this is what I assume as well but the only change I can think of is the reduced turn out - in the summer he is out all night whereas in the winter he is only out in the afternoon. I have got him on a calmer which I started two weeks ago - magnesium oxide and yea-sacc from Metabolic Horse - but have not noticed an impact as yet. I hope something starts to work though cos as you said it is like riding a very hyper snake

 

[AmyMay]

Can you get him out for longer??

 

[Fantasy_World]

Just a few slight questions did the yard who had him for racing use him for flat or national hunt racing? Was he stabled during his time there or turned out during the racing season? You may think it odd me asking this and forgive me if you think I am speaking out of turn or saying things you already know as you may have reschooled ex racers before.
But if he was used to flat racing then this contact with the bit ie leaning on it and pulling to go faster may indicate flat racing as they are just trained to run faster and faster as soon as they leave the starting stalls ( unless it's a long distance flat race and they are held up etc)
National hunt usually involves more control. They don't run as fast as the obstacles they jump tends to slow them down and also many horses cannot tolerate a spring finish after a tiring 3m chase around Newbury for example.
You could always try going back to basics and start off with a breaking bit with keys and go from there, maybe using some copper alloy based bits or similar to encourage him to work and mouth the bit and enjoy it instead of fighting it or taking hold and I would say in my honest opinion biting it.
Also with regard to the throwing of his head, is he ridden in a martingale as it looks like it?
Have you tried a market harborough or a de gogue ( is it called?) to try and control his head action and make him 'rounder'?
Also another suggestion may be a net muzzle ( sometimes called nose net as well) which you attach to the noseband and covers just the top part of their nose, but allows breathing. A friend in racing, used to be a trainer had a problem with a headshaker when it raced. It was called Run for Dante and I can remember at the time when I was told about it the horse used to take a pull and shake his head a bit and the net muzzle was fitted and it helped him to win. I know they are allowed in racing but unsure of other disciplines? They are not very expensive to buy new and you can always have a look on ebay as I picked up three last year for around £5 to £6 I think it was?
Good luck and hope you manage to sort him out
Cazx

 

[Fantasy_World]

meant sprint finish lol

 

[Imonone]

Nearly all our young horses have had a little 'difficult phase' as soon as they start to get older, stronger and think they know it all.

Be firm & consistent and this will probably resolve

Just like Kids really

 

[melv1lle]

The problem is he is already ten even if he thinks he is three years old!