Bitting advice for pony who drops his head

AnnieD

AnnieD

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Hi guys, I'm hoping for a bit of advice on 14.1 cob I bought for my 12 yr old daughter last November.

For the most part the pony is a star, stops, starts, turns, jumps etc. However he is a little on the strong side, especially for a whippet of child who weighs 6 stone at best. She is however a tidy little jockey, just lacking upper body strength.

He came to us in a kimblewick which he leant on, so I moved him to a waterford nelson gag which seemed to suit him better as he's quite sensitive, but a bit strong. He does try to evade the bit by opening his mouth, despite us having him in a flash.

Recently he has taken to dropping his head and tanking off with his head on the floor, and my daughter is struggling to pick him up and stop him. He doesn't do it very often, but when he does, it's quite bad and I don't want her losing her confidence.

I'm not one for a lot of gadgets, but I'd just like some advice on what might help to pick his head up. The waterford has very little poll action, so I'm wondering if something with more poll action might help?

Any thoughts/advice appreciated!
 
Sorry, I can't access Facebook.
But - surely if the pony puts it's head down, poll pressure is the last thing you want.
I always think that horses which open their mouths are trying to tell you that they are uncomfortable. Has he had his teeth checked recently? If not I'd do that asap.
If he has I'd try a few different bits from a bit bank to see which is most effective.
 
a cheltenham gag will lift the bit in the mouth making them put their head up, but you have to be very good with your hands as there is no limit on how high you can pull the bit in the horses mouth.
try a french link with a drop noseband-the drop stops mouth opening and jaw crossing and it really helped with my mare who used to do the same as your pony. he could still 'tank off' and the best thing your daughter could do is lift her hands and sit right up whilst giving little kicks in his side as he'll have to lift his head up.
what she can also do is when he tanks off she might naturally look ahead where the pony is taking her. the pony goes fab! off we go then! next time he does it, get her to look round on a circle and turn her whole body where she's looking and pull the inside rein the same way she's looking. he'll find it much harder to go tanking off in a straight line if she is looking somewhere determinedly.
 
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