Bitting and schooling advice for new horse please

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sue_ellen

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Sorry to be asking for advice again! I will try and be brief.
I have had my mare for nearly three months, I bought her from a dealer and I do not know any history. She is very sweet natured, especially on the ground, and I love her to bits.

When I got her home I did all the usual things, teeth, feet, back man, new saddle fitted, etc. She was sold to me as a happy hacker, and really that is all I wanted her for. She was described as forward going but safe.

The problem is the way she carries herself. The muscle on the underside of her neck is huge, and apart from in walk she carries her head high with her neck hollowing the wrong way, if you understand my meaning. If you touch her mouth she hollows even more, tilts her head to the side and opens her mouth really wide. However she is not uncontrollable and she is not particularly strong out hacking, but things could be easier for her if she could be persuaded to carry herself a little better.

But I am not sure of the best way to go about things. I ride her in a loose ring french link snaffle, thin mouth piece, with a flash nose band - not too tight she can still open her mouth and can stick her tongue out, which she sometimes does, just flicks it out and back in again, and a running martingale.

She is difficult to school as she seems very unhappy in the school, again hollows badly when asked for anything more than walk. I was wondering whether a Myler bit might help, or is she too old to change? She is 13.

Its just that she is so lovely but she doesnt seem to enjoy hacking as much as I would expect, and she seems uncomfortable in her mouth. She does seem to have a thick tongue, and when the bit is in you can see her tongue bulging between her teeth.

Is there anyone I can speak to for advice about bits? Or any tips or advice on the best way forward? I want to do the best I can for her, so we can enjoy our rides together.

Thanks for reading, and choccy biccies for getting to the end!
 
Hi

You have just described my mare, i have her in grackle with ns universal bit thin mouthpiece it is the only bit at all that she will take a contact in ( i have been through lots).

I tried lots of things market harborough etc and found it was just good old schooling that did the trick, she was ewe necked and had no muscle on top...we are 1 year down the line and she now will take a consistent contact and stay on the bit and has now finally started to get the right muscles in her neck.

She is quite strong out hacking and sometimes reverts back to the nose in air hollow back manouvre!

Honestly martingales etc never did a thing for her i just kept on with the schooling out hacking...everywhere really not just in the arena.


good luck it will take a while but its definatley worth the time :)
 
sorry forgot to add have you tried a dr cooks or bitless option....i did this and she definatley prefered no bit but i cannot use this option for faster work as she is so strong ! Maybe worth a try :)
 
Thanks for this. I did think about trying bitless but have absolutely no experience of this at all, and wouldn't have a clue where to start. I find it hard to believe that you can have the same amount of control, although I know of course that lots of people are bitless.
 
If she has a large tongue, it might be worth trying a bit with a ported mouthpiece such as a pelham to allow her more room. The action of a pelham will also encourage her to lower her head.
 
I can recommend the advice from Horse Bit Hire and the Neue Schule range of bits :) I have bought two bits from them for different horses and they're working 100x better :)
 
schooling will alter her way of going, i would also factor in plenty of ground work and some lunge work. I'd also try a bitless option - english hackamore maybe?
 
hunting mad said:
Maybe worth trying a sheepskin nose band cover,so she has to lower head to see where she is going
Click to expand...

This is a very effective way of getting a horse to lower it's head...may also suggest a verbinded Neue Schule snaffle...they are good for horses who need a bit more refining of your aids and offer space for tounge...i wouldn't get anything stronger than a snaffle though because it doesn't sound like she needs anything severe at all! :)
 
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