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Amymou91

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For years I have been under the false impression that getting a horse on the bit involved squeezing the reins until they tucked their chin in. I only recently discovered it's all about muscle development. My instructor recommended using a harbridge a few times a week and it's worked. Mare doesn't fight the contact, she relaxes down and lifts her back, so overall it's a great ride. I take it off, have a trot round let her stretch down etc, but as soon as I pick us a contact, her head goes up. Now I understand very well that it is probably something I am doing. I'm not particularly heavy handed which I am very conscious about but I think it could be something on my part that need improving. She has great muscle tone in her back end I just need to learn how to engage it properly !
 
I have the same problem so will be watching this thread closely.

The training aid is helpful (as long as he doesn't lean on it!) but when we take it off, his head goes up in the air straight away. The only exception is if we use a stronger bit (neue schule waterford) leant to me by my instructor. Then we don't use the Harbridge at all and can work nicely in an outline after a warm up.

I'm trying to wean off the stronger bit though and find out how to get us going nicely in his normal snaffle (without the Harbridge).

I'm spending all my wages on lessons currently - needless to say!
 
I'm so glad someone else is having the same problem!! I usually ride in a gag and she is very hard in the mouth but I'm trying to teach myself to use a snaffle and the rest of my body rather than rely on a stronger bit to do the work !
 
Inside leg to outside hand is the standard answer lots of leg and a little contact that is light and consistent.
One thing that finally got our giraffe to soften was to follow the contact keeping it the same wherever her head so nose up and out hands up and out, over bend follow the contact so that if they cannot escape the light contact by evading it they tend to get the message We have never used gadgets as they simply don't work for many making matters worse because you expect them to learn from it and they rarely do in fact with some they have the opposite effect once you release the the downward pressure the head goes even higher. Oddly we have one of each both backed by the same rider one that used to go hollow and head up and the other used to go overbent so needs riding up to the contact.
Did try lots of other ideas but following the contact was the only thing that worked looked odd as the riders hands were up in the air when the nose was poked but that was uncomfortable for the horse so she decided to chose the correct place which was comfortable and easier
Both are ridden in a hanging cheek french link snaffle
 
windand rain said:
Inside leg to outside hand is the standard answer lots of leg and a little contact that is light and consistent.
One thing that finally got our giraffe to soften was to follow the contact keeping it the same wherever her head so nose up and out hands up and out, over bend follow the contact so that if they cannot escape the light contact by evading it they tend to get the message
Click to expand...

Whenever I have lessons (in the waterford bit) and he starts sticking his head up, my instructor will tell me to do something similar to this - keep my hands completely still and steady, ignoring the giraffery - so that he can't escape the contact. It does work as he settles quickly. However this is all in the waterford and if I try it in the snaffle (even when we've just taken the Harbridge off) it has no effect :(
 
I would love to use a Pessoa but I have no idea how to put it on lol I guess I just need to persevere and not give up. I guess I'm one of those people who like instant results! Your tips are great, I can't wait to ride next and try them out !
 
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