Can I make a confession?

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Jenni&Ditty

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I feel absolutely terrible
I've been given the opportunity to ride a VERY nice horse for a lady (professional) in the village, as said horse is widely acclaimed to be 'a nutter' & I don't think she really enjoys riding him/thinks he's worth the effort
He is ridden in a running gag (not sure of the proper name but one of those that has leather bits that go through and attach to the reins) which I appreciate is v strong. He's light in the hand most of the time & will work well in an outline but (especially in canter) if he gets his head up he will go & is strong
After a few times riding him I noticed his mouth was sore & I felt really bad for this. I honestly don't think I'm a 'handy' rider & I do ride him as much as I can from my seat but in canter I can't slow him down completely with my seat. I don't understand why it's happened because I've never done it to a horse before and I don't think I could use any less hand. Ive mentioned it several times to the owner who has said 'he'll just have a silly sensitive mouth' or 'well if he didn't ***** pull you...', we changed the gag from a loose ring to an eggbut but I don't think its helped.
I don't know what to do now? It needs time to heal and I think he needs a different bit, but I don't know what to suggest that's strong enough, and the owner obviously knows what she's doing more than me. Any tips to help me slow down using seat/not hands?
I feel awful for hurting him!! Should I even be allowed to ride him??
 
Poor horse. I expect he's in pain elsewhere too...

If I were you I would give them both a wide berth.
 
If the owner is prepared to have her horse ridden with a sore mouth I very much doubt she obviously knows more than you. I also doubt that for one moment she would consider your views and what is best for the horse. You are totally right in your concern for the horses' welfare, but don't get the feeling you are going to make any change here. As Tallyho says give it a wide berth
 
If it's a Cheltenham gag then it works on raising not lowering head (leather or rope cheek peices of bridle go through bit and rein attaches to ring at end of them. Ditto others, I wouldn't ride if horse getting sore mouth, you can get gel bit guards which may help but re-schooling is the best option.
 
Not sure a cheltenham gag is the best bit for a horse who raises the head as an evasion? But anyway he isn't yours so I expect you'll have little option. You could try bit guards or bit wraps. But to be honest I would refuse to ride a horse in pain. Not only on ethical grounds - if a horse hurts he will get more and more demonstrative in behaviour to get it to stop and you will get hurt!
 
Jenni&Ditty said:
I feel absolutely terrible
I've been given the opportunity to ride a VERY nice horse for a lady (professional) in the village, as said horse is widely acclaimed to be 'a nutter' & I don't think she really enjoys riding him/thinks he's worth the effort
He is ridden in a running gag (not sure of the proper name but one of those that has leather bits that go through and attach to the reins) which I appreciate is v strong. He's light in the hand most of the time & will work well in an outline but (especially in canter) if he gets his head up he will go & is strong
After a few times riding him I noticed his mouth was sore & I felt really bad for this. I honestly don't think I'm a 'handy' rider & I do ride him as much as I can from my seat but in canter I can't slow him down completely with my seat. I don't understand why it's happened because I've never done it to a horse before and I don't think I could use any less hand. Ive mentioned it several times to the owner who has said 'he'll just have a silly sensitive mouth' or 'well if he didn't ***** pull you...', we changed the gag from a loose ring to an eggbut but I don't think its helped.
I don't know what to do now? It needs time to heal and I think he needs a different bit, but I don't know what to suggest that's strong enough, and the owner obviously knows what she's doing more than me. Any tips to help me slow down using seat/not hands?
I feel awful for hurting him!! Should I even be allowed to ride him??
Click to expand...

I am going to be very blunt but you really ought to know how any bit in a horses mouth works. A Cheltenham gag is severe and used to raise the head of horses that tend to put their heads down and go it really is not a bit to be used for schooling. You say the owner is professional is that a professional rider? If so then I am very suprised in her choice of bit in this situation and does not sound like a knowledgable rider.
 
Having just looked at this poster's previous posts she is 17 possibly nearly 18. Appears pretty clueless in other posts as well. I might even raise troll.
 
But (trolls apart) she has come on here to learn, so let's educate not criticise?
I'd be (with owners agreement) not putting a bit in his mouth until it has healed - you might be able to educate him to go in a manege in a dually or bitless bridle. Then, from the ground, re-educate his mouth - there are videos on Youtube to learn from. The gag is only severe if the hands on the other end are - you can ride with little or no contact even in one of them.
And then discuss when he last had a dentist and back person/saddle fitter....................owner may or may not accept that these things need doing. If she doesn't, then really you should walk away and hopefully horse will be retired to the field if the owner can't ride him?
 
You should not use the Cheltenham gag without two riens one directly onto the bit ring one onto the ring on the end of the leather or rope that goes through the bit ring .
I am extremely surprised the 'professional 'who owns this horse does not know this .
With two riens the Cheltenham ( or English gag ) can be a very good choice for the strong horse .
Why the horse is strong is the question -some horses are indeed just thugs you meet hunters like this sometimes others have been scared when young and have learned to run out of the situations they don't like and others are running from pain .
The horse need to be rested until his mouth is healed then start again .
I could write pages and pages on what you might need to do but will leave you and the ' professional ' owner to sort that out .
 
Agree with the 2 reins, I used 2 with mine for a while as he would! over bend when excited. With 2 reins you can ride on the snaffle and pick up the other for faster work, if you really struggle with 2 you can even knot your gag rein and leave it on horses neck until required! Was flipping useless on my previous horse, may as well have gone bitless (hairy day out hunting when I tried the Cheltenham gag ending in hedge hopping whilst everyone else used the gate, thought the hedge would stop him but oh no!! )
 
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