Cant Stop!!!!!!

[You Wont Forget Me]

Okay.....so i have a 5 year old warmblood X Thoroughbred, he's 16.2hh ( and apparently still growing) Im 15 not to big built and lets face it im not muscle woman, i have have my horse since November after i out grew my 14.2hh first pony. I am currently riding My horse in a 3 ring waterford on the bottom ring ~But latley people have been saying thats to severe for him and its not allowing him to move forward enough~ so my friend was riding him the last 2 weeks while i was ill in the snaffle ring and he went great, i started riding him again 4 days ago and he wasnt terribly bad but certinly not great until toady! took off round the school and would not stop!!! I tried everything circles, turning to the wall, pulling, sitting deep squeze release but nothing would work he kept going for 10mins! I am now unsure if i should just put him back in the bottom ring so i can controll him or keep trying in the snaffle ring or change completly...........Help!!!

 

[AndiK]

Okay.....so i have a 5 year old warmblood X Thoroughbred, he's 16.2hh ( and apparently still growing) Im 15 not to big built and lets face it im not muscle woman, i have have my horse since November after i out grew my 14.2hh first pony. I am currently riding My horse in a 3 ring waterford on the bottom ring ~But latley people have been saying thats to severe for him and its not allowing him to move forward enough~ so my friend was riding him the last 2 weeks while i was ill in the snaffle ring and he went great, i started riding him again 4 days ago and he wasnt terribly bad but certinly not great until toady! took off round the school and would not stop!!! I tried everything circles, turning to the wall, pulling, sitting deep squeze release but nothing would work he kept going for 10mins! I am now unsure if i should just put him back in the bottom ring so i can controll him or keep trying in the snaffle ring or change completly...........Help!!!

There could be an underlying problem with his back/saddle/teeth/mouth.... Its always best to get this checked first....

I am a firm believer of not forcing a horse by changing bits. I think that he could be trying it on a bit and might just need schooling to bring him back. Perhaps you could lunge him for ten mins before you get on? Or have a couple of lessons on him so that someone can witness the problems and advise accordingly....?

I dont know an awful lot about waterfords but I know that in the right hands they are not as severe as they look. However, I might question whether you need it on the bottom ring. Hanging cheek snaffles are very good and use poll action to encourage the horse to lower its head and sweet iron bits are good for encouraging acceptance of the bit.... Its hard to advice you as I do not know you or your horse but IMO rarely is a problem like this solved by changing a bit if the horse has always gone well in it before....

 

[competitiondiva]

Try checking his mouth, 5 is the classic age for wolf/tushes to start to show, you might just see a red circular patch on the gum, this could be enough to make them very uncomfortable in the mouth. With regard to which ring, if the snaffle ring is too light for him, but you feel the bottom is too severe, have you thought about putting pelham roundings on so you get somewhere in between??