Nasicus
Well-Known Member
Just after some ideas on how I can slow my 14hh Heavy Cob down.
We're happy hackers, and have miles of forestry to explore since moving, so plenty of opportunities for a nice canter. However, we do not get nice canters, we get strong, tanky gallops! She'll go from trot to gallop and whilst we're not completely out of control, it does take a fair bit of hauling and distance to get her to slow down back to trot/walk. I plan for this, obviously, but I'd much rather be able to pop into canter and then go up a gear from there if I want than go straight into I AM SEABISCUIT HEAR ME ROAR!
She will pull her head forward and down as we go, I wouldn't say she's grabbing the bit. However it's not a war I can win by my own strength alone.
She's ridden in a mullen mouth pelham (with tongue relief) with roundings, I'm wondering if it's worth changing to two reins, a jointed pelham or perhaps a swales pelham with two reins so I can ask her to stop with the curb/leverage without the poll pressure encouraging the head down? And then just remain on the snaffle rein for the rest of the ride.
We've made great progress in getting her to slow down and relax in general since I got her in November, she came with a rather hard mouth and the idea that she had to trot as speed everywhere to the point where a pelham was the only bit I could use to safely ride her, anything less might as well have not been there. She can still be jigjoggy at times, but generally the only speed/control issue we have now is going faster than trot. We previously were able to drop down to a Slotted Kimblewick, but went back into the pelham when we moved as the woods were entirely very exciting at first.
At the end of the day, having a little zoom isn't a requirement, we just tootle around the woods and have a good time, but it would be nice to have the option to do so and to do so in a slightly more controlled manner, be it with a different bitting setup, through exercises or through other means.
We're happy hackers, and have miles of forestry to explore since moving, so plenty of opportunities for a nice canter. However, we do not get nice canters, we get strong, tanky gallops! She'll go from trot to gallop and whilst we're not completely out of control, it does take a fair bit of hauling and distance to get her to slow down back to trot/walk. I plan for this, obviously, but I'd much rather be able to pop into canter and then go up a gear from there if I want than go straight into I AM SEABISCUIT HEAR ME ROAR!
She will pull her head forward and down as we go, I wouldn't say she's grabbing the bit. However it's not a war I can win by my own strength alone.
She's ridden in a mullen mouth pelham (with tongue relief) with roundings, I'm wondering if it's worth changing to two reins, a jointed pelham or perhaps a swales pelham with two reins so I can ask her to stop with the curb/leverage without the poll pressure encouraging the head down? And then just remain on the snaffle rein for the rest of the ride.
We've made great progress in getting her to slow down and relax in general since I got her in November, she came with a rather hard mouth and the idea that she had to trot as speed everywhere to the point where a pelham was the only bit I could use to safely ride her, anything less might as well have not been there. She can still be jigjoggy at times, but generally the only speed/control issue we have now is going faster than trot. We previously were able to drop down to a Slotted Kimblewick, but went back into the pelham when we moved as the woods were entirely very exciting at first.
At the end of the day, having a little zoom isn't a requirement, we just tootle around the woods and have a good time, but it would be nice to have the option to do so and to do so in a slightly more controlled manner, be it with a different bitting setup, through exercises or through other means.