change of bit?

[mizzymoo]

hello all,

i have an Arab mare that is 15 i have owned her 11 years and I'm having a few issues

shes is perfect in the school but out riding is a different story she is v bolshy, keen, forward going and v mareish,
the prob I'm having is out hacking she has no respect for the bit ( fulmer and a flash )
she wont stand still thinks she knows best will jog go sideways and is just plain rude, how can i gain respect for the bit and get her to respect my aids and what I'm asking from her?
like i say she is perfect in the school..
iv had all the necessary checks and all is clear,
iv not changed her feed in the 11 years iv had her... any suggestions?

 

[tinkandlily]

Assuming she's been in the fulmer for a while, then the wilki snaffle is a good choice, it's a step up from a plain snaffle and can be usefull on horses that are strong, but not too strong.

Failing that the Uxeter slotted kimblewick is a bit useful for horses as well as ponies. Kimblewicks are similar to pelhams in their action with the use of a curb, but milder in their action due to the lack of shank. The Uxeter slotted kimblewick however has the advantage of 3 positions, the top slot gives little curb action, the bottom slot a lot of curb and around the ring of the bit for somewhere between the two.


http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://bitsandbootssaddlery.com/images/si-33.jpg&imgrefurl=http://bitsandbootssaddlery.com/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dproduct_info%26cPath%3D2%26products_id%3D78&usg=__Xnc1QooHlogqYsIu_OvaehG-plM=&h=621&w=1212&sz=301&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=WfV6viJF8UrxRM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=171&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkimblewick%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox%26biw%3D1041%26bih%3D386%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=359&ei=VdfGTMT9CMWUOoLwgSA&oei=VdfGTMT9CMWUOoLwgSA&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&tx=96&ty=31


I found this very usefull on a welsh d mare i used to ride, i could alter the amount of curb depending on how she was behaving, and found she really responded to it when i needed more brakes, she didn't get to used to the same pressure.

ETA, you may have to go back to basics and teach her that you wont be doing anything untill she stands still. As soon as she does what you ask, prasie her, then try again. Always end on a good note, do what you need a couple of times then stop when she gets it right.

 

[mizzymoo]

hi tinkandlily,
thank you for your response, im just so confused at to why she is being ik thslike i say iv had her 11 years and have previously competed at all disaplines and never had a problem,
she just a complete cow to ride lately,
someone has mentioned the wilkie to me before...
the thing i dont get is she is a sensitive horse and stops at a flick of the finger in the school
but out hacking she doesnt give me a thought and rushes off,
if i ask her to hault which is a struggle, she will slamb to a stop throwing herself to a skid with head held high,
v on her toes and the slightest movement from me shes off at full speed or bunny hopping,
canter is a different story she thinks shes a race horse and the looser the rein the faster she goes...
how do i win this one as she is a very strong willed horse !

 

[tinkandlily]

Hmmm, have you tried putting her on a calmer?
Or a good lunging before you ride?

Where you can, ride transititons, and transititons within the gaits i'e lenthening and shortening the stride, and other things you do in the arena to keep her attention on you, you may find you have to do that for all your ride for her to keep listening to you, but hopefully she'll get the point.

When you canter and she takes off turn her in a big circle and keep her on it till she's calmed down then carry on, as soon as you feel she's speeding up, put her on the circle again, you'll probably have to do that a couple of times for her to get the message, you have to show her your the boss and you set the pace and if she tries to take over then she'll have to work on a circle.Hopefully i've been helpful, riding racers i have ridden a few bossy and strong willed horses, and found the above very useful.