Chin on chest

[charlbilly]

Hi my horse has a habbit of pulling his chin to his chest when we canter while out hacking, this leaves me with little to no steering or brakes. He is a 15-2 cob has nice movement when schooling bit is always a bit strong. I'm hoping someone has advice or even some sort of training aid that I don't know about. He is ridden in a ns universal warterford bit. Any advice is much appreciated x

 

[Fransurrey]

Is he doing this in response to contact? I'd actually try a much milder bit. Waterfords can be quite severe and I imagine if your contact is evenly slightly too much for him this will be the response. What happens in the absence of contact? Does he do it on the lunge for example?

 

[sbloom]

A strong horse is an out of balance horse, they're unable to stop themselves "falling forwards" and so use your body, as well as the wrong bits of their own, to hold them up in front. Going faster is easier than slower. I'd agree with a milder bit being a likely part solution (a good bit fitter is worth their weight in gold), but working on balance would be curing the problem at source rather than only fixing the symptom. Have a look at equitopiacenter.com for lots of fab resources on balance and topline and find ways to help him without resorting to gadgets which can't fix balance, they just can't.

 

[Landcruiser]

My first horse did this when I first had him, as a way of evading the bit. I listened, dropped the curb he'd come with for a snaffle (much better) and finally bitless (perfect from then on).

 

[charlbilly]

A strong horse is an out of balance horse, they're unable to stop themselves "falling forwards" and so use your body, as well as the wrong bits of their own, to hold them up in front. Going faster is easier than slower. I'd agree with a milder bit being a likely part solution (a good bit fitter is worth their weight in gold), but working on balance would be curing the problem at source rather than only fixing the symptom. Have a look at equitopiacenter.com for lots of fab resources on balance and topline and find ways to help him without resorting to gadgets which can't fix balance, they just can't.

Thank you I will look at that. He does work much better in the school when he is concentrating on balance and when he is listening to me,but it all seems to go out of the window when we are out. I will definitely look into a bit fitter x

 

[Highmileagecob]

Try going bitless in the school, and see if it makes a difference. My cob used to do this, or he would stretch his head down to knee level and just go. He also used to hang to the right when trotting. After my daughter gave up riding, I tried a bitless bridle. He was much more comfortable, and never went back to a bit.

 

[sbloom]

Thank you I will look at that. He does work much better in the school when he is concentrating on balance and when he is listening to me,but it all seems to go out of the window when we are out. I will definitely look into a bit fitter x

He is just looking for the easiest way to move his body carrying a rider, as riders we need to help them find their balance rather than hope he'll concentrate on it . Do go look at the link I posted, it will help you both.

 

[blitznbobs]

Tbh I have had a cob who did this and you might as well not have had a bridle on him… chin on chest and go was his modus operandi… the only thing that worked was getting shoulder in and then mixin g up some other lateral work to get him thinking about that not sodding off home

 

[Highmileagecob]

Yep. Cobs have an inbuilt instinct for work avoidance and self preservation. They will learn how to open the feed room door in the blink of an eye, but teaching them co-operation and obedience takes a lot longer! It's worth checking teeth and mouth in general. Some cobs have a large tongue and fleshy cheeks to the point where a bit is uncomfortable.