Control issues when ridden

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abbieandfiona

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My new mare doesnt listen when hacking. I know shes not used to me and has moved to new area so expect issues. However she has been really good so far ridden out with others she is fine. Just will not stand still at all.

Ridden by herself she spooks, which is not issue really, and again will not stand still or if she does stop takes while to get her to move again.

Shes a older mare, however hasnt been ridden in long time. Was broken in Kimblewick bit, so no wonder she doesnt listen to bit and doesnt like any contact. At the moment she is in a lozenged loose ring snaffle, can get her to stop just in this bit when she gets afraid she will just take off on road and find it hard to stop her.

Not sure if to try stronger bit, only ever normally ride my mares in snaffles so wouldnt know where to start on a different bit. A flash made no difference on her so no point in using one. Cant have lessons on her to help as she is not fit and at her age will take a while to get her fit again. She is very sharp which i think comes from her arab side of her as she is cobxarab.
 
Who, thought it was a good idea to break her in a kimblewick!? honestly some people.

It may be best to put her back into a kimblewick if she's used to it, at least till she's fit enough to re-school, if you really don't want to, a wilki snaffle may help, it's one step up from and ordinary snaffle and i have found it usefull on stronger horses that don't need a too strong bit.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.equestrianandpetequipment.co.uk/images/wilkie.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.equestrianandpetequipment.co.uk/loop-ring-wilkie-double-jointed-snaffle-bit-p-864.html&usg=__V9qIYj0IGvyVgQuBRudlQNtVQqI=&h=400&w=400&sz=12&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=7X2MXuuIRaPOCM:&tbnh=117&tbnw=151&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwilkie%2Bsnaffle%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox%26biw%3D1001%26bih%3D371%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=405&ei=uzzETJODH4uRjAfpg5m8BQ&oei=rTzETOvyIsSBOvTr6dkL&esq=3&page=1&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0&tx=107&ty=50
 
Thanks i know she was broodmare for most of her life, she has issues i dont want to add her back into same bit as she was broken in. Would never dream of adding something like that to my youngster when its her time to be backed and broken in.
 
Hope you get her sorted,
I can't belive some broke her in a kimblewick, thats just daft and complety unnecessary, plus makes it difficult for people like yourself who want to ride in a snaffle.
 
When you're asking her to stop/slow down does she open her mouth? If she does, you could try a drop noseband or a flash. I have a lovely cob who used to refuse to stop on hacks and would evade it by doing an "alligator mouth". I just added a flash to see if it would make a difference, which it did and then moved into a drop as I find they clamp their mouth less. It could be worth trying although I imagine she may have a different problem.

How is she in the school? Does she halt happily then? Maybe some more schooling with lots of transitions would help her. Good luck with her and I hope you get her sorted. It's great that you're not putting her back in a kimblewick either - horrible bit for breaking in!!
 
Well she hasnt been ridden in over 6 months so cant really start schooling her until she is fitter as she is 22 as well. When asking her to stop she seems to raise her head higher and turns to side more than anything. The flash made no difference at moment shes in my other mares plain caverson bridle.
 
Why not put her in a pelham with two reins. Then you can use the snaffle rein to re-educate her, while having the curb rein with a kimblewick type action as a back-up if she starts to get out of control. You can use no curb chain, a loose chain, a leather curb or an elastic one, whichever suits. If you doubt your ability to manage two reins, tie them together with a cable tie so that the curb rein is longer and you have to make a decisive action to take up the slack and use it.
 
There is no reason not to school her, not all schooling needs to be done at a fast pace.
At just a walk you can do changes of direction, serpantines, leg yelds, turn on the forehand, etc. This sort of simple schooling can also be done out hacking. Do not be afraid to use your voice as a back you to the other aids.
There is no point in riding in a snaffle if you have no control, I to am a fan of pelhams, as they can be ridden as a snaffle and only use the curb for extra brakes.
 
I agree with Honetpot - you could practice walking, stopping, walking etc. I usually do five strides of one pace, five of another etc, leg yields, circles.. as it gets them listening to you more.

I too have mine in a pelham due to him not stopping. It's the only bit that I've managed to slow him down in. It's a jointed one so it seems kinder in his mouth when he's relaxed but the chain adds pressure when he's less responsive.

She sounds quite similar to mine - I've been advised that he's 'dead in the mouth'.
 
honetpot said:
There is no reason not to school her, not all schooling needs to be done at a fast pace.
At just a walk you can do changes of direction, serpantines, leg yelds, turn on the forehand, etc. This sort of simple schooling can also be done out hacking. Do not be afraid to use your voice as a back you to the other aids.
There is no point in riding in a snaffle if you have no control, I to am a fan of pelhams, as they can be ridden as a snaffle and only use the curb for extra brakes.
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As i have no school only a field not ideal to ride her in with this wet weather and as only ridding her for less than 30 mins a time to build her up too far to hack to higher a school.
 
abigail621 said:
As i have no school only a field not ideal to ride her in with this wet weather and as only ridding her for less than 30 mins a time to build her up too far to hack to higher a school.
Click to expand...

I only have a field as well ...

When you hack, do you walk/trot? If it's just walk - unfit horses can walk for miles so maybe try a few trots as well?
 
Its just walk at moment and am being careful as have one lame horse already from being overworked in her past before i got her. As shes 22 years old been told to take it easy with her to slowly build her up as this mare has never ever been fit.
 
TBH I'd put her back in the kimblewick for hacking out for now. The kimblewick isn't a bad bit, just gone out of fashion (although not something I would break a horse in!)

Its quite a mild bit, particularly if you have the curb chain very loose and preferable to a pelham which has much greater leverage IMHO. You are asking a lot of her to move to a snaffle, the action and feel in her mouth will be completely different

There's no reason at all why you can't re-school her over time to accept a snaffle, but for hacking, for now, I'd use the kimblewick
 
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