Could I have some help with my strong pony?

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picolenicole

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When I got King we had him in a loose ring french link snaffle, I had to change this when myself and RI found out he "sucks" his bit making it half an inch smaller so was pinching his lips. I then used an eggbutt french link snaffle, to help stop this. His mouth is 5.5" but I have to use a 6" due to the "sucking", and fat lips :).

He now has a hanging check french link (I like my french links can you tell? :)) as when out hacking he buggered off a few times, also when changing the first time my RI advised a hanging check. This was fab, I don't know if it was in my head or if it did have that much of a change on him but I could slow his pace down, and stop with the smallest of touches. I also use my seat he is really good in the school, I can slow him down change direction with just my seat, but out hacking he's something crazzed!!!!!

He's gone backwards with his bit now. Yesterday I really did think I was going back to the yard at a good speed (through a wood) as I could not stop him or even slow him down. Well I did slow him down but not in what I would consider a "nice" way, think small children on ponies :( I tried all the schooling things (seat, voice, half halt, a stronger half halt), I couldn't turn him as in a wood when he set off and the wood is quite dense! With one path through it, so didn't know if there were holes under the leaf litter etc. Also he can do some fab 5m circles still at flat out.

I have a lesson on Wednesday so will talk to RI but just want a few thoughts as to what bit? So I can have a somewhat more in depth chat with her. So far I have thought about a Phellam Bit, or a kimblewick, but the prob is in a school he is lovely with the bit he has now, and I would like to compete him so also have that thought.

AAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR bloody horses and bits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah he's a 6 year old cob 14.1hh, and goes from seaside donkey to crazzed idiot, all I asked for was a nice trot :(

Any thoughts would be brill :)
 
Our mare's hacked in a gag and schooled in a hanging cheek myler. It really makes no difference to her schooling, but I'm sure other people will disagree! Good luck finding a solution, it's not nice when your not in control is it. :(
 
No not when there were trees flying at me and at the last second he dodged them! On an open field I make him carry on then for a few days he's as good as gold but here there was just no room, wood to road and there was no way I was hitting the road at gallop!
 
Perhaps hacking with a French link gag, and 2 reins, one on the snaffle ring and one on the 2nd ring, so you aren't always using the extra strength, just pick that up when you need more breaks! I know somebody that used to hunt like that:) worked really well for her. :)
 
The only bit I have any resemblence of control is a neue schule universal gag with lozenge... My fat tongued connemara x actually seems to find it comfortable too....
Mind, occasionally he has still buggered off in it!!!

Could try waterford hanging cheek, supposed to be good....
 
Totally sympathise with the 'heading towards low trees/road at speed' thing, very scary.

Obviously the first thing you think of, very naturally, is breaks and hence a bit change. But you might want to go one step further back and consider why you get out of control in the first place...

- is pony better/worse in company?
- is this spooking and taking off at a particular place?
- or does he speed up when you turn and head for home?
- is it high spirits?

At the end of the day a pony (even a dinky 14.1!) is stronger than you and whilst a bit can help by putting pressure on sensitive parts of the young man you're better off not having to fight one!

perhaps talk to your RI about how to address the root casue of the uncontrolled high spirits/panicking your pony has.

You might decide to hack more regularly/circularly/with company/in walk only/whatever for a while.

But whatever you do you're more likely to end up safer and happier without too much additional hardware/longer arms!
 
have a look at the peewee bit its sweet iron and mullen mouth and is brilliant for strong ponies with fleshy mouths , you need to have soft hands but they cant get away from you with it , ive had back surgery and cant have my huge fat cob pulling at me and its brilliant!!:D
 
Gosh, sounds similiar to mine!

Mines schooled in a loose ring french link. For dressage he's either the loose ring or a hanging cheek if he's a bit strong, I prefer the loose ring as he tends to 'fix' a bit on the hanging cheek if being asked to bend, etc.

For jumping out and hacking(through field/forest) he's in a Dutch gag.

For showing he's in a double.
 
I ride a pony that was so strong only a tall hedge would stop her! I talked to the owner and bought her a waterford snaffle and she no longer pulls on the bit and is very light in her mouth. Some horses may not like the little balls on it but it might be worth hiring one out to see if it works :) also a change in noseband might be useful, i school and hack mine in a flash and he jumps in a grackle as he gets quite strong.
 
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Tickles - He wasn't spooked, he's not really one to spook (unless he see's a goat!!), he "run's" (for want of a better word) when ever you ask for something faster than walk. Now the only thing I think of is we walk a lot on hacks, even more when the ground was hard, so I think he does it because it's exciting. He's not a nappy nasty pony he doesn't do things to get one over on you he just does what's asked but with too much put into it. Unless your in the school, then he's very good at the I'm a fat lazy cob impression.

I did have a flash but that doesn't seam to do anything apart from p**s him off if he tried to grab a snack on the way past a bush.

I think I may get a few of the bit's that you lot have said and try them, I don't want to rewin his mouth with me err pulling on it, I think something a little stronger and the "threat" of it would work (only need to say pass me my whip please and he start's to work better). Will see what RI says.
 
In that case you need to make it boring. If you have good ground now make sure that you go with (sensible steady) company in front (or by yourself if you're feeling brave) and do lots and lots of changes of pace in different places (try walking back towards home and then going past the entrance as if you're starting off on your hack again and cantering then only etc, etc). In a safe place without roads push him on when he gets tired (within reason, the point is to make it your decision to slow not to exhaust him) and so forth.

Good luck!
 
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