Cured, head tilting, tooth grinding, tongue out, all gone!!!

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mik

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Sorry this is long, but I am content, and I wanted to tell you cause usually I don't really say much about Silwald, (Sili is his stable name) my 17 year old hanno laddie, (x-show jump by Silvio, tendon gone, twice, saved by me from being PTS, rehabilitated over the last couple of years with my brilliant vet).
Anyway he no longer does any of the above, he is supple, soft, happy and relaxed in his flatwork and gallops out in the wilderness of spain.

I am delighted. He has had all health checks etc, and I found, by trial and error a double bridle was the key to flatwork, using the curb to gently insist on flexion, then straight back on the bridoon, and because we had no emergency brakes, a pelham with double reins for hacking. Both were thinner rather than fatter bits.

The most important thing that facilitated all this is a comfy loose noseband, he has a big tongue and doesn't open his mouth but you can see, when his jaw is relaxed a pink layer!!! Forcing his jaw shut makes him panic, resist and evade. Years of jumping in a grackle and various bits hasn't helped.

Yesterday we managed to go out for a long hack, including gallops, jumping and spooky monsters in a french link SNAFFLE (he hates the nutcracker action of a normal one) and running martingale, (quite loose) and return home in triumph and happy.
So the pelham has gone and we are happy in the double bridle for dressage.
I'm so happy for him and he is too. He hardly ever runs through my hand now and is respectful and sweet, listening always to my seat.
So it can be done guys, even with an old monster like mine!!
(and believe me he knows every trick in the book)
Big chocolate or fresh blueberry muffins for all and I hope you all have a great day!!!!!
 
Ta, he of course had his teeth done but they were fine, as he came from an SJ yard I presume they did all that regularly.
 
Great story! Well done for trying the snaffle in the first place. So pleased it was successful
 
Choccys on the way then. I always like to go right back to basics if possible. What amazes me is how he doesn't stress anymore!! So cool!
 
Nice to see somebody finally solving a problem by going for the simpler option, rather than an ever desperate, never ending search for a stronger bit that you see all too often. Well done you!
 
Lately I have been watching a lot more dressage competitions, and doing some training, and I notice that the nosebands (especially these crank ones) get tighter and tighter, and I see more and more resistances. I am wondering why the first thing people seem to do is tighten the noseband.
In my day we thought if a youngster opened its mouth a tad, normal as it was lacking balance, so with training it improved.
For XC and SJ we might use a drop!!! or flash noseband to ensure control in sticky moments, and yes they were tight as else there was no point in putting them on.
I remember a wonderful array that you used to see of badly fitted nosebands positively suffocating the horses, it was was amazing back then, top too loose, bottom to tight, too low etc!!! I also hate to see children's ponies hurtling round mouth agape and jaw crossed. So yes they are essential in many cases
But in dressage? I thought we aimed for a relaxed jaw???? So tight they cannot even take a Polo from your hand?
Do you see this in the UK or is it just spain. I wouldn't be surprised as here child's ponies do dressage in a pelham with just a curb rein. Ah well rant over.
 
I too am a fan of loose nosebands! I don't believe in flashes or grackles unless the horse has a habit of getting their tongue over the bit... they have to be able to open their mouths to relax then after all... its amazing the number of people who strap their horses gob shut just for the sake of it... although over here I find it harder and harder to find a caveson noseband on a bridle in a tack shop... they're nearly all flashes or grackles - fashion perhaps?
 
I had a similar thing with my girl. I swapped her kk sprenger french link snaffle for a waterford snaffle and she goes softer in it !! My bridle is a crank type nose band, but I never tighten it, its on the first hole and my girl easily takes polo's !! I believe less is more as long as you feel in control and the horse doesn't take advantage :D

Nice to hear you had such a good result :D
 
catdragon said:
I had a similar thing with my girl. I swapped her kk sprenger french link snaffle for a waterford snaffle and she goes softer in it !! My bridle is a crank type nose band, but I never tighten it, its on the first hole and my girl easily takes polo's !! I believe less is more as long as you feel in control and the horse doesn't take advantage :D

Nice to hear you had such a good result :D
Click to expand...

Snap!!!!!! I changed from a french link eggbutt and tight crank noseband (all on her whien I took over the ride) to a waterford and loose crank - first hole like you- and she changed over night to become beautifully soft and light in my hand. So much better! :D She does still go better with a flash on, but am wondering if its a psychological thing, as this too is on the first hole, and loose enough for her to eat. However, if I ride without it she knows and totally takes the mickey!!!!!! :rolleyes: Weird!! Still, if it works, I'm happy and so is she!! Working on an occasional ride in a loose ring snaffle so that we can hopefully do some dressage, but will keep her in the waterford at all other times.

OP- so glad to see you've worked out the problems, and got to the point of softer options, instead of just going further and further with strong bits like a lot of people do. Well done you!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
 
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