holeymoley
Well-Known Member
Agh I'm at my wits end with this one. Would love any ideas or tips with this.
Ive had my boy for 9 years from a 3year old so basically everything he knows he has learnt from myself. He has a large personality so quite cheeky at times and has his own way of thinking but none the less he's the best, and will try anything I want to do and is 99% of the time safe and well mannered.
Now to the point of my post. To hack out at my yard, we have to ride across a small field to get onto the neighbouring road. My boy has starting snatching the reins and gorging on the grass. I have tried basic discipline with harsh voice and use of stick , and also resorted to grass reins which I didn't want to. Unfortunately these haven't particularly worked as he just pulls harder against them ! I think the problem is that he is overcome by the amount of long grass, and that it all started post pregnancy when I didn't particularly have the core or back muscles to discipline him and deal with any consequences ( the 1% of the time he's not good , he is known to put in a buck from a standstill)
Due to his health and type - good doer and got laminitis for the first time last year, he is on a small paddock for turnout with minimal grass and a haynet and has hard feed and hay overnight in his stable so grass is restricted for him. He does have hay before we hack out so he's not exactly starving. I think it's purely because he knows he can!
Hes also ridden in basic tack- cavesson noseband and snaffle. The snaffle is fine , but wondering about changing the noseband? I know he'll still eat through any noseband but he seems to be opening his mouth while yanking his head down.
Help and ideas please! It's putting me off hacking out and he's great in every other way.
Ive had my boy for 9 years from a 3year old so basically everything he knows he has learnt from myself. He has a large personality so quite cheeky at times and has his own way of thinking but none the less he's the best, and will try anything I want to do and is 99% of the time safe and well mannered.
Now to the point of my post. To hack out at my yard, we have to ride across a small field to get onto the neighbouring road. My boy has starting snatching the reins and gorging on the grass. I have tried basic discipline with harsh voice and use of stick , and also resorted to grass reins which I didn't want to. Unfortunately these haven't particularly worked as he just pulls harder against them ! I think the problem is that he is overcome by the amount of long grass, and that it all started post pregnancy when I didn't particularly have the core or back muscles to discipline him and deal with any consequences ( the 1% of the time he's not good , he is known to put in a buck from a standstill)
Due to his health and type - good doer and got laminitis for the first time last year, he is on a small paddock for turnout with minimal grass and a haynet and has hard feed and hay overnight in his stable so grass is restricted for him. He does have hay before we hack out so he's not exactly starving. I think it's purely because he knows he can!
Hes also ridden in basic tack- cavesson noseband and snaffle. The snaffle is fine , but wondering about changing the noseband? I know he'll still eat through any noseband but he seems to be opening his mouth while yanking his head down.
Help and ideas please! It's putting me off hacking out and he's great in every other way.