First post advice on green horse please :-)

[merry mischief]

This is a bit long so get a cuppa
A friend of a friend recently gave me her 4 yo (rising 5) 15hh gypsy cob. The reason she gave him to me is that 6 days after buying him (14 months or so ago) he became entagled in some electric fencing and cut his leg, took a year to heal, she had to have a sequestrum removed and it has left a large ugly scar. While he was recuperating she bought her daughter something else but didn't want to sell him on the open market as she didn't want him to end up with undesirables. I have had him 4 weeks and we are doing very well, he was occasionally ridden before I got him, but not consistently as daughter now has a new horse, he had recently been broken before he did his leg. Understandably he was very confused when ridden very shy of leg aids, though tried very hard to please. I decided to take him back to basics and started lunging and long reigning daily getting to respond to voice and generally accept his new job, began riding in the school after 2 weeks in walk working on accepting aids, halt circles etc, and just started trotting. In school he is an absolute angel and seems to be remembering everything he was taught before. In order to stop things getting boring for both of us I thought we would throw in a few short hacks, so I long reined him out a few times then rode out on lead rein, then with someone walking on the ground then last week just with another horse (YO's steady 16yr old) was a little shy to leave home at first but when ridden forward did go, very tense all the way through even though we went same place as before and on way home was seriously headtossing and decided to tank off in a very fast trot. One handed stop, half holts etc had no effect so sat down hard and used voice eventually came back to me and I walked him for about another 2 mins then decided to get off as I wanted to end on a high rather than him tank again. When I got back to the yard I attached long reins a walked him back up the lane halting for a count of 5 every 10 or so steps using lots of praise to try to discourage rushing home. Repeated the ride the next day on the leadrein and he constantly tried to tank off. Leader said he was crossing his jaw and he was very bad with head tossing again. Other livery suggested I try her Waterford bit (he's in a full cheek French link) but I feel this is to strong for him? Also been advised to put a flash on him and a martingale (he did have one before but purely because old owner liked to use it a a handle) I really didn't want to use gadgets and bit up, so I thought I would post on here for advice?
Sorry for the mega long post!
X

 

[Kat]

Assuming you have had his teeth done recently then if he is crossing his jaw I would use a Mexican Grackle (sometimes called high ring grackle) not a flash the grackle is designed to stop jaw crossing.

I wouldn't put a waterford in a baby's mouth. But do look at your bitting to make sure he is comfortable.

Then I would look at the schooling and the reasons for him being tense and rushing. Perhaps when he gets like this turn back and go in the other direction until he is calm and then head home again. This way he will start to learn that rushing and pulling doesn't get him home quicker. But as you don't seem very experienced with young horses I'd get an experienced instructor out, someone used to dealing with young horses.

 

[Hoofprints in the Snow]

I would first try the grackle to see if it makes a difference if he is crossing his jaw, it seems he may be trying to avoid the bit. A waterford is for stopping a horse leaning on the bit. Try using a running martingale for a while it may stop him from tossing his head so much and getting away from you. As he is very green it will take time and plenty of patience to sort him out, but you seem to be doing things steadily and keeping things as simple as possible.

 

[merry mischief]

Thanks for that, I'll give the grackle a try, teeth done 6 months ago and dentist coming again next week, though don't think it's teeth as fine in school. Forgot to add back fine saddle professionally fitted and vet says all well generally.
As you guessed not overly experienced with young horses fully intend to send for professional schooling once fit enough and have v experienced trainer coming on Sunday. I did take advice from my instructor before taking him on (had a lesson on him, she rode him etc) really just want to do the best by him

 

[jsr]

I'll go with the grackle. My heavy cob was forever running off with me and it was only when riding with my instructor and he bogged off on a farm ride that she actually saw what he did that she suggested the grackle!! I had no idea but she said he quiet clearly twisted his jaw and grabbed the bit in his teeth, she said I'd might as well have thrown the reins away cos I had absolutely no hold on him!! First time in the grackle and it was like a miracle!! Instant communication and with the added bonus I could keep his mild bit in and ensure both of us very happy.

 

[merry mischief]

Thankyou for this guys Mexican grackle it is! Also forgot to mention he was leaning on the bit very badly on the way back, which is why the other livery suggested the Waterford x

 

[Clodagh]

He may have got tired? Mentally and physically which led to leaning and head tossing. Not saying don't try the grackle but youngsters do tire very quickly.