Grabbing the bit and spinning

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0310Star

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My mate has recently decided to learn a new bad habbit!!
I don't know where on earth she has got this from as I am the only person that rides her and it is something she got our of a few years back. Basically of she doesn't want to go somewhere she grabs the bit and spins, and unless you catch it early there is no way of over powering her! As I said she did it a few years back and I got her a new bit which is a snaffle with a lozenge that is split down the centre and each side turns independently, the bit is supposedly for horses that grab it and it supposed to prevent this. For the last two years it has worked wonders but she has found a way around this clearly! I have NEVER let her do what she wants, she goes where I want her to go and I have never let this slip.
Today it got too much as she tried doing it in the middle of a 60 mile an hour road, I managed to get her round after a stern telling off but it made me realise this cannot go on as it's dangerous on the roads!
She only does it when she is in an ignorant mood, not scared of anything, just wants to go where she wants!
Any advice on what to do about this would be greatly appreciated :)
 
First off I'd say if she's in that sort of mood don't take her on the roads!

I'm guessing she gives some kind of warning, so at that point make her work. Get her into an outline & stepping well through from behind - that old cliche of between hand & leg. Don't make it easy for her to sit back on both hinds & spin, keep them driving forwards.

I'd also put her in a full cheek or fulmer, IME it can make it easier to keep them straight & if you do need to take strong corrective action then there's less risk of pulling the bit through the mouth & also the cheek pressure reinforces a turning aid.

Seriously though, please don't take her on the roads if she's likely to do this & especially not on fast busy roads. It's just too dangerous for you, her & every other road user in the vicinity.
 
Nari, thank you for that advice it was very helpful! Unfortunately she doesn't give any indication of being in 'that mood' before we set off, it is literally when we are half way she may occasionally do it! In all other respects she is a fantastic hacking horse, barely bats an eye lid at anything other than the odd spook at horse eating leaves!
But yes, something needs to be done! The bit change could well be a very good idea as like you say, I dont want the risk or pulling the bit through her mouth. Luckily this was the only incident today in the hour we were out, she soon got the gist that it was not acceptable after a few stern words and I did push her as forward as I could so she had to concentrate on herself!

Pearlsasinger, thank you! I will definitely give that a go :) xxx
 
Having had a serial spinner, I would say that provided she is not doing it on a road, then spin and spin and spin her, with her mouth by your boot (my old bag once tried to bite my boot during this manouver!) If you make her do it, it stops being a way of her getting one over you. I once nearly ended up in a river doing this, as my sense of self preservation went out of the window, the mare decided that she didn't fancy having a dip and behaved. It did not need doing that many times before she gave up, but they were epic battles as it was an established way of avoiding work for her.
 
The problem I have (tight spinning would normally be my way of dealing with this) my mare has ringbone and side ones, meaning no right circles! And she obviously knows this the ignorant little madam! I may speak to my vet about doing this though, see if it would be that bad doing it as like you say, it doesn't take them long to get the point of rider 1 horse 0!
It is just the most irritating problem! So frustrating!!
 
baker190 said:
The problem I have (tight spinning would normally be my way of dealing with this) my mare has ringbone and side ones, meaning no right circles! And she obviously knows this the ignorant little madam! I may speak to my vet about doing this though, see if it would be that bad doing it as like you say, it doesn't take them long to get the point of rider 1 horse 0!
It is just the most irritating problem! So frustrating!!
Click to expand...

Well she is managing to not hurt herself by spinning :) So I think to prevent her doing it in dangerous situations I would risk it!
 
This is a very good point.... I am far too soft on the matter of her bad leg, although she manages perfectly fine to do her best Olympic dressage moves on a hooli around the field!
Even my vet keeps telling me to man up and make her work! I do try :)
 
Hi, I agree with above. I hv very naughty ex racer that likes to do this when he can't get his own way, & I have to spin him several times. He soon gives up & behaves as he finds tight circles hard work! Good Luck x
 
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