Hanging on my hands

[WinstonsGirl]

Hi, I’m hoping this is the right place to post this but I was wondering if I could get some advice from you guys. I’m not a new rider by any means (been riding about 20 years) but I’m not quite sure what the best thing to do here is...

So, I’ve just taken on a new horse to “loan” and he’s about 17.2hh, friesian x shire and I’m 5 foot 2... I know a lot of you will probably say I’m over horsed but trust me, I’m not! I wouldn’t go near him if I thought I was. He is the nicest sweetest horse ever but hasn’t done much more than hacking so I’m having a couple of issues with him.

Firstly, he’s quite heavy in my hands, I do all the usual stuff of “squeezing the sponges” etc and he carries himself nicely but he does often chew the bit and lean on it as we walk... I used to ride my own horse with a flash on as she was quite heavy on the bit but I don’t know whether this will help or not? I’m keen to not just throw gadgets at him as he’s only 9 and as I say hasn’t done a lot... or would changing his bit help? I’m not 100% sure what he’s in at the moment but I didn’t know whether sticking him in a bit that he couldn’t fiddle with would help? Something not strong as I have plenty of brakes in a headcollar! Though he is big so is nice to have a bit for back up!

Second problem is I don’t know if he’s a bit sore in his back and shoulders. The owners had a back person out a while ago to look at him and they reckoned it was fine. He is very overweight with fatty pockets on his shoulders so I don’t know whether the saddle is pinching them? I’ve started stretching his front legs out before our rides now and today he was great. I’m getting the weight off ASAP so don’t want to get a new saddle for a few weeks but am keen for him not to be in pain... he doesn’t do anything nasty but will have the odd bronk in the school so I’m not sure if it is down to pain or simply not knowing what to do... I’d be keen to know what you guys think is likely to cause a perfectly calm and pleasant horse to bronk when asked for canter or to work harder on trot... is it just a teenage strop?

Sorry for the long post!!!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Well the first thing to jumps out to me is the 'squeezing the sponges' - please stop fiddling with the reins/his mouth, he needs to work properly from behind to carry himself, all you are doing currently is making him look pretty. He will probably stop leaning on your hands as he develops the right muscles to cary himself, he is most likely naturally on the forehand, with that breeding - they are both driving breeds. However, as I expect his mouth conformation will be a big fleshy tongue and thick lips, he may prefer a mullen-mouthed bit to a jointed one.

I agree with you about not strapping his mouth shut and that as he works more, he will change shape, it is difficult when a saddle that once fitted and should do so again doesn't fit on a temporary basis. Could you perhaps borrow a saddle for him? Or if you intend to buy a new one, how about a treeless or an adjustable saddle? I think I would get a decent vet to check his back before doing much more work with him - a 'back person' isn't qualified to diagnose problems.

 

[WinstonsGirl]

Well the first thing to jumps out to me is the 'squeezing the sponges' - please stop fiddling with the reins/his mouth, he needs to work properly from behind to carry himself, all you are doing currently is making him look pretty. He will probably stop leaning on your hands as he develops the right muscles to cary himself, he is most likely naturally on the forehand, with that breeding - they are both driving breeds. However, as I expect his mouth conformation will be a big fleshy tongue and thick lips, he may prefer a mullen-mouthed bit to a jointed one.

I agree with you about not strapping his mouth shut and that as he works more, he will change shape, it is difficult when a saddle that once fitted and should do so again doesn't fit on a temporary basis. Could you perhaps borrow a saddle for him? Or if you intend to buy a new one, how about a treeless or an adjustable saddle? I think I would get a decent vet to check his back before doing much more work with him - a 'back person' isn't qualified to diagnose problems.

Thank you for your suggestion, I’ve always been told to get them to stop fiddling with the bit by keeping it moving by my trainer (ex Grand Prix dressage rider) to get them to use their back and strengthen up. Any tips on getting him to work from his hind? He steps under very well and is actually quite uphill. Obviously while he’s fat and unfit, getting him to use his back is hard so I was always told get him working long and low to stretch the muscles...

With regards to “back person” they were qualified. Vet physio.... it’s always been referred to us as back person as it’s easier. I believe she checked his spine and muscles and then he was turned out in a field for a few months due to no rider... he’s had a lot of riders scared of him due to his size and then expecting him to be a plod so I’m not sure if he’s doing it to test me and see if I’ll stop riding.... I’ve ridden him bareback to see if that helped and he still did a mini bronk without a saddle...?

 

[be positive]

At the moment he doesn't sound anywhere near fit enough to expect improvement in the way he is going and any bad behaviour could be a direct reflection of that, get him out hacking and get the weight off then you will probably find he needs a saddle check or possibly change and you can crack on with the schooling once he is more able to carry himself, in the meantime there is plenty you can do while hacking to get the basics better established.

Don't forget if he has done no real schooling and is also very fat and unfit, not to mention the fact he is not exactly an athletic type, he will not have the correct muscles to work as you want him to and it needs to be built up very slowly, a horse of this type can take at least 6 months to get to the stage where it is able to work comfortably in all paces, possibly longer if you cannot ride 5 or 6 days a week.

 

[JillA]

And if you don't want to change his saddle pending his weight loss, maybe invest in a really good sheepskin half pad, such as Le Mieux - it will come in handy in future while you are waiting for a saddle reflock too.
But bear in mind if he is on the forehand he has no choice but to lean on your hands, unless you ride him on a loose rein. And that would give you chance to work on engaging his hind legs, shifting his weight back and let you know how strong he is becoming - if he can carry himself without interference from your rein he is doing okay.