Harbridge, Bungee, Drawreins or perhaps something else?

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PonyWoes

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Firstly, hello all! I am new, and jumping in with a question. (I do say new, but i have lurker for some time!)

Recently my pony has started to become, rather ignorant, normally she is a poppet. However the last month, she has started to do her own thing, she does NOT listen, she goes which ever way she fancys, normally with her nose to the floor eating grass as she goes. It is an immense struggle to get her head back up, and listening again, for her to just do this a few minutes later.

She is fed twice a day, rugged correctly, and hayed at night, she has no reason to be hungry. She only does this with me, and maybe tries once or twice with my instructor before giving up. Instructor recommended drawreins, to keep head up and in my hands, and various commentators on yard have suggested bungee or a harbridge type contraption, so what are your thoughts?
 
a bungee won't stop the head going down, it will stop the head going up. If you are very well schooled with a good hand then try draw reins, personally I would go old school and make baler twine grass reins to stop her sticking her head down!

From my pony club memory they are tied to the bit and to the saddle D-ring on both sides. Keep them relatively loose- you don't ordinarily need a contact with them, but they will stop them sticking their head down! And they're a free item of tack to start with aren't they?!!
 
If you can't keep your reins when she does this I doubt draw reins will help as you have to ride as if you are using a double bridle. She could still snatch them out of your hands.

I'd look up daisy reins, they attach to the saddle and the head peice and are designed for this purpose.

I don't think a harbridge would help either as it doesn't come into force when the head goes down.

My preference would be a big pony club kick or a smack whilst sitting up and keeping her head up when ever she tries to bog off with you.
 
Tinsel Trouble said:
a bungee won't stop the head going down, it will stop the head going up. If you are very well schooled with a good hand then try draw reins, personally I would go old school and make baler twine grass reins to stop her sticking her head down!

From my pony club memory they are tied to the bit and to the saddle D-ring on both sides. Keep them relatively loose- you don't ordinarily need a contact with them, but they will stop them sticking their head down! And they're a free item of tack to start with aren't they?!!
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or this! It works on naughty riding school ponies!
 
I have used draw reins previously, but am not particularly keen on them, i find i worry about their necks....

I also thought how would a bungee stop head going down, but i didnt like to ask in front of people who clearly thought it would work!

I have never used grass reins, so will have a little google!

Thank you!
 
PonyWoes said:
I have used draw reins previously, but am not particularly keen on them, i find i worry about their necks....

I also thought how would a bungee stop head going down, but i didnt like to ask in front of people who clearly thought it would work!

I have never used grass reins, so will have a little google!

Thank you!
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They are just made from baler twine! Tie one end of twine to the bit, and the other end to the D-ring on the saddle! Simples!

You may be laughed at for being very pony club, but they do work!!
 
Probably laughed at no more than her walking along eating grass, with me kicking her on with my head on her bottom whilst trying to get her head back up!

Will give it a shot!
 
If she's not listening to your leg I would catch her as soon as she goes to go down and smack. Its just not acceptable behaviour. I would actually sit with my reins quite loose and let her choose what to do, if you're clear and firm she will soon figure out going for grass while being ridden is a big no.
 
Honestly I would try grass reins first it sounds very naughty.
Perhaps consider trying a Waterford bit that she can't lean on it will make it easier for you to get the head up.
It's hard to advise for a horse you have not seen but IMO bungees and harbridges won't help you , a draw reins may help you keep the head up but may teach her to 'tuck in ' and evade that way.
Good luck let us know how you get on
 
I am a little reluctant to try a harsher bit, as in the school she is very soft in the mouth, its just when there is grass around.

Its very naughty, and very rude and frustrating, when i know she can and does behave like a star, when surrounded by sand...
 
PonyWoes said:
I am a little reluctant to try a harsher bit, as in the school she is very soft in the mouth, its just when there is grass around.

Its very naughty, and very rude and frustrating, when i know she can and does behave like a star, when surrounded by sand...
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the Waterford need not be harsh it simply will make it very difficult for her to bear down as there's nothing to lean on. It can be a very harsh bit on a horse that pulls but used just for a while I think it might just give you the edge.
 
LouS said:
If she's not listening to your leg I would catch her as soon as she goes to go down and smack. Its just not acceptable behaviour. I would actually sit with my reins quite loose and let her choose what to do, if you're clear and firm she will soon figure out going for grass while being ridden is a big no.
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This. 100%.:)
 
Kat said:
My preference would be a big pony club kick or a smack whilst sitting up and keeping her head up when ever she tries to bog off with you.
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This!! :D

I used to ride a pony who used to do this, put a daisy rein on him, and after the first few times of riding him in it, he stopped trying to put his head down so much as he realised he couldn't win against it.

Good luck and i hope your mare starts behaving soon!!
 
We made a daist rein that runs over the crest of the neck, used two pieces of baler twine, tied each one to a d ring of the saddle then twisten them round each other and attached them to the head piece of the bridle.

This is what a normal daisy rein looks like - Daisy rein
 
Does she get turned out? It might be that she just wants some grass and giving her time to eat at her leisure will take the edge off when you ride her. If she does get turned out on grass then it's back to the pony club methods and grass reins!!
 
I don't understand all the concern about her good mouth if she bunging her head on the ground and OP can't haul it up its obviously not that good a mouth !
 
PonyWoes said:
Probably laughed at no more than her walking along eating grass, with me kicking her on with my head on her bottom whilst trying to get her head back up!

Will give it a shot!
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lol, i would try the grass reins to start with, worked on devil pony who would tip my poor daughter straight over his head:rolleyes:
 
have you had all the basic checks done? back, tack and teeth? because as sudden change in behaviour sounds like something has changed (something that might not be obvious to you) that she isn't happy about it could be pain and i would be going down this route before shoving the horse in a gadget which may make her behaviour worse if she is in pain
 
Hello All!

Sorry for the delay in my response.

Yes, certainly, her teeth, back and saddle have all been checked, she has also recently had a full body massage to.

She lives out fulltime (rugged) with a large haynet put out per horse at night, she also has 2 feeds a day.

She is given a haynet when brought in to be groomed and tacked up, so she truely has no reason to be hungry! She isnt in any pain, it is just around grass she decides it is a good idea to eat it, rather frustrating and also embarassing!
 
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