Head Pulling and Different Bits

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Parkranger

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Today Ty's gone back into full work - managed to borrow a saddle after ours got nicked!

So he's got back into his habit of pulling on the bit and generally acting as if he's got barbed wire in his mouth - teeth have been done etc.

I schooled him in a hackamore a bit before we had our 'incident' and although I link the hackamore with him bolting off on his own around the country park, I'm seriously considering putting him back in it for a couple of months so he stops associating the bit with it being annoying.

We've tried a frenchlink, straight bar happy mouth and a happy mouth snaffle but he constantly chews the bit and just doesn't pay attention when being schooled.

We had one of the best schooling sessions with the hackamore but I'm just a bit worried about him going back in it and then him not going back in a bit for dressage.

Mangobiscuit rode him today and same thing, really stretches out his head as if he's trying to get away from it!
 
Not sure of the history behind this but have you tried a bit that doesnt have the happy mouth material?

What about something in sweet iron or copper/ aurigan? It may be that he has an allergic reaction to the plastics used in the happy mouth/nathe type mouth pieces or merely cannot stand the taste/texture???
 
I presume you are rding in an English hackamore? I have a German Hackamore that you can borrow for hacking if you like? Its more powerful than the english version and may give you a bit more confidence in him??

If you want it then PM me your addy x
 
thanks weezy - may be a good idea! Even when we had our bad day, when i was on top I definately had more control in the hackamore. Even in the stable, if he's bolshy, a hand on the nose to control him he seems to really respect....weird!

Spaniel, I've tried a french link sweet iron and he was ok in it but he started to get annoyed with that too.....
 
Mines like that on the lunge but strangly so far fine under saddle *not that we have done much *young* I will probs end up riding him in a hackamore when hes older. Could it be tounge? A myler would be worth a thought I've seen huge differnce init.
 
My horse is the same and still having difficulty bitting her. She has been ridden in a hackamore but when I tried her in one she reared and had me off so not sure I should try one again having never used one before...I understand they're severe but wasn't expecting that reaction!!! I'm currently trying a waterford mouthpiece...
 
Hi Vicky. I would stick with whatever you feel best, I have a mullen mouth straight bar snaffle for Sovereign. The head pulling and such like is usually learned behaviour rather than a reaction. Sovereign did it a lot to begin with, and with patience and schooling he has come round, however when he gets wound up or stressed he reverts back. It is most often a racehorse trait I'm afraid. Stick with it, you are doing everything right
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I think it's definately a learned behaviour - hence my thinking about the hackamore for a couple of months.....oh well, can but try!
 
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