Help, again on bits for my fussy Mare!

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Hello, ive finally found a bit she schools well in, a hanging cheek frenchlink. Problem is, out hacking (any faster than a walk/bad mood horse) i need something abit more.

She throws her head up & shakes it & bounces when you ask her to stop, of 'check' her, now, she will stop, i cantered her in the french link today, but she doesnt respect it.

I have a martingale which she wears & this makes the problem alot better, i have ordered a hanging cheek waterford to see if this helps?

I was thinking about a universal gag, but i think this could make the problem worse as contact to stop = throw head in the air?

Hope is makes sense!

Anyone with a horse that does this, want to give me any tips?

Thanks in advance!
 
If she's throwing her head up when you take a hold my first thought would be that she is either in pain or just unhappy with the bit and therefore evading it...

When were her teeth last done? That would be my first port of call, and then give the Bit Bank a ring and explain your problem to them - they have solved endless bitting problems that I've had! Good luck x
 
You say she is in a martingale, is this a running or a standing? As could be worth trying a standing marthingale if she throws her head in the air, especially if she does 'listen' to the hanging cheek in as much as she will come back to you if you check her.
 
Hi, yes, shes having her teeth done in about 3 weeks, shes fine cantering in the arena & she is quite a fizzy horse, its only in the open when she throws her head in the air, having the saddle fitter out as well next week.

Im hacking her tomorrow, & will have a canter in the waterford to see if its any better.

Its a running martingale, i was actually thinking about using a standing, so she realises she cant do this as a way to evade! Shes only a very young baby 8,hasnt done much at all, so i think its her being a madam aswell !
 
Would recommend the standing.

Your girl sounds very like mine, the first couple of times we went out cantering had her ears in my mouth, and head was being thrown around (very unlike her balanced on the bit cantering of the school) but when I did ask her to stop she did come back to me.

Although with the head all the way up there I definitely felt less secure and if she really wanted to take a hold I would really not be able to do anything about it, as she would set her jaw or neck and then do as pleased. Someone said I should go out in draw reins, which I refuse to do (feel they do more harm than good) but put her in the standing instead, and after a couple of head throws and a little tantrum she is now good as gold, canters beautifully and can raise her head some to have a look around. It just means that I am not being continuously pulled about and not having to taste horse ears every time!!!!!
 
Thanks for that, will get around to ordering one :). She was much better in a waterford cantering, from what i remember, so fingers crossed, it might give her some mannors!
 
Another thought, would it be, that the hanging cheek, acts similar to a gag, with a bit more poll pressure, which she doesnt like, i have cantered her in a french link loose ring & had no problems with this! & a martingale!.

Hmm, good job shes getting an MOT soon"
 
ilvpippa said:
Another thought, would it be, that the hanging cheek, acts similar to a gag, with a bit more poll pressure, which she doesnt like, i have cantered her in a french link loose ring & had no problems with this! & a martingale!.

Hmm, good job shes getting an MOT soon"
Click to expand...

A gag is a head raiser, not a head lowerer! A hanging cheek acts more like the top of a pelham, rather than a gag.
 
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