Help bitting / educating my new 2yo Connemara

N

nat26877

New User
Joined
2 March 2011
Messages
2
Visit site
Hi all,

I just wanted peoples advice/experience of what training I should be doing with my new Connemara (2yrs 3months old) and also how to go about introducing him to a bit as we are planning on doing a few in hand classes in a couple of months and feel he may get too strong without a bit.
He has been well handled from birth with his breeder and is confident but polite around people and other horses and has taken everything in his stride so far, moving from a farm with 6 horses to a busy yard with 50+!
He is good to pick his feet out and we have had brushing boots and rugs on and off him for short periods. I am aware there is lots of conflicting advice on bitting but would just like to know what people find works, what bit to begin with, should I put anything on the bit, how long to leave in and how often to repeat it, etc. and also if there is any key things I should be doing apart from the general desensitising to spooky objects etc.

Thanks for reading
 
I have just started this with my yearling 2 weeks ago- he is 14 months nearly

I am just using a small rubber straight bar in hand bit for around 10 mins, he mouths it quite a lot but soon settles as he wears it in his stable while I give him a brush and a big bum scrath which he loves so he is starting to associate with good things this week I plan to lead him out of the stable and round the school with it in
 
I bitted my 2yo back in april/may time, i had a couple of shows with him at the end of july and beginning of this month so i needed him to be used to it as he is a big strong boy!! Have just used a straight bar rubber bit aswell, had no issues but he puts everything he possibly can in his mouth anyway!! Just started off with him having it on in the stable for a few minutes and worked up to walking him out for a short time with it :)
 
I started with a NS starter bit which is double jointed and loose ring - although this is a nice bit and recommended to start the horse with (as the name suggests!) my boy didn't really take to it and was constantly chomping so I had a play with a couple of other bits I had, found he preferred a sweet iron mouthpiece with a single joint although I don't have one in his size so have had to order one for him. Once I've received this we will start the process again and doing plenty of basic in-hand work to help him to learn what the bit is all about. Then next year when he's 3, maybe we'll do some leading out on the roads and long reining

this year we're not really doing very much - he has had lunging equipment on including roller and cavesson, he's happy in a rug, can wear boots, picks up feet on command, leads well in a head collar, will do a half turn on forehand and half turn on haunches without much pressure, will lower his head when asked, be touched and groomed all over - all really basic stuff that helps with his manners and I believe gives him good standing for the future and this is probably his limit for this summer as I don't want to do too much with him and make him sour.

Next year we'll be cracking on with much more stuff, walking out in hand, teaching to long rein, wearing saddle, basic pole work, more basic in-hand, more time getting used to being on own in stable and going out in the trailer to more places and possibly lightly back around this time next year
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top