HELP! - horse leaning on the bit

[amabelscott]

I have had my new boy for 2 weeks and he has been perfect in every way apart from one annoying habit that he has of leaning with all his weight on the bit and dragging my elbows out of their sockets in the process! i had ridden him a lot before he came home and this was never an obvious problem, he leaned a few times once or twice but nothing too noticable. i thought that maybe it was because he needed time to settle in but even though he has acted and appeared very at home for the last week he is still continuing with this habit, even though he is in the very same bit that he was in at his old yard. does anyone know any ways in which i can try and ease him out of this when i am schooling him? he had his teeth done 3 weeks ago and i am just confused at this sudden change from riding him at his old yard to riding him at home!? thankyou for any replies

 

[penny83]

I find the more you pull the more they lean, they are strong animals and using brut forse rarely works. have you tried putting him on smaller circles (from 20m to 10 m) and sending him forward from your leg into the bend trying to keep yor hands light. or if you lunge him in a roller with the side reins coming from the top ring, then do loads of transistions from walk to trot, i find that helps!

 

[Annette4]

I'm riding a BIG mare atm who is doing the same and giving her nothing to lean on it helping....I'm sending her forward with my legs but giving and retaking my reins alternatly and it seems to be helping.

 

[parsley]

My cob stopped doing this when I schooled him when I changed his bit to a straight bar flexible rubber mouthing or in-hand bit. However, if you don't trust your horse not to tear off with you I wouldn't do this as there really aren't many brakes! A loose ring french link snaffle might help as there is nothing for them to fix and lean on. Also pushing them forward etc as I am sure others will suggest.