help need to build muscle but cant ride in bit

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charliebill

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hi all after some advice

have a 16year old dressage horse that had a tooth removed last year tooth just above where the bit lies on lower jaw, since having this removed she hasnt really acccepted the contact. due to see dentist in a month to see if there are any problems.

therefore as she doesnt seem comfortable with a bit in i was thinking of riding in a hackamore, which i did priory and after for some time after having tooth removed. she is just being brought back into work and the main issue i have is building muscle up in the sacroiliac area as she is weak behind and has some artheritis.

Really after any ideas or exercises both in hand and ridden that may help improve the muscle area that i can do with out the use or a bridle with a bit. She goes ok in the hackamore but i have to be careful as she will lean on it

any advice would be much appriciated
 
my horse also 16 had laminitis in Dec and is just coming back into work, due to the diet & box rest he has lost a lot of muscle, i have started long reining him, im using his bridle but you can do it with a good fitting headcollar since you cant use a bit
i have been gradually building up and am now doing about 25mins with 3-4 mins of trot work will hopefully have this up to 5-6 mins trot and 30mins total by the end of next week
i have been doing it in the field to use the hills
its also a good way to help me get fitter too, not keen on the trotting bit though i can't keep up lol so we do a lot of walk trot walk trot etc so i can catch up the transitions will also help build up the back end too
 
charliebill said:
can you long rein effectively by just using a headcollar?
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I've long reined in a headcollar, found it as effective - granted, I'm not asking the horse for airs-above-ground or complicated dressagey moves;). In fact I prefer to long rein in a headcollar if the horse isn't used to long reining, no jabs in the mouth etc if he gets a bit worried and skits about.:)
 
Was it the first molar tooth the horse had removed? if so, how about a kineton or worcester noseband to try and keep the bit off the area? Not sure if it would work but could be worth a try if you don't think you can ride effectively in a hackamore.
 
yes was the first molar on lower jaw, although when i look in her mouth i can still see a small bit of what i assume is tooth left there, they did say a fragment was left. so i wonder if this is causing the problem.

schooled tonight in a hackamore and wasnt too bad, she soften and relaxed easily in walk work, not so relaxed in the trot work thought.

may be worth trying a worcester noseband but i have always ridden in lozenge bits and would worry it may be too harsh for her
 
charliebill said:
yes was the first molar on lower jaw, although when i look in her mouth i can still see a small bit of what i assume is tooth left there, they did say a fragment was left. so i wonder if this is causing the problem.

schooled tonight in a hackamore and wasnt too bad, she soften and relaxed easily in walk work, not so relaxed in the trot work thought.

may be worth trying a worcester noseband but i have always ridden in lozenge bits and would worry it may be too harsh for her
Click to expand...

Perhaps try her in a head collar, or a bitless bridle that doesn't have poll pressure. Some horses relax more without the poll pressure.
Start by long lining, making sure your steering and stops work, and just ride away. I ride bitless in a rope halter, compete too, and riding in an outline is easy if you teach in right. Would help build muscles anywhere you would build them for any bitted horse.
All the best with it.
 
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