Help - not sure what to do with rein snatching

[cheekywelshie]

A few weeks ago Jet started snatching at the bit, now it’s gotten really bad - he’s pulling me out of the saddle right down his neck. I only need to touch the rein and he does it. He only does it in halt and walk. He is fine in trot and canter! I am at a loss.
The dentist came out a month ago - I’ve called them again. The bit is the same I’ve been using for years, I rode bareback and he still did it. I’ve contacted a saddler and a bit specialist and trying to get hold of a physio. Any ideas?? He yanks so hard I’m thinking of just lunging in a cavesson or hacking on the buckle. When I take up a contact for trot he is fine. I’ve fly sprayed, washed etc every day. There’s obviously something but I don’t know who to talk to - vet? And why in walk and halt and not trot and canter…

 

[AntiPuck]

Can you try him bitless?

 

[SpotsandBays]

No help, but is this Jet who had the colic episode/surgery a few years ago? (I remember following the post!)
If yes, glad to hear he’s doing good! Hope you get to the bottom of it

 

[Barton Bounty]

I use a micklem bitless bridle, its really just a very expensive leather headcollar ?could you try a different bit for a wee change?

 

[Green Bean]

You just need to keep on holding the reins, even when he snatches, just pull back every time he does it. I don't believe there is a medical issue with this behaviour, and that it is just that, a behaviour. If you are consistent in bringing him back to you every time he snatches, he will stop doing it as there is no gain in the behaviour (it may take a few rides before he strops, but you must be consistent)

 

[Carrottom]

If you think it is behavioural rather than discomfort, you could try bridging your reins onto the base of his neck so he can't pull you forward.

 

[Horseysheepy]

It could be many things. I had a young horse who snatched the reins, but towards the end of a hack or schooling session. It was because she was tired and unbalanced.
Please don't pull back on the reins, but as the person above suggested, bridge the reins and give horse something consistent to take forward into and keep your core strong, elbows bent and leg on.

May be worth taking the noseband off also and checking saddle isn't pinching.

Some horses only exhibit behaviours at walk, maybe because the faster paces they are less distracted and more focused on going forwards.

 

[suestowford]

I did have a horse who did this, he was about 20 when I got him and he too only did it at a walk. I got the impression he'd formed a habit, possibly due to discomfort in his mouth (he did need a fair bit of dental work when he arrived) and I was at a loss as to how to stop it.
I did figure it out, eventually but it was trial & error. What worked was to hold the reins loosely so that when he bored down there was nothing to pull against. I had a very long set of reins so would just make sure I kept hold of them at the buckle, and only shorten them up a bit once his head came back up.
After a few months of riding like that I realised he hadn't done it for a while and that was it, habit broken. He never did it again.

 

[Miss_Millie]

You just need to keep on holding the reins, even when he snatches, just pull back every time he does it. I don't believe there is a medical issue with this behaviour, and that it is just that, a behaviour. If you are consistent in bringing him back to you every time he snatches, he will stop doing it as there is no gain in the behaviour (it may take a few rides before he strops, but you must be consistent)

So your advice is to yank the horse in the mouth?

My horse used to do this until I went bitless. The behaviour went away instantly.

OP, if you aren't prepare to go bitless, at least get a professional bit fitter out who can assess whether or not the current bit you have is suitable for your horse. The fit of your bridle could also be putting unwanted pressure on other parts of the head and face.

 

[Widgeon]

Have you posted this thread in two places? I'm sure I saw a copy of this thread where someone had replied about trying a nose net in case it was related to pollen. That seemed like a cheap and sensible first thing to check.

 

[cheekywelshie]

So tonight i just got on with a headcollar and leadropes in the school and rode in walk no bridle or saddle and did some changes of bed- he still did it but not as bad but still did it at halt - so an it be the bridle. He didn't feel comfortable even going forward so much in the school. I've booked the physio for next week.

He has never ever done this before, so it seems odd to be a behavioural thing that has just come out without something triggering it. It's the same bit and bridle. I'm getting the dentist back for another look just to double check and the saddle fitter might as well do the whole MOT at the same time, but I think as a rode bareback its not the saddle but it could be back or other pain.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Could be head shaking or issues with stifles. Snatching rather violently is very common with stifle pain.

 

[Lois Lame]

He only does it in halt and walk.

As soon as the horse has halted there is no need for rein pressure.

In the walk, there is no impulsion. (I have read.) "We do not train at the walk!" is something my instructor used to yell at me whenever I was experimenting with my horse in the walk (on a contact).

I don't think there is anything wrong with teeth etc etc, I think your horse is trying to tell you what my instructor was telling me.

I wonder what would happen if, instead of keeping a contact when in halt or walk, you gave the contact?

 

[SEL]

When both of my mares have done this at various times it's been a back issue. Physio a good idea and they'll point you to vet if they thinks it more than muscular

 

[HorseMaid]

When mine did this recently it was because her saddle didn't fit any more, she's stopped doing it now that it's been sorted.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Could be head shaking or issues with stifles. Snatching rather violently is very common with stifle pain.

I didn’t know that! I bought an old horse once very cheaply and he snatched/head shook, he also turned out to have terrible arthritis in his hocks and stifles.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I didn’t know that! I bought an old horse once very cheaply and he snatched/head shook, he also turned out to have terrible arthritis in his hocks and stifles.

Sorry to hear that. I also learned it the hard way but my horse was only 4.
Reacting badly /violently to being cross-tied can also a symptom of stifle pain,.interestingly.

 

[scruffyponies]

As others have said above, it can be lots of things. However, since we have lots of young inexperienced riders I have seen often how otherwise settled happy ponies begin snatching when the riders hands are unyielding.
My first port of call is always to train the rider to be soft. This includes initially allowing the reins to run through hands and recovering them gently after each 'snatch' so the horse has nothing to pull against.

Totally opposite to holding hard as advised above, which I believe to be plain wrong.

 

[Barton Bounty]

As others have said above, it can be lots of things. However, since we have lots of young inexperienced riders I have seen often how otherwise settled happy ponies begin snatching when the riders hands are unyielding.
My first port of call is always to train the rider to be soft. This includes initially allowing the reins to run through hands and recovering them gently after each 'snatch' so the horse has nothing to pull against.

Totally opposite to holding hard as advised above, which I believe to be plain wrong.

Soft is the best way to go

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It could be just about anything physio is a good shout and getting saddle checked just because he did it bare back they can still do it as its a learnt behaviour, if his still doing it after basic checks vet would be next step as it might be pain elsewhere.

 

[cheekywelshie]

Thanks all, physio is coming next week so he’s having a bit of downtime til then although we did a bit of lunging yesterday which he seemed to enjoy - he’s pretty good with the voice. I’ve had him 15 years and this is a sudden thing so am keen to get to the bottom of it, saddle fitter can’t fit me in til end of next month but I’ve asked her to give me a shout re first cancellation . He was doing it when I rode bareback as well

 

[cheekywelshie]

As soon as the horse has halted there is no need for rein pressure.

In the walk, there is no impulsion. (I have read.) "We do not train at the walk!" is something my instructor used to yell at me whenever I was experimenting with my horse in the walk (on a contact).

I don't think there is anything wrong with teeth etc etc, I think your horse is trying to tell you what my instructor was telling me.

I wonder what would happen if, instead of keeping a contact when in halt or walk, you gave the contact?

I might try this when the physio comes

 

[Equi]

My old lad would do this quite a bit, but beyond walk. As soon as i got a wider saddle he stopped. My new lad also did this along with much head shaking, and again a wider saddle stopped it. Of course this is not at all to say that is what your issue is.

 

[Lois Lame]

I might try this when the physio comes

I must admit though, when reading your first post, I somehow glossed over:

A few weeks ago Jet started snatching at the bit...

and concentrated on:

... He only does it in halt and walk. He is fine in trot and canter! I am at a loss.

I'm a bit daft like that. Reading bits and forgetting other bits and deciding on an instant diagnosis. Anyhow, I hope the issue is fixed easily and cheaply.

 

[Northern Hare]

Thanks all, physio is coming next week so he’s having a bit of downtime til then although we did a bit of lunging yesterday which he seemed to enjoy - he’s pretty good with the voice. I’ve had him 15 years and this is a sudden thing so am keen to get to the bottom of it, saddle fitter can’t fit me in til end of next month but I’ve asked her to give me a shout re first cancellation . He was doing it when I rode bareback as well

I know it's hard to see when you're on board, but when he's snatching at the bit, does his demeanor change from what would have been his norm before the behaviour started? Is it accompanied by ears flat back, tension in his neck /back, tail swishing etc? Sometimes that can give you a clue. Also is it possible to put another rider on board, so you can watch from the ground and watch his expression - assuming he still does it? Also when you're saddling up, is there any change in his behaviour?

Good luck I hope you get to the bottom of his change of behaviour. ?

 

[milliepops]

When both of my mares have done this at various times it's been a back issue. Physio a good idea and they'll point you to vet if they thinks it more than muscular

It could be just about anything physio is a good shout and getting saddle checked just because he did it bare back they can still do it as its a learnt behaviour, if his still doing it after basic checks vet would be next step as it might be pain elsewhere.

agree with these posts
whenever something random starts happening when someone has had a horse for a long time, not changed any kit or noticed anything obvious i tend to think there is likely to be a physical cause that has triggered it, and trying different training techniques should be left for after appropriate investigations have taken place.

 

[DawnS]

Mine was doing something similar to this, head shaking rather than snatching but also predominantly at walk and bitting/bridle made no difference. After many investigations it turned out to be the saddle pressing behind the withers which was causing referred pain all over the place. This despite the saddle fitted him not that long prior. I didn't try him bareback but suspect the result would have been the same because by then he had pain in his neck, all coming from the saddle.

 

[Red-1]

What struck me was that the teeth were done a month ago and the horse has been doing this a few weeks.

I would have the vet (or different dentist) come and look at the teeth.

For a horse to suddenly start this, I would suspect discomfort somewhere. For me, a couple of weeks off while the dentist/saddle fitter came wouldn't be a bad thing. If it were a tweak somewhere, it may just solve it without further investigations.

I think a simple XXX isn't feeling too good, but isn't lame, maybe I'll turn him out for a few weeks of rest, is often a good thing. Then, saddle and teeth sorted, start again.