Help please! Bit help for horse 'bad follower'

FabioandFreddy

FabioandFreddy

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Hi, hoping someone can give me some recommendations on bitting for Fabio. Bit of background:
Schools fine in a snaffle or Peewee, hacks alone fine in these also, jumping use full cheek lozenge snaffle with grackle. Hacking in company - this is where the problems come in. He's always been a bit bolshy when made to go behind when hacking in company, he has tanked off with me when i first took him in company as a 4 year old (he's 8 now) and i had literally no brakes! My fault as i'd only hacked him alone and as he was ok in a snaffle i took him in that - didn't expect him to take off and couldn't stop him (nice circle tracks in farmers field where i managed to pull him up!). I then got a waterford as he pulls down to lean when he wants to tank off and up until now, when i've been in company thats been fine and i can hold him in it if we're behind. Must just mention that in company if he's in front there's no issue! I actually have to kick him on when we gallop if he's up front! I know the easy solution is just to let him go first all the time, but i shouldn't have to do that as he's just being rude. Always been like it when following.
Anyway - Freddy, OH's new horse we've had for about a month - him and Fabio have really bonded and this may be excasperating the issue. Hacked tonight and Fab went first on our first gallop up a hill - fine. Next gallop, OH went first, left a bit of space between us and as soon as i slipped the reins a bit he just took off at full pelt and i literally was helpless to stop him. I know its only the 3rd or 4th time he's hacked with his buddy but i need to be able to stop! I'm not sure what to try. Usually the waterford mouthpiece works with him but today just seemed like he ran through it. I think his grackle has stretched a bit so wasn't quite as tight as it should have been. Have punched more holes in it tonight. I'm thinking maybe try a waterford gag or pelham? Any suggestions welcome! And its not a schooling issue as he's fine any other time!
Sorry for the essay, virtual wine for all that have kept up!! :D
 
i had a problem with my horse tanking off altho to be fair she only done it twice when she was on he own she has done it in a pelham anda snaffle Now i ride her in a waterford gag and she cannot lean - try this bit as its worked for me and the same as you she is no problem in the school x:)
 
ABE said:
I would also second the waterford universal gag. does he through his head up? maybe a martingale would help.
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In my previous post forgot to mention she is also in martingale as she does throw her head up OP- go to the bit bank and try a waterford gag if no difference you can lways return it. However, please remember not to saw at the mouth with a waterford as it can do severe damage:)
 
No, he doesn't throw his head up. Thats why i went for the waterford initially as he normally puts his head down and leans if he tries to tank off. This has worked well.....until last night!!! Just seemed to make no difference whatsoever! Maybe getting a gag version would help.
 
I would disagree and say it is a schooling issue. If this is only the 3rd or 4th time they've hacked out together then don't gallop yet! Build it up.
 
[deleted user] said:
I would disagree and say it is a schooling issue. If this is only the 3rd or 4th time they've hacked out together then don't gallop yet! Build it up.
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Ok.....would you suggest just walk/trot hacks a few times? Then let Freddy canter a few steps and then Fabio? Building up to be further away?

The thing is he's always been bad following and always tries to tank after the other horse, even after going out a lot in company and with the same horses. He's always fine leading - quite lazy infact! Its just following. I think it may be a mild seperation anxiety thing?

If it genuinely is a schooling issue then i'll work on it but it doesn't seem to have gotten any better before when in company.
 
I have the same problem. I ride in a myler comfort as she's happy in it, but when we are with others and at esp at the back, she becomes a real handful, all joggy, bucky and cross.

I have added a curb chain and have been trying it out over the fields on our own so far. It seems to be effective and alhough she's not to happy about it I'm getting some respect. Wether it will work in a group I'll have to find out?

Next step would be a Kimblewick I think.
 
Quote de [deleted user]
I would disagree and say it is a schooling issue. If this is only the 3rd or 4th time they've hacked out together then don't gallop yet! Build it up.
Ok.....would you suggest just walk/trot hacks a few times? Then let Freddy canter a few steps and then Fabio? Building up to be further away?

The thing is he's always been bad following and always tries to tank after the other horse, even after going out a lot in company and with the same horses. He's always fine leading - quite lazy infact! Its just following. I think it may be a mild seperation anxiety thing?

If it genuinely is a schooling issue then i'll work on it but it doesn't seem to have gotten any better before when in company.

Yes this I exactly the way I would approach it. Just take your time. It's not the sort of thing that can be fixed overnight I think.
 
Mine does this but if I dont want to gallop then I make sure the person infront goes fairly steady. If I feel I am getting too close I ask them to move on a bit faster. Mine is at her happiest side by side - if she goes infront she loses confidence and if behind if she feels she is being left behind she races to catch up.

If someone overtakes me then I have no hope whatsoever of stopping until they stop!

I got a tom thumb cos she used to bolt off with me in company and found it resolved the issue and I could pull up if I wanted but I found it a bit harsh to hack out in all the time and wanted it for XC and group hacks. I now have a NS jumper bit and use pelham roundings. I find it a bit kinder than the tom thumb and I couldnt pull her up in it but its enough to make me feel a bit more in control than a snaffle but I'm more confident to let her go a bit faster now!
 
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