Help with a Bit for a horse with a ewe neck

[Tilo]

My young horse has developed a ewe neck. Partly conformational, but mostly due to being a bit of a stargazer. She is always lifting her head up very high in response to a noise or something srtartling her. She seems to live her life 'on the edge', despite living out 24/7 in a herd.

I am going to try to relax this neck of hers as much as possible as a relaxed neck equals a relaxed mind. She already does lots of long and low, raised poles, stretches (neck and hindlegs) to free up her tight back and help her use her hind 'engine' more effectively, but I find that when her neck is fixed, turning is rather hard for her.

I long rein her twice a week, but im now thinking, instead of just doing straight lines, I want to keep her mind busy and her head low by doing lots of circle work, figure of 8's etc which i will try under saddle too.

Am using a happy mouth french link full cheek at the moment, but is there a bit that is more suitable for her, in light of her trouble steering when that neck tenses up and constricts her.

Many thanks.

 

[TigerTail]

I think she needs to be doing lots of inhand work and flexions to get her head in the correct position - then hopefully this will transfer under saddle.

A classical instructor would be the best to help you with this.

I would try a rubber pelham with elastic curb, ride with two reins and use the curb to apply poll pressure when she sticks her head up. Remember though that she wont have the muscle to do this for long and you will need to be consistent.

 

[Tilo]

Some good points there TigerTail that I will bear in mind.

She's only just been broken in, then was given time off due to a sore back and growth spurt, so I havent got back on board just yet, but hope to soon.

Im definitely going to contact a local instructor who would be happy to come out and help us both out, as I lack the knowledge with these kind of things.

 

[TigerTail]

2 books for your xmas list then! Oliver Hilburgers in hand and Heather Moffetts Enlightened Equitation

 

[Kat]

Rather than just bits I would think about what else will help her develop the right muscles. Consider a hay bar rather than nets, try lunging in a pessoa or equi ami or using the kerrilli method, hacking with a low head carriage, riding using an equi ami or bungie or market harborough or even sympatheticly used draw reins might help her to get the idea and use the right muscles.

 

[Tilo]

Thanks.
She is fed hay on the ground in the field. When tied up and as long as she'd supervised, I hang the haynet very low and use a large holed net so she dosent have to tug too much to access the hay.

I lunge her twice a week with a bandage around her hindquarters and was thinking of popping a chambon on.

Having re-read my post, It may sound like I am looking for a bit to fix her head. That wasnt what I was thinking. I was just wondering whether another bit may help, such as maybe a straight bar happy mouth?

I am getting an instructor out after Christmas, so I will get some help then. I thought it would be interesting in the meantime in hearing other people's ideas on the matter.

I have read that these ewe necks are very tricky to get rid of and take a long time to right. Im willing to put the work and time in to make her more comfortable, it'll be worth it in the end.

 

[whizzer]

My horse is in his teens now & has always been inclined to suddenly go into giraffe mode when startled/excited. I used to hack in a market Harborough which was useful, for years now I've hacked in a Pelham which he really likes, it helps relax him & gives me brakes as he's very strong as well, he'll pootle along nicely on a long rein in the Pelham yet is awful to hack in a snaffle. For lunging I use very low side reins, the draw rein method or a bungee, also a harbridge is useful. I fed hay off floor for years & would still be my preference had the vet not recommended haynets as he's had gastric ulcers several times,I don't winch the nets high though & he does have a lot of turnout so obviously has his head down a lot then.

 

[whisp&willow]

I second the pelham: I had to do this with my mare, who was a star gazer.

never looked back she is now 18 and still ridden in a happy mouth pelham. it meant that she built up the right muscles and developed a top line.

now i hardly need to use the bit at all, and only lightly on the snaffle rein, BUT the curb rein is there for when she throws her weight around as a reminder!

 

[Rebels]

What about a show ring bit with the very slight poll pressure that releases as soon as she comes down, I really like them for my youngsters and used to lunge an exracer mare with the side reins on the rein ring until she stopped arguing with herself.

 

[Queenbee]

Caution on the Pelham, whilst I completely agree with the advice to try it, beware a few of these stargazer idiots will fight poll pressure, especially since the act of stargazing will have caused tension up in the poll area, so just keep an eye out for this incase. Everyone has posted such good advice, the only key thing I would add is a few sessions with a good equine massage therapist to loosen up all those rock hard muscles under the neck and any pressure points that may have built up from this way of going, generally you will find the shoulder area needs completely loosening up, as does the upper neck and the poll, it makes it so much easier to work with the horse after that.

 

[texel]

Tilo your mare is still very green and under developed, you really want to use the mildest bit you can find in the early stages of training especially as your mare is very insecure and on the alert. This is perfectly normal behaviour and she is acting on her instincts she is on the lookout for danger. My mare was the same and is gradually getting better with simple exercises, long reining is great as it helps horses to work out what they can do without the weight of a rider. I also ride with a relaxed rein to help her gain confidence that I will not jab her, slowly but surely.

Gradually over time she will trust you and be less inclined to be on the look out constantly.

Before reaching out for another bit check her confirmation and read the article below, it is important we understand the biomechanics of our horses before we try to alter their way of going with one gadget or another. It is an easy to read article and should help you understand what you can do to help your mare.

http://heikebean.com/equinemechanics.pdf