Horse overbending...

[spotty_pony]

Need some advice on how to stop one of my boys from over bending, as he as got into the habit of doing it. He tucks his head in and seems to go upwards rather than forwards. It is difficult when he gets excited as he tucks his head in and feels really light in the mouth and more or less trots or canters on the spot but if I put my leg on he tends to tank off with his head still in and so I have no control and find it hard to stop him.

He has had his back/teeth/saddle checked etc and they are all fine.

Any advice on how I can stop him from doing this?

 

[competitiondiva]

Try a different bit, maybe the one he's in is pinching and he's rasing his outline to avoid the pain? A horse on an event yard I used to work on was a hot head and very sensitive mouthed, he was put in a nathe snaffle. Which he had the confidence to take forward and into a correct outline. Maybe worth a try?

 

[spotty_pony]

He does have a very sensitive mouth, and is usually ridden in a loose ring french link snaffle with bit guards so I don't think it is the bit pinching him. I was recently advised to try him in a wilkie snaffle which he seems to accept better and not play around with quite so much but he still overbends.

 

[Kokopelli]

Ride him forward when he does it, really kick him on and get him moving forwards, spurs may help and a schooling whip. Also yielding your reins helps not all the time but every few seconds just give it so he has nothing to overbend to.