Horse Snatching Reins

[jo_pearl]

Evening all

My 5year old is really badly snatching the reins. At first I thought it was because he was unbalanced and going down hill but now he does it the whole ride.

I’ve tried telling him off by tapping his shoulder with the whip, by bridging my reins, by making him walk out etc but nothing works.

He’s had his teeth, back, saddle and had a full vet check and no issues. He’s shod all round.

He doesn’t do it in trot, in the arena or when ridden in the field just on the roads hacking in walk.

He’s now pulling me so much he’s pulling me onto his neck and I feel he’s going to pull me over his head.

He’s ridden in a cavesson Fairfax bridle and martingale and a D ring Neue Schule snaffle bit.

It’s getting to the point I’m really losing confidence as it’s non stop the whole ride with him

Any advice would be gladly taken.

 

[Red-1]

I find that often young horses snatch when hacking. I think they get sore when walking for long periods, whereas on the arena, they are doing more short sessions and changing their frame. You are also sitting right on their backs, as opposed to doing some rising trot.

In the past, I have shortened the rides, had loose reins (where safe) to mean there is no contact to fight and also they have a longer frame so don't get so tired. I have also done some of a hack by ride and then lead some. Then ride a bit more.

Keep checking that saddle. They change really quickly.

If the habit has become from the start, in anticipation of being sore, I would give it a break for a while. Then start with very short rides, long reins. After a saddle check, as they often change shape at that age after a break.

I have got through 5 saddles before at that age. I breathe a sigh of relief when they finally make the final shape!!!

 

[Red-1]

I just saw your other post asking for advice with this horse having a weak back end. They would not usually have a weak back end in isolation, the whole body will likely be weak, unless there is an actual disfunction, which would need vet intervention and/or rest/physio/saddler/farrier.

I sometimes think we are in too much f a rush with young horses (generally, not necessarily you) especially with the bigger and heavier types.

 

[jo_pearl]

I find that often young horses snatch when hacking. I think they get sore when walking for long periods, whereas on the arena, they are doing more short sessions and changing their frame. You are also sitting right on their backs, as opposed to doing some rising trot.

In the past, I have shortened the rides, had loose reins (where safe) to mean there is no contact to fight and also they have a longer frame so don't get so tired. I have also done some of a hack by ride and then lead some. Then ride a bit more.

Keep checking that saddle. They change really quickly.

If the habit has become from the start, in anticipation of being sore, I would give it a break for a while. Then start with very short rides, long reins. After a saddle check, as they often change shape at that age after a break.

I have got through 5 saddles before at that age. I breathe a sigh of relief when they finally make the final shape!!!

He prefers hacking to arena and is only out for around 20mins so not a lot at all.

Saddle is checked regularly.

He’s not sore he has regular treatment and shows no signs of discomfort.

If he was sore he would do it all the time and doesn’t.

It seems to be a habit now as sometimes he will forget about it and walk lovely and then starts again.

 

[jo_pearl]

I just saw your other post asking for advice with this horse having a weak back end. They would not usually have a weak back end in isolation, the whole body will likely be weak, unless there is an actual disfunction, which would need vet intervention and/or rest/physio/saddler/farrier.

I sometimes think we are in too much f a rush with young horses (generally, not necessarily you) especially with the bigger and heavier types.

I’m not rushing him. 20mins hack isn’t a lot and he’s only worked 5 days a week.

 

[BigRedDog]

@jo_pearl I think you owe @Red-1 an apology. You asked for advice. @Red-1 offered you her experience and her solutions and made a general comment about young horses. She didn’t accuse you of rushing the horse or ignoring the horse being sore, she just gave some thoughts. Your responses to her advice (which you said was welcome) seems very aggressive.

 

[Peglo]

Have you tried a loose rein to see if he does it then?

Mine would throw her head (and I’m sure snatch at the reins if I had contact) going down hill at the start of the hack. I’m pretty sure it was pain so stopped riding and gave her time off.

 

[Barton Bounty]

He prefers hacking to arena and is only out for around 20mins so not a lot at all.

Saddle is checked regularly.

He’s not sore he has regular treatment and shows no signs of discomfort.

If he was sore he would do it all the time and doesn’t.

It seems to be a habit now as sometimes he will forget about it and walk lovely and then starts again.

Orbi did this for a couple of weeks and I thought initially it was his bit but it wasnt, he had teeth coming through, so it may be his teeth.

 

[Skib]

My share had the habit of leaning on the rein. The rein supports them and they work from the front end. Getting the hind legs active and allowing that extra hind leg movement through relaxing one's seat removes the need to lean on the rein.
Plus I bought her soft, narrow leather reins which means they slide through ones fingers. Rashid said that the reins connect the most sensitive part of the horse (the mouth) to the most sensitive part of the human (our fingers). It is that senstivity one should be looking for.

 

[jo_pearl]

Have you tried a loose rein to see if he does it then?

Mine would throw her head (and I’m sure snatch at the reins if I had contact) going down hill at the start of the hack. I’m pretty sure it was pain so stopped riding and gave her time off.

Yes I hold the buckle and he still does it, I’ve tried to hold a contact too and remains the same.

 

[jo_pearl]

Orbi did this for a couple of weeks and I thought initially it was his bit but it wasnt, he had teeth coming through, so it may be his teeth.

He’s only last week had the dentist and all fine in that department

 

[jo_pearl]

@jo_pearl I think you owe @Red-1 an apology. You asked for advice. @Red-1 offered you her experience and her solutions and made a general comment about young horses. She didn’t accuse you of rushing the horse or ignoring the horse being sore, she just gave some thoughts. Your responses to her advice (which you said was welcome) seems very aggressive.

I’m sorry but it wasn’t aggressive at all. I think you have read it wrong. It was a reply to a question.

 

[jo_pearl]

My share had the habit of leaning on the rein. The rein supports them and they work from the front end. Getting the hind legs active and allowing that extra hind leg movement through relaxing one's seat removes the need to lean on the rein.
Plus I bought her soft, narrow leather reins which means they slide through ones fingers. Rashid said that the reins connect the most sensitive part of the horse (the mouth) to the most sensitive part of the human (our fingers). It is that senstivity one should be looking for.

That is interesting about the reins. The only issue with that for me is he’s so strong when he does it that I think he would pull the reins clean out of my hands. I will try though was it plain leather you used?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

He’s only last week had the dentist and all fine in that department

I would want a second EDT opinion. I would also check the fit of the bridle, particularly round his ears. My 5 yr old started headshaking towards the end of a hack, when she was tired and I've known older horses object in various ways to bridles too close to their ears.

 

[jo_pearl]

I would want a second EDT opinion. I would also check the fit of the bridle, particularly round his ears. My 5 yr old started headshaking towards the end of a hack, when she was tired and I've known older horses object in various ways to bridles too close to their ears.

Our dentist is incredible and as above he only does it hacking, doesn’t do it on fields or arena where I take more of a contact. He had a Fairfax cavesson bridle and fits him correctly he doesn’t head shake but snatches the reins down and does it from the start now not just the end

 

[sjdress]

Mine does this when she is tense or getting tired. I try to keep her in an outline with lots of leg, then let her have a stretch when she stops doing it!

 

[jo_pearl]

Mine does this when she is tense or getting tired. I try to keep her in an outline with lots of leg, then let her have a stretch when she stops doing it!

That an idea I don’t think he’s tense more baby tired. He’s really quiet to hack and enjoys it.

I was thinking of changing his bit to a loose ring happy mouth too see if that helps

 

[SEL]

I find that often young horses snatch when hacking. I think they get sore when walking for long periods, whereas on the arena, they are doing more short sessions and changing their frame. You are also sitting right on their backs, as opposed to doing some rising trot.

In the past, I have shortened the rides, had loose reins (where safe) to mean there is no contact to fight and also they have a longer frame so don't get so tired. I have also done some of a hack by ride and then lead some. Then ride a bit more.

Keep checking that saddle. They change really quickly.

If the habit has become from the start, in anticipation of being sore, I would give it a break for a while. Then start with very short rides, long reins. After a saddle check, as they often change shape at that age after a break.

I have got through 5 saddles before at that age. I breathe a sigh of relief when they finally make the final shape!!!

My young cob was just the same - I had to tell off (politely) a lady running a clinic who told me to give him a jab in the gob to stop it. He was just tired, feeling a bit sore probably and grumpy. Time to hop off.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It can be a bit of an anxiety thing for some horses especially when they are young and essentially still growing and get tired easily.

It can also be saddle fit not all saddle fitters are good just like all professionals not all of them are good at what they claim to do.

Ar that age they change shape at a fast rate and get wider through the back so out grow saddles fairly quickly.

 

[jo_pearl]

My young cob was just the same - I had to tell off (politely) a lady running a clinic who told me to give him a jab in the gob to stop it. He was just tired, feeling a bit sore probably and grumpy. Time to hop off.

He starts from the moment we leave the yard. It’s just really annoying and frustrating

 

[jo_pearl]

It can be a bit of an anxiety thing for some horses especially when they are young and essentially still growing and get tired easily.

It can also be saddle fit not all saddle fitters are good just like all professionals not all of them are good at what they claim to do.

Ar that age they change shape at a fast rate and get wider through the back so out grow saddles fairly quickly.

Oh I completely trust my saddler I have no issues there

 

[AWinter]

He starts from the moment we leave the yard. It’s just really annoying and frustrating

I imagine he feels annoyed and frustrated when he’s trying to tell you he’s uncomfortable and you smack him down the neck and won’t let go of his mouth

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

He starts from the moment we leave the yard. It’s just really annoying and frustrating

His trying to tell you he is uncomfortable horses don't just do these things to make us humans frustrated

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Oh I completely trust my saddler I have no issues there

Do you understand the concept of how a saddle fits ?

 

[ThreeFurs]

I had an older horse who did this too. 18 y o Elem level Hanoverian gelding. Lovely big chap, 17.1 and big boned. He got sent to me by last owners with his own bridle and snaffle bit, a kind one, a Myler comfort, but he clearly didn't like it.

So it was a while before I thought to get the bit fitter out, and she noted he had a rather small mouth, and a high fleshy tongue; so we put him in a properly fitted Bombers ported mouth drop cheek and he was much happier.

And just fyi Thomas Ritter has this vid

 

[jo_pearl]

I imagine he feels annoyed and frustrated when he’s trying to tell you he’s uncomfortable and you smack him down the neck and won’t let go of his mouth

If you have nothing helpful to say please move on: I do not abuse my horse and I do not appreciate your comment. You don’t know me or my horse and I do not not appreciate your lies

 

[jo_pearl]

His trying to tell you he is uncomfortable horses don't just do these things to make us humans frustrated

Please read the start of the post before commenting this

 

[jo_pearl]

Do you understand the concept of how a saddle fits ?

Yes I do: I’ve asked for advice not to have people comment things like this as if I’m stupid. A master saddler checked the saddle TODAY. I am sure he FULLY understands how a saddle fits

 

[jo_pearl]

I had an older horse who did this too. 18 y o Elem level Hanoverian gelding. Lovely big chap, 17.1 and big boned. He got sent to me by last owners with his own bridle and snaffle bit, a kind one, a Myler comfort, but he clearly didn't like it.

So it was a while before I thought to get the bit fitter out, and she noted he had a rather small mouth, and a high fleshy tongue; so we put him in a properly fitted Bombers ported mouth drop cheek and he was much happier.

And just fyi Thomas Ritter has this vid

Oh thank you, we have a local bit fitter so I shall drop them a message. Interesting that an older horse did it.

Was the results instant or did you have to ride in the bit a few times?

I shall have a watch of the video with a cup of tea ☺

 

[Kaylum]

Good idea to check his bridle and bit fit. So the bit fitter maybe able to help you. Meanwhile have a look to see how the bit fits in the mouth is it hitting the teeth at the back. Take the noseband off. Check the cheek pieces are the correct length. In fact have you a photo of your bridle on the horse?