Horsey help please-- bit, belly and general

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Nicki85

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As most of you know i'm sharing a 16.1 Gelderlander (possiblyx ID) and we are getting on fine she's been back in work for a couple of months now and she is going nicley. Now i'm having quite a few ponderings...

1. Bits. At the moment (and all her life) she has been in an eggbut single jointed snaffle. Now i hate these bits cause of there action and i get the impression she doesn't like it all that much when i'm asking her to work softly. She's got a good mouth on the flat and jump (unusual for a hunter) but can tank in fast work. So what should i try her in? I was thinking a fixed cheek french link or a nathe straight bar? I don't want to buy an exensive bit and then find she hates it so was thinking try a cheapo french link first then get a nue schule or a KK? For fast work was thinking gag with twl reins?

2. Her belly!!! Its massive. Shes on 3rd medium bale hay twice a day, half scoop lo cal conditioner, half scoop pasture mix, little bit of beat and some chaff. Hardly any grass. Shes currently out all the time. I wouldn't say she was fat as you can feel her ribs. She has been wormed and she's not in foal. There is a chance she may of had a foal in the past...
Any ideas what to do with the big belly? Why is it there? Shes not typically fat elsewhere. (there is pics on one of my other posts btw)

3. I hacked her out for the first time last weekend (by herself). although she didn't go crazy she was very "alert" and on her tip toes... she was also very noisy shouting at everything. Will this quiten down the more we do it?

Any tips much appreciated, i want to help her progress as best i can
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1. Bit - yes, I would try changing the mouthpiece first - from single jointed to French link. Keep everything else the same, i.e the cheeks, thickness of the bit etc. You should be able to see more or less straight away if she's happier in that mouthpiece.

(Years ago, I did exactly the same - and I mean exactly - for my old Anglo Arab mare - and the difference was instant and amazing).

2.Feeding. Got to confess it's not my area of expertise. You say she's been wormed (regularly?) so that covers the first thought that came to mind. It could simply be that she is not yet fit enough and muscled up enough to develop an outline or it could be that she's been worked incorrectly in the past. Sorry, I'm not much help here.

3. Well, with horses you never can tell what they're going to do in the future, but I would like to think that she'll quieten down. Currently she's in a new environment, new rider, hacking alone for the first time, seeing new things. Can't blame her for being alert and on her toes. I would defintely continue to hack her out alone, as well as with others.

Certainly don't worry about her being alert and on her toes, because she'll pick up on that and that's when it could become an issue. At the moment, however, it is NOT an issue and I would imagine that she'll soon settle down.

Good luck and long may you enjoy her.
 
Oh too many questions for a Friday, can I start with no 3? Don't know your previous posts as trying to give up the HHO habit, but here's my contribution.

3. Noisy on hacks - This will settle down, and I would suggest sticking to the same hack for a few weeks, as familiarity will help. You can branch out to try other hacks when she is less on her toes. Some mares are quite vocal when stressed so she just needs reassurance that the big bad wolf won't come and get her.

2. As for big belly, probably just lack of muscle and will improve with time, although it could also be her conformation. Lungeing is supposed to help, as it makes them use their tummy muscles more. Could be worth a try if it bothers you, otherwise just carry on with flat work and there should be a slow improvement.

1. Bits - well, I agree with not liking single jointed bits but it's personal preference - can you borrow a few to try, but give each one a few days so she can get used to them.

Can I have a coffee now?
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bit - similar problem to my horse - single joint she had in when i got her just didn't suit so moved to lozenge - kept everything else the same.... year on and just changed to a straightbar flexi eggbutt - lozenge seemed ok but now i'm having lessons and doing more flatwork i just couldn't get a consistant contact - she'd just evade rather than accept - new bit has made a huge difference
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belly - honey had this - improved with flatwork and lunging and working correctly - also - noticablly smaller after a day away (lives out 24/7 so i blame gorging on the grass
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calling when on hacks - should get better - but you could try takling to her - yup you'll sound like a loon but will distract her and get her thinking of you more and less of whats around her
 
No idea about bits and belly (agree exercise has made a difference to mine though!) but 3) On hacks do you talk to her? Sometimes daughters pony has a good old call out to her field mate and those in the big field on the way down to our house, and I'm not sure the neighbours appreciate it before 7am (get her early on show days) so I find chit chatting to her about nothing she listens to me rather than makes a noise.
 
1. Bit yes try a french link, or a lozenge, the action is much nicer. See if you can borow one to start with. Is she strong for flat work? I wouldn't bother with a separate bit unless you really need to, but if you do two reins on a gag rather than one is much more effective, if you can ride with two reins a pelham or double may be worth a try too. Lots of horses respond much better to one of these and go well into the contact whilst also having improved brakes.

2. Belly, most likely lack of muscle tone, watch a fit horse working in an outline and you will see a line of muscle accross the belly that lifts the back and belly, your mare needs to develop this muscle, you just need to make sure you are gettinng her to work over her back in a correct outline. Lunging will help, especially if you can lunge in a pessoa or similar.

3. The hacking will definitely improve just keep at it.
 
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