How to stop pulling on the bit

charleysummer

charleysummer

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I am currently riding a horse that pulls on the bit, then gets wound up because she pulls so pulls more and rushes, wont listen to seat so you really do have to take a tug back to control the speed !

How can i go about fixing the problem? all back and teeth checks etc done, she just has gotten into a vicous cycle of rushing and pulling, then the rider has to take a hold (if you didnt she would canter and panic) so she pulls more, and it goes on- getting very tiresome and a horrid concept to be hanging onto the mouth.

I have tried slowing rising endless times and half halts are ineffective

Thanks :)
 
They can only pull against you if you pull against them and once they are use to this, as happens with many ex racehorses then you are on a loosing battle!

it is not an easy one to stop and should be done in an arena.
The answer is that you stop pulling, she will panic and look for the pull and go faster but you still do not pull back. you sit heavy and guide her onto a circle and let her search for the non existent pull.
All the time you sit heavy and let her go around, she will tire (eventually) and then when she comes back to the trot you immediately start to rise but still do not pull. She will get a second wind and take off again so just repeat and put her back onto a circle.

It takes a while for them to get the idea that there is no need to pull. You have to make racing away difficult hence why you sit heavy, use your voice and thighs when you feel her slowing back to a trot. At the trot you can use the rails/wall of the arena to get her to stop by riding her into it, anything bar pulling on the reins.

No quick fix, it takes time for the to realise that life without fighting is more comfortable and when they are settled you can take a contact but not to pull back.

Make sure she has boots on as she might well knock herself.
 
the horse i ride tends to lean on the bit, years of people hanging on his mouth (including me when i first started) and often he gets so bad that its quite painful to keep decent contact without him leaning so its just a case of trotting on a very loose rein and using seat to slow him every so often.
 
Your post reminds me of my horse, he did this badly when I first started riding him. My Trainer suggested trying him in a loose ring waterford bit and it has worked wonders.! No more hanging on with his teeth and bearing down on my hands. Made such a difference and he is a lot lighter with it.
 
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