I have no brakes, please help!

K

katymay

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 April 2012
Messages
576
Visit site
I've owned my lovely Dales x about five months now, all we have really done is hacking, a few in hand shows and a couple of ridden novelty classes, just wanted to bond with him before we tried anything major, it's my first pony after a long break out of the saddle so I'm probably a little rusty.
We've not really done any schooling apart from a quick session in a friend's field where he was rushing in canter and very strong! Went for a lovely hack tonight, did a couple of big hills in trot and he was really listening to me, we always do lots of walk, trot, halt transitions when out hacking so he does listen and is controllable!
Anyway friend said let's pop in field and have a canter, I thought why not, lots of space to get him under control and pull up, walked around the whole field first to show him there was nothing scary, asked him for trot which he took two strides then just took off at full gallop and even though I was pulling, half halting and trying to use my seat to slow him down he didn't stop! Finally slowed him at the far end and made him walk back to the bottom and apart from one huge leap over the scary cut maize he was good, I ride him in a waterford gag on bottom ring tonight with a flash but I had no control! I do think maybe that his previous owners used to let him have a good gallop and this is what he thinks is expected of him, how do I teach him calm and steady is just as much fun? Any other bits I could try to gain control? Thank you so much in advance, he really knocked my confidence tonight :(
 
The only thing I have found worked with my v strong mare is a myler combination bit, we had absolutely no brakes or steering when she got excited previously and she came to me as she had a history of tanking off when excited. We tried everything and the myler is brilliant as slightest of touches gets results. My friend has a shire who didn't have brakes either and she's had fantastic success with a myler too. x
 
I would circle and circle and circle and circle again, and at some point you might just have to give him his head for a blast. Were you pulling him the minute he set off? Often it's better to let them go for a while before asking them to come back to you
 
ridefast said:
I would circle and circle and circle and circle again, and at some point you might just have to give him his head for a blast. Were you pulling him the minute he set off? Often it's better to let them go for a while before asking them to come back to you
Click to expand...

Sadly I couldn't circle him as we were attempting to canter around the outside of a freshly cut maize field and I didn't want him to trip or sink so was trying to stick to the grass, I must admit I did try to pull him up the minute he tanked off as it shocked the he'll out of me so instant reaction was to brace and pull, I do think it was excitement more than anything else, I don't mind a good blast but need to know he will come back to me when I ask without the battle ! And boy he is fast!
 
Hi OP - I think very early days to consider " Bitting up" - you say that you have been mainly doing hacking & you don't mention anything about cantering on those hacks appart from the session in your friends field... If not I would just think he potentially has lots of pent up fizz that he isn't getting to expel during schooling/hacking sessions..Im NOT the most experienced or confident rider but have ridden through a similar issue before...bitted up from a fulmer to a Kimblewick & it had a really really bad effect!

When your friend suggested going into field for a canter if it was me i would have popped your horse right behind hers & steer your horses nose towards the other horses bum & if horse takes off NEVER EVER turn away from the headlands.. unfortunatly a rider pulling against a horse pulling is a recipe for disaster as the horse will nearly always win... Now this takes a bit of guts but what worked for me was dropping contact altogether ...lol Mare was totally confused!!! If I was you I would establish brakes in the school before attempting to canter in open spaces & vary work in field up... dont canter every time you go out so the horse isn't anticipating 5th gear!
Also if you have a good instructor they should be able to offer solid advice & help:)



katymay said:
I've owned my lovely Dales x about five months now, all we have really done is hacking, a few in hand shows and a couple of ridden novelty classes, just wanted to bond with him before we tried anything major, it's my first pony after a long break out of the saddle so I'm probably a little rusty.
We've not really done any schooling apart from a quick session in a friend's field where he was rushing in canter and very strong! Went for a lovely hack tonight, did a couple of big hills in trot and he was really listening to me, we always do lots of walk, trot, halt transitions when out hacking so he does listen and is controllable!
Anyway friend said let's pop in field and have a canter, I thought why not, lots of space to get him under control and pull up, walked around the whole field first to show him there was nothing scary, asked him for trot which he took two strides then just took off at full gallop and even though I was pulling, half halting and trying to use my seat to slow him down he didn't stop! Finally slowed him at the far end and made him walk back to the bottom and apart from one huge leap over the scary cut maize he was good, I ride him in a waterford gag on bottom ring tonight with a flash but I had no control! I do think maybe that his previous owners used to let him have a good gallop and this is what he thinks is expected of him, how do I teach him calm and steady is just as much fun? Any other bits I could try to gain control? Thank you so much in advance, he really knocked my confidence tonight :(
Click to expand...
 
showpony said:
Hi OP - I think very early days to consider " Bitting up" - you say that you have been mainly doing hacking & you don't mention anything about cantering on those hacks appart from the session in your friends field... If not I would just think he potentially has lots of pent up fizz that he isn't getting to expel during schooling/hacking sessions..Im NOT the most experienced or confident rider but have ridden through a similar issue before...bitted up from a fulmer to a Kimblewick & it had a really really bad effect!

When your friend suggested going into field for a canter if it was me i would have popped your horse right behind hers & steer your horses nose towards the other horses bum & if horse takes off NEVER EVER turn away from the headlands.. unfortunatly a rider pulling against a horse pulling is a recipe for disaster as the horse will nearly always win... Now this takes a bit of guts but what worked for me was dropping contact altogether ...lol Mare was totally confused!!! If I was you I would establish brakes in the school before attempting to canter in open spaces & vary work in field up... dont canter every time you go out so the horse isn't anticipating 5th gear!
Also if you have a good instructor they should be able to offer solid advice & help:)
Click to expand...

Nothing more to add, very good advise from Showpony. Good luck
 
Thank you, some really good advice there, sadly we have rubbish hacking here, all road work and nowhere to have a good canter, what I need is a grassy hill to give him a good blast. I have hopefully found a really good instructor to come and offer good advice and an honest opinion about him as I would like to do some mountain and moorland classes next year but don't want to be doing the wall of death around the show ring! Thank you again
 
Think you have answered your own question:) Horse isnt getting any canter work in !!! Pent up energy:)
katymay said:
Thank you, some really good advice there, sadly we have rubbish hacking here, all road work and nowhere to have a good canter, what I need is a grassy hill to give him a good blast. I have hopefully found a really good instructor to come and offer good advice and an honest opinion about him as I would like to do some mountain and moorland classes next year but don't want to be doing the wall of death around the show ring! Thank you again
Click to expand...
 
Princess Rosie said:
The only thing I have found worked with my v strong mare is a myler combination bit, we had absolutely no brakes or steering when she got excited previously and she came to me as she had a history of tanking off when excited. We tried everything and the myler is brilliant as slightest of touches gets results. My friend has a shire who didn't have brakes either and she's had fantastic success with a myler too. x
Click to expand...

Can't see that one on the bit bank website, any pictures???
 
Here you go, I managed to get mine off ebay and paid £28!

http://horsebitbank.com/myler-combination-bit.shtml

I have the low port one that is £118 on here (if you click on the highlighted myler words it will show you the options). I've just looked on ebay and there's plenty of new ones starting around £35.

My mare is young and we have had a catalogue of problems to fix, we briefly started a little bit of canter work under saddle prior to getting this bit and just kept tanking off and throwing in bucks, I'm now ready to restart her canter work as I have brakes and steering, my mare tanked off down the road (fortunately our private road!) and I had nothing, just so full of exuberance that she almost forgot I was there and had to run her into a prickly hedge to stop her. She absolutely loves this bit and has fought pretty much every bit that her previous owner had tried before I took her on as a part ex against my old lad, I love her so much I decided to keep her as long as I could get her biting issues sorted. She had been worked through pretty much every option and she hated them, the myler is a totally different type of bit and I never thought I would end up with a western bit but the change in her is astounding, the bit is very kind and she works in a lovely outline with no other gadgets (I had to have her in a martingale previously as she was nose in the air type). If you need any help or more advise please shout. x
 
If you've already got no control in a Dutch Gag on the bottom ring with a Waterford mouthpiece, then there isn't really a stronger bit out there as that combination is already VERY strong & severe. You say you've only really done a bit on hacking, could he just be fresh? If so, then maybe lunging him before you get on, in canter would help him 'let off some steam'. I think re schooling him may be a better option, to get him more responsive to your aids. I personally don't find it at all good if he already needs a flash together with the Dutch Gag on the bottom ring with a Waterford mouthpiece just for hacking. What bit is he in for schooling?

The Cheltenham Gag may possibly work, but I wouldn't want to try any jumping or faster work, i.e XC & hunting with him if you have no brakes out hacking. My NF mare is very strong out hunting, and wears a Dutch Gag on the bottom ring with a Flexi Mouth jointed mouthpiece with a Grackle, and goes like a dream.

You could try pushing them on when they go, rather than pulling them back. It often works a treat as they get tired & want to stop.
I'd see what your new instructor says before changing the bit or noseband.
 
EquiEquestrian556 said:
If you've already got no control in a Dutch Gag on the bottom ring with a Waterford mouthpiece, then there isn't really a stronger bit out there as that combination is already VERY strong & severe. You say you've only really done a bit on hacking, could he just be fresh? If so, then maybe lunging him before you get on, in canter would help him 'let off some steam'. I think re schooling him may be a better option, to get him more responsive to your aids. I personally don't find it at all good if he already needs a flash together with the Dutch Gag on the bottom ring with a Waterford mouthpiece just for hacking. What bit is he in for schooling?

The Cheltenham Gag may possibly work, but I wouldn't want to try any jumping or faster work, i.e XC & hunting with him if you have no brakes out hacking. My NF mare is very strong out hunting, and wears a Dutch Gag on the bottom ring with a Flexi Mouth jointed mouthpiece with a Grackle, and goes like a dream.

You could try pushing them on when they go, rather than pulling them back. It often works a treat as they get tired & want to stop.
I'd see what your new instructor says before changing the bit or noseband.
Click to expand...

I was led to believe that a waterford is actually quite a mild bit and its purpose is to collapse within the horses mouth therefore preventing him from talking a hold? I have only ridden in the waterford including schooling because that's what he came in and I'm not really experienced enough to start swapping bits around :( I would love to get to the stage where I can school and hack in a saddle but think this will take time as I need to bond and fully trust him first, he isn't really strong out hacking and I ride with little contact and try to keep my hands as light as possible, I did lunge him today and he lunges beautifully in trot and walk but didn't ask for canter as last time I tried it he just exploded and tanked off back to his companion! I hate being so inexperienced and hope that a good instructor can help to cement our partnership :)
 
It sounds like the pony has hardly got to canter in the last few months, so when you went into an. Open field he went "wahoo" and enjoyed himself. A lot of horses would. It probably wasn't the wisest thing to do.

Rather than increasing the bit you need to do some canter work with your instructor in a controlled environment like a school. Get yourself used to the pony and controlling him in canter, learn what works with him and what doesn't. Upping the severity of the bit is just patching over the issue.
 
Given the lack of "fast work" I'd be very reluctant to increase the brakes. Often when they're pulled back they "bounce" instead - choose your evil! ;-)
 
fjordhorsefan said:
One thing that does work, if you put your brave pants on, is to push them on. If he wants to slow down, don't let him. They soon learn that bogging off is hard work!
Click to expand...

I agree with this. My current pony was a serial bolter so the first time he tried it i just kicked him on with light contact on his mouth and as soon as i felt him steady i sat up and thought slow and he's only tried it once since so i did the same and he actually pulled himself up fairly quickly. It really does confuse them. Fighting just makes them tense and their adrenaline go through the roof. Also if you can try cantering on your own a few times first so their is no horsey friend to race against that will help. You could also think of hiring a gallops to help him let off steam in a safe area especally if he's not getting chance to that often.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top