Instructor's advice/opinion vs my own (opinion)

[southerncomfort]

TBH if someone suggested my horse was 'mouthy' I'd be asking a bit fitter to have a look.

In fact, I did just this with my youngster and it turned out that the bit I was using sat in the wrong place no matter how you adjusted it.

We changed his bit to something that sat better in his mouth and the mouthing instantly stopped.

 

[Deleted member 163966]

Thank you again to everyone for the considered replies. They make interesting reading.

To answer a few more questions - I can't say I have noticed my horse being "mouthy". She looks perfectly comfortable to me in her current set up and feels settled when I ride. However, I have considered getting a bitting expert in for a look (we have a very good person locally - so may be worth a call), as - I have to admit - the horse was ridden in a full cheek snaffle before, but leaned on it very heavily, which led me to change to the loose ring.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

You are not obliged to agree or go with every professionals advice you are using for anything all of the time, for what it's worth they are not always right all of the time.

You are allowed to say thanks but no thanks.

 

[Quigleyandme]

I had a bit and bridle fitter visit my young horses. One was sticking his head in the air and refusing to open his mouth and the other was being impossibly mouthy just experimenting with bits in the stable. They now both have lovely Horsemanship Saddlery anatomical bridles and bits they find comfortable. I really recommend having an appointment with a reputable fitter if you have reason to suspect discomfort although OP doesn’t necessarily.

 

[eahotson]

I've come across more trainers who I would not listen to than ones I would. It's really hard to find a trainer who is on the same page.

I had a trainer put a very inexperienced kid (me, age 13, not a riding prodigy) in a Dr. Bristol. No one explained that this was actually a very harsh bit. Luckily I got a different trainer a few months later who had us change to a friendly lozenge loose-ring snaffle.

I had a trainer tell me to ride a very on-the-forehand, leaning horse in a double bridle. Neither me nor horse were educated enough for the double, not even close, but trainer said the curb action would teach her to get off the forehand. I was 17, so I may have followed this one. Oops.

Same trainer advocated for the flash when riding in a snaffle. I eventually got rid of that.

I had a trainer ask me if he could set up a jump about three minutes after I told him my horse was green as a green thing, and this was his second time being properly ridden in the school. I said no to that one.

I had a trainer who had me hurling aforesaid green horse around 10m circle after 10m circle, or 10m S-bend after S-bend, for a pretty relentless 45 minutes, mostly in trot. Again, I had gone into great detail on horse's background. If the horse was a greenbroke 4-year old (pretty much his education level at that moment), would you ride like that? No. I went with it at the time, making the assumption that the pro knew more than me, but the horse was becoming braced and resistent, and when I thought about it afterwards, it was obvious why, and I felt stupid for not advocating on his behalf at the time. I dunno....maybe he looks less green than he is?

I am with you 100% here.I have had a few instructors over the years and only really rated about 2 or 3 of them.Its incredibly hard to get a really decent trainer.

 

[maya2008]

I don’t ride in nosebands other than when required for competition. Never seen the need.

Fussy in the mouth possible causes:
- bit not quite right;
- teeth sharp;
- rider’s hands inconsistent;
- issue elsewhere in the body preventing comfortable bend (lateral and/or longitudinal) from minor injuries to saddle fit to over tense rider to lack of muscle for the work required.
And more…

 

[Fieldlife]

Per the original question I have 4 or so instructors for slightly different things. One I clinic with, one comes to me before work regularly, one does polework clinics, one specialises in in hand / rehab work.

I dont 100% take everything any of them say as gospel. But I do accept most of what they say most of the time, else why pay for their input. None of them comment on my loose cavesson noseband either.

 

[JFTDWS]

I don't think anyone is likely to say that they would "blindly" follow any advice from an instructor, or anyone else - that is a bit of a loaded question.

That said, if an instructor recommended I start using a flash noseband on any of my horses, I would be looking for new instructor. I might consider a drop if I agreed with the instructor's interpretation of the behaviour and the rationale behind its use for that horse. I do have form for annoying the life out of instructors by ignoring or openly disagreeing with their advice though. I am not known for my tact.

 

[Lois Lame]

An instructor worth their salt, I think, would be fine with being asked for reasons for their suggestions.

Perhaps when the instructor is riding your horse, OP, she finds the horse 'mouthy' even if you do not. She will be asking more of him. I can understand why she might want to try out a correctly-fitted drop noseband with the loose-ring snaffle. It might be just the thing.

I think if you trust your instructor enough to want instruction from her, why not find out exactly what she's thinking? instead of just a 'no thanks'?