It all went horribly wrong - any advice? *long, sorry!*

[bex1984]

To cut a long story short, for the past 5 weeks Murphy has been starting to go nicely having never worked in an outline before. We had got to the point where he could work almost consistently on the bit in walk and trot for about 10 - 15 mins (and then he'd have a stretch, or we'd have a canter, and then come back to it with no problems).

We spent yesterday going sideways

He is fixing his mouth and gripping the bit on the right hand side, so on the left rein my knees are getting skinned against the school fence, and on the right rein we are drifting out to the right (a lot!). I can't get him onto a circle on the right rein because he just turns on the spot. I gave up in the end because I could feel myself getting more and more frustrated.

I think this could be due to me changing his bit

He is normally in a straight bar pelham with roundings, but I decided to try a straight bar snaffle this week because we don't have issues with brakes in the school and at some point I'd like to try a walk and trot dressage test with him. So on tues I rode him in the pelham, weds in the snaffle, thurs back in the pelham because were were going out in the fields (he didn't want to work in the school that day but it was pouring with rain), then saturday in the snaffle.

So I'm thinking I'll just go back to the pelham today. He seems very attached to his pelham and does normally sulk in any other bit, but I thought this snaffle might be OK because it's the same mouthpiece

And I'm now worried he may do it in the pelham and has basically learnt an evasion

But is there anything I can do to stop him grabbing the bit on one side? What should I do when he does it? Do I just give up on ever riding him in anything other than his beloved pelham?

Any ideas what's going on? I feel totally out of my depth. I have a show on saturday, no chance of a lesson until septmber. His teeth were checked recently by a very good EDT.

HELP!!

 

[Bossanova]

This to me soujnds like a horse in pain if it came on so suddenly. Have you looked carefully inside his mouth?

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

[ QUOTE ]
This to me soujnds like a horse in pain if it came on so suddenly. Have you looked carefully inside his mouth?

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree maybe look in his mouth and maybe even have his mouth and back checked again.

 

[bex1984]

I did open his mouth and have a look, couldn't see anything obvious and he didn't mind me poking around.

He was doing it a little bit the other day in the pelham, but when we went out in the fields he was fine

If it carries on I'll get the dentist back out.

 

[alsxx]

I would agree it sounds like a reaction caused by pain and to thoroughly check things out there.

If not that then worth considereing that a straight bar pelham will have a very different action than a straight bar snaffle. IMO a pelham is easier to get a horse in an 'outline' than a snaffle due to the poll action, I've seen a few horses that tuck their heads in but arn't truely in an outline. If pain is not an issue, then have you considered having a few lessons (you may already do but wasn't sure from your post)?

 

[bex1984]

Thanks, if it does carry on will defo get the dentist out again for a look. I got off and checked his bridle, checked nothing was too tight/loose, checked in his mouth and checked again when i untacked him, but then I am no expert. He does usually have a grump about any bit other than his pelham, we went through quite a few bits before finally settling on that one. He is also very clever and once he finds an evasion will stick at it - I can't help but wonder if this is one of those occasions?
I do need some lessons and will hopefully be having some from my YO next month (she is really busy at the mo).

 

[Gorgeous George]

I'm sorry but I don't really have any advice, but I know I went through just the same thing when I wanted to try dressage with George. He went lovely in his gag and I felt safe, but in a snaffle he felt really heavy and circles and turns were just awful. After much experimenting we tried him in a sprenger kk lozenge snaffle (why oh why did he have to like the most expensive bit!) which seemed to suit his mouth and big tongue, but I had to learn to ride him forwards no matter how nervous I felt or how heavy he felt. Slowly but surely he is understanding what is wanted. Hope you can get things sorted out.

 

[Natch]

F did exactly what ou described. Dentist came out - no problems. Instructor said he wasn't responding to my leg on the side he was resisting the bit on, and had me do loads of leg yields, shallow loops and figures of 8 to get him off my leg. It worked a dream - i.e. turned out to be nothing to do with his mouth and everything to do with him not respecting that leg.

As for weaning him off the pelham, could you ride in double reind for a bit, with the bottom rein loose and only there for when you need it - might be a stepping stone to a snaffle, as the pelham off the top rein is very close to a snaffle.

Good luck with it all, I know how frustrating it can be x

 

[bex1984]

**UPDATE**

I have just ridden him in his pelham. As soon as he got it in his mouth he was happy, eyes half closed and looking all dreamy, mouthing it gently. He went a million times better today, had a few moments of trying to grip on to the right hand side and but very quickly let go and we managed both straight lines and circles. So there is something about the snaffle he doesn't get on with - I guess it could be hurting him? or he just isn't used to it so he has a strop?

GG - glad to hear someone else has been through the same thing - why do we have to ahve such fussy horses?!

Naturally - he could be ignoring my leg on that side, he is having to learn to be a lot more responsive (my legs have never ached as much as they have in the last 5 weeks!!) - when I have a lesson next month I'll ask the instructor what she thinks. Genius idea about trying to wean him off the pelham by using two reins! Will get two sets of reins sorted soon and have a lesson in how to use them and see how we go. Perhaps we could then move towards a hanging cheek straight bar (does such a thing exist?)

 

[tabithakat64]

There are certainly hanging cheek bits with mullen mouthpieces. Was the snaffle much thicker or thinner than his usual bit? This could cause problems. I would suggest you get his back and teeth checked if this happens again but agree it's more likely to be a schooling issue.

 

[Shannagolden]

Could just be that he's more used to responding to the curb & poll effect of the pelham and is confused by the snaffle? great idea about the double reins on the pelham. Good luck anyway, if he's the horse in your pictures he is a stunner!

 

[JustineFlett]

I may be able to help? But need a few more details. I know this might sound strange but what aids do you give him to slow down and turn - if you explain in detail each hand, leg and seat I may have some ideas.

 

[bex1984]

Shannagolden - he could well be confused, I don't think he's ever really known anything other than the pelham.

justineflett - I will PM you, thank you!