Love new horse but she has v wooden mouth

0ldmare

0ldmare

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I went for my first hack on the new horsey today and love her to pieces already! She is so sensible and laid back for a 6 year old. Other than finding a dustbin very scary (she only bent her knees by the way) she passed cars, bikes, barking dogs, cyclists and all sorts. Felt very safe BUT she has got a remarkably wooden mouth. Although there is no feeling that she is going to run away with you, she basically takes very little notice of any 'slow down please' unless you really take a hold (I am talking about trot here, not a mad canter!). The owner did say they had had to work on her schooling because she had had a hard mouth, but my other horse stops when you 'think stop' so I found it a little unnerving. I didnt get much chance to ride her when I went to see her as it was teaming with rain, they had no off road hacking or school and their other horse had lost a shoe so they said I could have her on trial for a week, No way am I going to send her back, her temperament is wonderful, but I do need a little more control!

Today I just had her in an eggbut snaffle, but need to try something else. Any suggestions?
 
My TB had what I call a SJumping mouth....bit dead....so I used to ride him mostly in a hackamore.....managed to have a nice feel in a snaffle for dressage after a few months of that.......(try one in the school first in case she objects!)
 
I think people can tend to try too many different bits on horses, but that's just my opinion. I have only ridden my horse, who I got as a 3yr old in a french link snaffle. He is usually very light in the hand, but if he loses concentration he can start ignoring you. I did swap him to a thinner french link, rather than changing it completly. Personally I'd try and stick with a snaffle until you've done some schooling.
 
Id also go for a french link. And lots of schooling Im afraid. If the previous owner didnt have a good place to school horse then she prob wasnt schooled much at all. Get some lessons booked. It sounds like you have the basis of a lovely horse.
 
Thanks, I will give a french link a try next time out. I dont want to over bit her, but was amazed how little response I got from a 'squeeze'.
 
Try using a flash noseband if you haven't already. I had the same problem a while ago and found that my boy was just evading the bit by opening his mouth a little. I have found a vast improvement. Good Luck with new horsie - sounds lovely!
 
I would take her in a school but try a rubber straight bit. This sounds totally contradictory but sometimes because their mouths are uneducated not hard they respond better.
I would do loads of transitions using your seat and voice to if necessary to teach her to respond.
If you are worried out hacking try a KK french link or myler, if that dosn't work a mullen mouthed pelham used gently may teach her who is the one who decides the speed!
We have had stopping problems with one of ours when jumping (it takes hold and leans towards the fence) and a copper roller has fixed that perfectly. We do however school in a kinder bit.
 
Maybe a bit more schooling with lots of half halts so you don't rely on using the bit to slow her down? Try not to focus too much on her mouth but look at her overall response to your aids. I have taught my TB mare to slow down and halt with my lower leg and thigh so I don't have to use to much hand - works a treat in walk and trot. I do have to be a bit firmer in canter (we are far from perfect though, she does tend to yahoo sometimes across fields and ignores everything I do!).

Also use a neck strap as this works well for slowing horses down - again it was perfect for my horse when I was breaking her I didn't have to worry about too much pressure on her mouth. Just hook your fingers under it and pull gently, it really does work! Hope that helps!
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