Mare wont accept the contact. Please help!

[milliepup]

I have a mare who will not accept the contact even though she mouths the bit and foams more than a washing machine!
I have had her back and teeth checked and all fine.
What she does is just keep putting her head up and virtually tugging my arms forward and feels like she just pulls against me. I have tried all sorts of bit's, myler comfort snaffle, normal jointed snaffle, lozenge, happy mouth etc you name it I've probably tried it. I really am at my wits end with this as when I try and urge her to take the contact she just goes forward quicker even though I try to slow my rise (in trot) down to keep her balanced.
She is in a crank noseband, not done up tight and a flash as she opens her mouth and tries to get her tongue over the bit.
Any ideas for any schooling tips to help her out of this?

 

[carthorse]

Have you had a dressage trainer ride your horse, I'm not sure how experienced you are .What is she like on the lunge in side reins or a pessoa?

 

[mickey]

I wonder if for a short time at least you are pretty much going to have to strap her head in, perhaps with some side reins....or something similar. Once she has the idea you may then be able to get her working from behind to a contact in a round frame.

 

[alicedove]

Of course you must have had the obvious done - teeth and mouth checked? -

Then yes, longe on side reins with them set to nose in vertical and keep her going through it- I had to do that with our mare, she had been with a different rider and was already 10 - didn't know my contact ideas, didn't want to, but after two 20min longes she accepted it more, now we're only up in the air and on and off in canter and sometimes with my daughter.

 

[Haniki]

You could also use a short standing martingale for a brief length of time.

 

[prudunce]

harbridge's are fab 2 help this! nice and kind as they make a long an low contact,has elastic so ur not forcing an out-line.Look on ebay 4 one,only 26 new in robinsons.

 

[K27]

Sounds like she wants you to change your position so that she can escape and get away from you and the contact! . My advice would be whatever she does don't change your position. ensure that she is truly off your leg and when she's soft , you can be soft with your hands so that she learns to follow the contact. If she's not soft, don't give. She has to learn to work from the back end to front end and it will take time - you haven't mentioned how big/old she is but if she is a young horse or big, its going to take time and I'm afraid there are no short cuts that will help! if she is leaning on the hand then you could try a stronger bit for a while. My advice would also be to really ensure that you use less hand, keep your elbows by your side and dont allow her to pull your hands forwards- use loads of leg to push her into the contact and try to use your posture and position to influence your mares way of going- I dont know if you have a dressage trainer or not but maybe you could get one to help you so that you have something to work towards. Also is the bit high enough in the mouth? I would maybe try the crank noseband up tighter as well. . Lots of transitions and transitions within the paces when schooling will help her bring the hocks underneath her..Good luck! .

 

[milliepup]

Thanks for all the advice. Well today I tried her in a friends 4 ring french link and had the rein on the ring just beneath the snaffle, wow what a difference! She didn't fight me once and really felt a lot straighter and balanced. She really accepted the bit and felt like she was working from behind and just the tiniest movement from my hands and she carried out her transitions beautifully! I also tightened up the noseband just a teeny bit so between the two things something worked! I just hope it wasn't a fluke!
I will keep working her in this for a while and see how we go because the only problem is I can't compete in it. If all goes well I may try a hanging cheek snaffle which looks pretty similar.