Martingale or daisy reins

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mums the groom

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Silly question here, We have bought my 8 year old a Section B and he has learnt that if he puts his head down she isn't strong enough to pull his head back up, what can I buy that can be used at shows to stop him from doing this?
 
a martingale will not stop the pony putting its head down. it will only stop it putting it up if its a standing or will keep the contact with the bit on the bars of the mouth if its a running. only grass reins will stop it putting its head down
 
Welcome to the forum! :)
A martingale wont help at all as they are designed to stop the horse raising their head beyond the point of control not from putting their head down. A pair of daisy reins is probably to best option.
 
A martingale isn't going to help at all :) Other than perhaps to provide a neck strap.

I think Daisy reins are the way to go, ponies are devils. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...5054d59198b8e9c57255acf7e9f925efo0&ajaxhist=0

It is Catch 22 with daisy reins, you stop the rider doing a face plant, but you also restrict the pony's ability to balance itself properly. I would go for daisy reins and a bit of in-hand training. Teach the pony that it doesn't eat, at all, with a bit in, I would be doing a lot of walking around on grass with the pony bitted, reins under stirrups, and a chain under his chin, put your head down mate and you WILL get a jerk, they learn pdq.

Also, I know it isn't pretty, or politically correct nowadays (because it seems that we are supposed to say "Please pretty pony, pick up your head" and not "Oi, you b*****! ") but teach your 8 year old how to feel when the pony is going to do it and how to respond if/when he does. My daughter sorted out her pony with a good jerk on one rein, a loud No! and Thelwell type Pony Club kicks to the ribs, not all children are confident enough to do that though, I do appreciate that.
 
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mums the groom said:
Silly question here, We have bought my 8 year old a Section B and he has learnt that if he puts his head down she isn't strong enough to pull his head back up, what can I buy that can be used at shows to stop him from doing this?
Click to expand...

It depends what you mean by shows, most shows will not allow daisy reins or martingales to be used, jumping classes can have a martingale, you can use what you like at home, a daisy rein is ideal but the rider needs to learn how to stop it from getting the head down in the first place, use one rein rather than both as it will be more difficult for him to pull right down, a good kick at the right time should help and some lessons so the rider becomes more in control to prevent the pony taking advantage, spend the winter really working on them together and hopefully by next season it will be a thing of the past.
 
Another tip: once your child has learnt to 'feel' or anticipate the pony putting it's head down, teach them to sit with the shoulders slightly behind their hips. You don't want to teach them to lean back as such, but if the shoulders are very slightly behind the hips it's physically much more difficult for the pony to pull them into a face-plant. When the pony pulls on the reins, the force will pull the riders shoulders down into their seat rather than forwards. If the rider is vertical or leaning forwards it's much easier for the pony to pull them forwards. I don't think I've described that very well but hopefully it sort of makes sense!
 
Our welsh pony is a cresty wee person, so we didn't think a daisy rein would fit particularly well (diasy rein runs straight up the pony's neck and attaches to the back of the headpiece of the bridle). I've just bought some webbing grass reins from IV Horse and they do the job. They are similar to side reins except that they have an extra wee bit that feeds through the bit rings so ponys head isn't held straight like it would be in side reins..

I accept that they aren't a permanent solution, but my son is tiny and only 4 and they are allowed at our PC in the mini classes....

http://www.tackandturnout.co.uk/Dinky-Grass-Reins

Fiona
 
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