My horse hangs on the bit

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Cassy

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I have a 10 year old 16h welsh x percheron mare and have had her since she was 3. My ambition is just to get her working off her hocks as she hangs on the bit. I have tried everything but am still open to suggestions. I moved her onto a livery yard 5 months ago where the instructor has been schooling her twice a week but even she is running out of ideas. She makes her lighter in the hand by doing sitting trot but as soon as she goes rising my mare becomes heavy again. She is ridden in a loose ring french link and I want to keep her in this as my ultimate aim was to do some prelim dressage tests this year. I have tried several instructors over the years. Some recommend taking up a short contact and kicking her on, this didn't work. Some tried working her on a very loose contact, she stuck her nose out and charged around. Should I just accept the fact that she is not built for dressage and give up???
 
I cannot see how riding her on a loose contact would help. For sure some horses are more built for dressage than others but there is no reason why your mare shouldn't be able to do a prelim test.

For my wb mare the answer was to put her in a double but this would probably not be the answer in your case. Transitions and lots of them both within the pace (eg. working to lengthened to shortened trot strides) and between the paces (eg. trot to walk to trot) done in quick succession.

There is a huge difference between a horse being 'light' in the hand and possibly dropping the contact and one working correctly to the bit.

You could experiment with various types of snaffle as the vast majority are dressage legal.
 
She can't "hang on the bit" - she can lean on your hands/contact, or be on the forehand.
The first you can sort be not giving her a solid contact to lean on (move your fingers, "squeeze the sponge"), the second is lots of exercises like transitions, circles, serpentines, rein back to walk etc etc but bear in mind they are gymnastic exercises and get her using muscles she isn't used to, so you need to build gradually and not expect results too soon
 
How is the instructor getting her lighter by doing sitting trot? She needs to explain what she's doing to you. Sitting trot in itself wouldn't stop horse being on the forehand, unless the rising trot was ridden very differently...

To take more weight behind, the horse needs to be working properly over the back. Generally speaking, on a horse without this musculature already developed (as in your case), sitting trot would usually encourage them to dip behind the contact into an artificial outline - becoming lighter in the hand, but without hind leg engagement.
 
I would work on small circles, small figures of 8, walk pirouettes and lateral work. She needs to be very obedient to your inside leg. If she doesn't fall through the shoulder on a small circle, she will have to take more weight on her hocks. Due to her conformation, she might still have a long neck/low headset so don't worry about that but doing sharper turns in balance should make her transfer more weight on her bum/hocks and have a lighter forehand.
 
JillA said:
She can't "hang on the bit" - she can lean on your hands/contact, or be on the forehand.
The first you can sort be not giving her a solid contact to lean on (move your fingers, "squeeze the sponge"), the second is lots of exercises like transitions, circles, serpentines, rein back to walk etc etc but bear in mind they are gymnastic exercises and get her using muscles she isn't used to, so you need to build gradually and not expect results too soon
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This.

Also, it sounds as if she has no impulsion and is just pulling herself around on the forehand as she is unfit or just used to going this way. Getting her "on to her hocks" is a way of saying impulsion or engagement.

When I had a horse like this, my instructor got us working on the 20m circle at first w-h-w transitions, then t-w-t transitions. Feel the horse's hind feet beneath you each time you ask for walk. Feel which one moved first. Should always be a hind first. Ask a friend on the ground to check if you're right. Keep a contact on the rein and when you ask, ask on the girth, if nothing ask again and tap with a schooling whip. Repeat until you have a perfect halt to walk and keep it going. Sit up tall and "think" forward. Then try with some turn on the haunches.

I've just thought of a great book for you. Try Sylvia Loch's The Balanced Horse.
 
Yes JillA she does lean on my hands and is on the forehand. I trying to keep my fingers moving but still she leans. I do all the exercises you mentioned and find that she lightens a little after lots of walk trot transitions.
 
I do have one taken last year when I tried a prelim test. We got the usual comments "not engaging hindquarters". I haven't done any tests this year.
 
Yes smja perhaps you are right about her becoming lighter but without hind leg engagement. But I have to say she certainly works better for my instructor but maybe it is because she is a much lighter weight than me! When I try sitting trot I feel she is not so comfortable.
 
Thanks Palindrome for your suggestions. I do circles, figures of 8 but perhaps I should try smaller ones. Sorry don't know how to do walk pirouettes but we can do turn on the forehand and rein back. So lots to keep trying.
 
Thanks tallyho for your input. She is quite forward going at the moment as on restricted grazing but agree that she could be more responsive to my leg aids. I will look out the book you mentioned. I have read "Cobs Can" but at the moment feel that "My Cob Can't"!! or won't.
 
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Cassy said:
Yes smja perhaps you are right about her becoming lighter but without hind leg engagement. But I have to say she certainly works better for my instructor but maybe it is because she is a much lighter weight than me! When I try sitting trot I feel she is not so comfortable.
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I doubt it is the weight of the rider that is making the difference - I would imagine it is more to do with experience.

The fact you say she is not comfortable to do sitting trot on suggests to me that she is not using her back correctly and is holding it tight. The hindleg needs to be more engaged to give her back 'swing'
 
I'd add that trying to create lightness in sitting trot takes a blummin good sitting trotter. It wouldn't be my first port of call. But you're right that any block at the front end needs sorting at the back end. Lateral work may help ,it sometimes gives you a way in. Equally sometimes they can't do it properly if blocking in front. Worth a try though! Assuming there are no physical issues - lots of reasons a horse might not want to engage behind and lighten in front...
 
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