Nappy young horse! Any ideas please?

[rcm_73]

Ok prob is, young green horse not listening to the turning aids much at all unless he wants to. Ridden in a basic fulmer and feels rather insensitive in the mouth! Cant really school at the mo unless it's on a boggy field (school not finished) so end up trying to do stuff on hacks on grass verges and so on. Do you think I should continue in this bit or try something else? He doesn't yield willingly off the leg and his nose can sometimes be in my knee if he really doesn't want to turn. I use a whip to back up the leg to which he gets very naggy, tail swishing, kicks out. He is also quite hard to pull up unless he wants to. He's 6 y.o. not v well mannered and v green having only ever really been used for hacking. I've had him a fortnight.

 

[claireross]

I'm not sure a change of bit would help. When I first starting hacking out my horse, when he turned about 4yrs, i must admit I really had no real control of direction. I used to carry a short whip and use it on his shoulder to try and block him if he napped. Are you going out on your own???? You may find you don't have as many problems if he has company. I wouldn't start changing much until you get used to him.

 

[Partoow]

To me most 5 and 6 yr old are like the proverbial teenager!!! Am i 'bovered? As you have a problem with a school i would try and may be use a corner in the field and mark the 'open side with cones or something like that. This will make it clear to you what you are asking, stick to your guns and if you decide to go from point A to point B do it ! try and keep him in both reins be aware of your leg position the inside leg tapping at the girth and use the whip in the same way, sharp tap rather than using out of frustration! Open and slightly raise the inside hand and think of using the leg to move him out so that he bends a little at the ribs. The outside rein needs to be used to work to dont steer him out as this with the inside rein would block him and he must feel that while one door is closed there is a way out , in the way that you want . When he fights you try noy and force the hand down but keep a consistent contact ie keep a straight line from the bit rings to your elbows this way he has not evaded the contact and you have not increased something he was already objecting to!!
The fact that he has only done hacking before means he think that is what he dos so now you are moving the goal posts, correctly so but the world is suddeny all change and so that bolshi behaviour is quite often a sighn of insecurity.
I would change the bit ,the fulmer was developed to stop the bit being pulled thruogh the mouth and its action has little or no refinement. Try a large loose ring losenge bit, not too thick a mouth piece this will give you and him a little more definition and the losenge will help stop hanging. Other exellent bits are from pinchlessbits.com i use their little eggbutt snaffle on some of my 'inmates'. Goodluck and if i can help some more le me know.

 

[filly190]

It sounds like his mouth is not established and I would advise against a stronger bit. His tail swishing is because he dislikes the legs against his sides. All of this very common with young, green horses.

If you can not school, I would suggest lots of hacking. Just get him out and about and enjoying life. Try keeping your legs on so there is a gentle contact and he gets used to the feel of them, you can always use blunt spurs to help with your steering.

I would concentrate mainly on leg aids and gradually get him accepting bit contact. It all takes time and a good few months of hacking and schooling. Some horses take to it very well, others fight against it and prove more difficult, I have one of those!

 

[joanne1920]

i read a book ages ago, cant remember who by, but the advice was to bridle the horse then attach a lunge line to the inside bit ring (use with a fulmer so bit cant slip through mouth) and lunge that way - as it teaches them that inside rein pressure means bending and direction before the introduction to legs, i did this with my shetland before teaching her to long rein, worked a treat with her! obviously slightly different as i cant ride her, but might be worth a try?

 

[Eceni]

Ground work, ground work, ground work.... if he doesn't understand what you're asking, he can't oblige. THey're not teenagers, they're just not tuned in to what you want. Start off on the ground asking for him to flex at the poll in either direction, lift the rein, apply a *small* amount of pressure and *as soon as he gives* release it. Keep doing this until he automatically, softly and lightly gives his poll as you lift the rein. Then ask for deeper bends, then ask for deepness and a rotation about the poll. When you can do that on the ground, start asking him to walk forwards and do it - with you still unmounted. When you can do all of that, softly, then you can get on and ask again (while standing) and then when he can do that, ask while walking. It'll take a few weeks, but if you get the foundation right, the rest will follow

 

[hunteress]

I agree with Eceni groundwork also take it hunting or bloodhounding to have some FUN !!!!

 

[rcm_73]

Thanks all for your advice, I have taken note. Would like to take him hunting/bloodhounding, been having a bit of fun jumping ditches in a nearby field so I could probably do the smaller fences with him. Someone nearby has a bit to do with bloodhounding, maybe I should ask her?