Naughty pony tanked OUT of the school!!

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bex1984

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Grrrr. Obviously it was a bad idea going back to the cherry roller as last night ponio tanked (in canter) from one end of the school to the other, and out of the gate (which was open), and I couldn't get him to slow down or turn
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I was trying the cherry roller again because I've been really struggling to get him into (and keep him in) canter in the dutch gag - obviously we have no such problems in the CR!!!
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So, what do I do now? Do I go back to the DG and persevere? Or try something else? All suggestions gratefully received!
 
*ok i am NOT an expert so if im talking poo please someone tell me!*

if i were you i would go back to the DG and persevere. whats he like with that out hacking? is he easier to canter then? it could be that because it is a severe bit and you might be hanging on to his mouth a bit (because he has a tendency to pi** off!) and he is backwards thinking now? if that makes any sense at all! agh i can confuse myself sometimes!

or maybe ride the dg with two reins? one on the main snaffle ring and one of the lowest ring? only use the snaffle ring when walking and trot etc then when you feel him start to take a hold use the lowest ring? you may need to have a go in a lesson first with an experienced person helping, if youve never ridden with two reins before, they can be a handful other wise!

jen xx
 
oh yeah defo shut the gate
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tee hee

whenever i am passing the school gate on frankie he tends to speed up so i always keep it closed! would end up on the front of my car otherwise
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I've said all along that a pelham or kimblwick would be a good bit for this horse. He sounds and looks very strong. Oh and a martingale to boot!!

Nothing you have said has changed my mind. A cherry roller will do little for the breaking system........
 
Unfortunately someone else had opened the gate and I didn't know it was open! His head wasn't in the air, he just set his neck against me and went!

In the DG he tries to evade it - he plunges his head down and in towards his chest all the time. Not a major problem in walk and trot because I can push him forwards, but in canter it pulls me forwards out of my seat, and then I can't keep my leg on and he goes back to trot. he is exactly the same out hacking. The time he really tanked off out hacking (in a snaffle) his head went into his chest anyway, so I suspect having the DG wouldn't have helped.

When going into canter he has a tendency to just run into trot unless you really shorten your reins - so that will be putting poll pressure on and I guess that's what he's evading?
 
AmyMay - I'm wondering about a pelham (I know you've suggested it before - you must despair of me seeing this post), but is that poll pressure too? Just thinking that he may try to evade it in the same way? How does a kimblewick work?
 
Good idea jenbleep!!

If the gate is open - he will try and do a runner for a start - but TBH bex its sounds like he cant be arsed in the school - keep persevering - you will get there -

maybe only doing 20 min sessions in the school - keeping it short will be better and forget jumping or cantering - get him used to trotting and stopping and halting and stop to trot....

Never mind - good luck at your show xxxxxxxxxxx
 
if you're going to get a Pelham (can you borrow one?) make sure it fits his mouth properly.........cobs like yours can have larger tongues (or something like that, different mouth confirmation anyway!) so the mouthpiece of the bit should fit comfortably.

maybe a Pelham with a thinner mouthpiece? not too thin you don't want to saw him in half!

good luck with him he sounds like a challenge!
 
A kimblewick is like a pelham but just with a chain - it has no poll action. The Pelham doesn't have as much action on the poll as a DG though, so you might find he is ok with it. It would be worth a try, anyway.
 
I don't quite understand him because he seems to LOVE cantering round the school! He stopped when we got out of it, I turned him round towards it and his ears went forward and he trotted back in! I then cantered him round for a bit (with the gate shut!), brought him back to trot and was having to hold him back at every corner because he really did wanter to canter round! Weird pony.

He was ridden in a rubber pelham without the chain before I got him, but was a lot less fit I think. Do I need two reins with a pelham if I'm using the chain? and should I get a metal one or a rubber one?
 
It probably doesn't have quite as much poll action as if you are using two reins, but when you pull back on the reins, the whole bit moves back towards you. If he pushes his head forwards to resist, the chain will tighten on his chin groove. It's partly to do with the angle as well - if he puts his head up, the chain will tighten.
 
The chain is fixed slightly higher than the bit, so when you pull on the bit, you only need a small amout of leverage to cause the chain to tighten. (trying to think how to explain it!)
 
TBH the idea of two reins terrifies me!

jumpthemoon - when I get one would you mind giving me a hand making sure I've fitted it right? Think I'll have to buy one, I'll have every bit available soon!!
 
What about an english (traditional style) gag? Not too strong that he would back off if it but lots of poll action. Contrary to popular belief the action it gives you actually helps lift the head upward so he can't 'bury' it and run off with you.

I've found this bit works a treat with my horse who is very strong and drops all his weight onto the forehand and buggers off with me.
 
Sorry if i'm repeating or skipping but havn't read all the posts

Kimblewick kimblewickkimblewick!!!

My old welshy was EXACTLY like this, and I put him in a ported kimblewick with curb chain and finally I had some kind of control and he didn't evade it.
Seriously borrow one and try it!
 
Thanks both Gingerbird and Gloster_Image. Have ordered a pelham to try (only £6 from tesco!!!) so am going to give that a go (he was ridden in one before I had him) - next on my list if that fails is a Kimblewick but will defo look into the English Gag - just had a look and that does look quite interesting.
 
I am considering getting T-shirt with I LOVE MY KIMBERWICK and a big thumbs up printed on it.
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It was invented, I think, as a practical alternative to the pelham for those that didn't want to use 2 reins or roundings. It has less leverage than the pelham but a fairly high amount of curb pressure. I have also found (although others may disagree) that the fat native tongue seems to sit more comfortably with a ported mouth so the curb bits work nicely. You can get kimberwicks with 'slotted mouths' which allow you to fix the rein at the bottom of the bit (kinda like a Wilkie) and these provide A LOT of curb pressure. It might be worth buying one as you don't *have* to use the slots but they are there if you need them.

My old horse used to set his neck and hoon off in all kinds of gag type bits, including a tom thumb. He was 16.2 and strong as an ox, even some very experienced event riders struggled to hold him in a snaffle (got some help with him cos I was losing my nerve with his bolting). He was light as a feather in a kimberwick though. Really seems to work for the lean, grab and run horses
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Id try a waterford as it sounds like he's grabbing hold of the bit and tanking off. Is he heavy in your hands? Do lots of halt walk and trot tranisitions to get him light stop hanging on your hands. It works with my cob
 
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