Need help with breaks!

[jjflash]

I have my welshie in a hanging cheek snaffle which he is very relaxed in, however it does mean our breaks are compromised! He's absolutely fine in the little indoor arena but in the larger outdoor he can be very difficult - even just trotting a circle can be a problem. My hands just seem to be completely noneffective as he evades the contact and rushes off, but using my legs to steer only makes him go faster. Any tips on correcting this? He's naturally strong and has lovely movement, I just wish I could control it better! Help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Love]

How does he evade the contact? By opening his mouth, or crossing his jaw etc? Or is he leaning and just tanking with the bit?

 

[jjflash]

How does he evade the contact? By opening his mouth, or crossing his jaw etc? Or is he leaning and just tanking with the bit?

He raises his head to one side and often opens his mouth when turning, like on a circle, but other times he'll just grab it and tank off I wouldn't want to put a load of gadgets on him to help, but I can't think what to do!

 

[Love]

If he raises it to one side could it be his teeth causing him pain? My boy went a bit like this when his needed doing

 

[jjflash]

We had the dentist out recently and he's okay but apparently needs some work done, but it's not urgent. I can't even remember what it's called, I have it written down somewhere!

 

[Wiz201]

Perhaps try a flash strap on the noseband? If he's ok indoors can't be in that much pain.

 

[putasocinit]

Sit deep in your saddle, squeeze with your bum and pull and release alternatively on the outside rein, do not lean forward, rather push your stomach out towards the sky whilst remaining sitting deep in the saddle, weight slows them down.

 

[Cortez]

Get some help from an instructor, or get someone to school the horse. Bits are not brakes: proper training will install the necessary responses.

 

[Littlelegs]

Ditto cortez.

 

[AnnaGHDT]

Also certainly agree about having his teeth done. If the dentist said there were things that could do with doing, even though he said not urgent, I would try this before anything else - it is amazing the difference it can make! Also, may well be worth having your saddle checked for correct fit by a qualified Master Saddler as it may well be that this is pinching him somewhere.

With contact and breaks, it really is a case of less is more. When he is pulling, what is your reaction? Have you ever tried just releasing all of the pressure on the rein when he is doing this? Remember, it takes two to create a 'pull'. If you aren't pulling, then he has nothing to pull against. It sounds like it might be necessary for you to just take him right back to basics and just to do lots of halt-walk-halt transitions, with as light pressure as possible on the rein, so that he learns there is no need to resist your pressure on the rein. When doing this it is essential that when ever he slows down, you instantly release any pressure you have on the reins, so that he learns that if he responds to a light pressure, the pressure will go away. Practice this lots, first in the indoor arena, and then move back to the outdoor once you feel he is lighter in the contact. It can also be really beneficial to use poles on the ground to help you with these exercises, as it gives him a marker to use. So for example, ask him to slow down or stop, just in front of the pole.

Great that you are not keen to just start strapping loads of gadgets on to him. The important thing is for him to learn to understand a light signal, so it should never be necessary to resort to other gadgets, or to stronger bits.

Good luck!