New bit, do I or dont I???

[benson21]

I put a post on here a few days ago about Donovan, and him sticking his head right down between his knees whilst walking in long reining and it was suggested I got him a key bit.
So, I toddle off to the tack shop, explain what he is doing and she says the last thing he wants is a key bit!
She says it will make him very 'mouthy' and dont want to teach him to keep messing with his bit.
So now I dont know what to do!!!

 

[tallyho!]

The image in my head made me chuckle a bit! Sorry...

I missed your last post but did anyone suggest making him walk on a bit faster so he can't do that?

 

[benson21]

See the problem there is if he walks any faster I pull far to hard on the long reins cos I cant keep up, and there is absolutely no chance I can jog along behind!

 

[tallyho!]

Oh... can you get someone else to long-rein? Or, can you lunge with two lines instead? Better to have him going forward than teach him to over-bend - he will use it against you one day.

 

[jhoward]

Id be thinking more about YOUR positon, not only of your body but of your hands and reins.

Alot of horses will do this on long reins and adventually end up leaning on your hands.

a couple of things to try..

walk to eaither side of him (depending on how your working him) give with the inside reinbut tweek the the outside whilst pusing him on.. so it would be like riding your working him up in to you hands.

adjust where your reins are.. have a play with lower down and higher up.. generally i wok on the if i want a horse on the bit long and low i have the reins higher if i want the head up i have them lower. it almost doesnt make sence does it, but ig you think about the positoning of ANY bit if a horses head i going down it cause of the pressure being applied (generally )

if it really carries on id give a very slight flick with a lunge whip.. not a hit but just a loop under the chin and back to me so it just brushes the whiskers .

often when longreing the more advance horse i will use a driving saddle a the rein rings give a much higher imitation of the rider hands.

 

[jhoward]

right ive just been and had a look at yr previous threads.. it was myself that said the key bit.

learning acceptence of the bit is one of the most important parts of a horses life (well to me) any baby when u shove a bit in will do a lot of mouting crosing the jaw pulling the tounge back etc.. i use a key bit on the first timers as it stops the above they have something to play with , with the tounge forward rather than spending all the time doing the above mentioned.

put it this way.. it wouldnt hurt to try one.

i never use rubber bits or happy mouths i go from the key bit to a french link with full cheeks, again it gives the horse guidence.

to me it takes a good few weeks of just being bridled before even starting lefts right and stopping using the bit.. something i never rush and if needed would go back to the begining with even an older horse. (am currently with my cob who has had hes gob turned to iron! but infact does have a soft mouth.. if that makes sence.)

im really going to stop waffling now and watch benders..