ouch ouch ouch...eventful evening!! (bit long sorry!)

[bex1984]

Had a very eventful evening last night! Firstly, there's a new pony on the yard and he's turned out with my ponio and I had to get someone else to help me get my pony in as the new pony didn't want him to leave!

Tacked up and went down to the school and started getting out some jumps out. There's a woman on the yard who's a really really good, experienced rider, and she came over and helped me set up, and then she spent about an hour with me giving me advice...some people are just so kind, and I honestly couldn't thank her enough.

Ponio and I were going over little jumps away from the gate to the school, then decided to do them coming back towards the gate. Attempted to do it in canter, bad idea...ponio got the gate in his sights, tanked up to the jump (bear in mind these jumps are less than 1ft!!), then refused it and darted out to the side and I fell off, landing on the jump wing and the metal cup thingy

Have an enormous graze and bruise across most of my back, and bruises all down my left hand side.

The woman who was helping me then had a fiddle with ponio's bit and decided he was probably too strong in it, so she fetched a Dutch Gag and we gave that a go....and OMG it was such a transformation!!

Did the jumps again, towards the gate and actually with some control. We were doing transitions and pony was really listening. A friend who was watching said he was actually starting to carry himself properly

So falling off was a good thing really, even though it bl**dy hurts today!

I think I shall be off to the shops this weekend for a new bit, and i also think it's probably time I invested in a body protector...does anyone have any recommendations of good ones that are relatively cheap?

Well done if you got this far....just felt I had to share, it was such an eventful evening I'm still trying to process everything!

 

[Shipley]

Well done, often something good comes from falling off.

I have a rodney powel back protector and love it. It cost about 120 from memory

 

[browbrow]

dude!! Well done - every cloud has a sliver lining !! - What ring is your dutch gag on - I used to have one for my cob - very good things when used right.

And just think - you must be a good rider if she is experienced and thinks you are ok to ride in a gag!!

Still up for trotting race? !

Browbrow

 

[Moggy]

Hope you aren't feeling too sore this morning!
It may well be that you need slightly more brakes with your jumping but a gag may be a bit extreme but see how you get on with one. Sorry but I think your friend is probably wrong about him carrying himself, it's more likely the extra poll pressure of the gag just pulled his head in......

Cx

 

[bex1984]

We started with it on the bottom ring, just to make him realise he HAD to listen and respect what I asked, and after about ten mins and loads of transitions moved it on to the middle ring. I think I need to get used to it a bit more, and so does ponio, but we can work on that.

Defo still up for the trotting race...am planning to take some vids tomorrow

 

[bex1984]

Unfortunately I need more breaks most of the time, as he does have a tendency to tank back to the gate in the school (he also tanked off with me across fields recently). I have always been reluctant to use a "strong" bit on him but we'll see how he gets on with this one...

 

[browbrow]

Bex - dont worry about it - there is nothing wrong with using this bit - you are obviously a decent person and wont be abusing it and he is bloody strong!!! There is nothing wrong with using a gag/pelham/etc - many people do !!!!

You are obviously working really hard on trying to sort out his naughty tanking by lots of schooling and trying to make yourself a better rider!!

Safety is paramount and if it takes a different bit for you to have a set of brakes instead of you falling off and hurting yourself then so be it!! It could have been your neck snapping instead of a few bruises!! You may only need it for a few months until he is a bit more respectful - mine was in a gag but with lots of schooling and ground work is in a snaffle.

I 100% with the less gadgets the better but some horses just need extra pressure to stop and listen! I mean look at some of the crap on the 3 day eventers nowadays!!! ( I am not condoning it mind)

Good luck to you - just togs protectors are good by the way!!

I am not wanting to start a war on gadgets guys - but Bex is always on here posting things and is obvoiusly really trying to sort her pony out by schooling and all the other methods .....

 

[HenryandPeta]

Henry came with a dutch gag when I bought him and I managed to get him out of it after two years - he's now in a Pelham and much softer and happier for it - just a thought for you!! he learnt to throw his head and set himself against the gag whilst still tanking - not a pretty or comfortable experience...

Sorry about your fall, hope you're not too sore today!

 

[browbrow]

I have started to put mine in a pelham once a week to get her used to it for shows and I agree - she loves it - seems to go really well in it!!!

Defo on to think of

Mind you Bex - you need to start practicing that trot over anything else!! Hee hee xx

 

[Moggy]

Hope you didn't think I was having a go ? It was just a word of caution but you sound like you are doing all the right things. Im not a gadget fan but there are times you need extra brakes along with lots of schooling. Im a big pelham fan myself but if a gag works for now go for it..........

 

[browbrow]

Hello Moggy - no didint think you were having a go but Bex is a right softy and always worrying about something wether its her riding or pony is too fat or she isnt good enough - it was just reassurance for Bex

 

[bex1984]

browbrow, you're so right, I'm the biggest worrier ever! I really appreciate the reassurance!

 

[Gorgeous George]

Oh no I hope you're not too sore today, I tried George in a dutch gag but I was worried about him being in a strong bit, so I put him in a hanging cheek and he seemed to go really nicely and then I was finding I was having to use my hands lots which I didn't like, so now he is back in the gag but a happy mouth version with a roller and he is great!

 

[bex1984]

I am rather sore today, but it's only bruising so can't complain really!

I guess it's all just (slightly expensive) trial and error with bits!

 

[benrolo]

I posted a little while ago about my daughter's new pony who had suddenly started tanking back to the gate at a particular arena that we went to quite often, it was recommended we put him in a dutch gag. She had some jumping lessons to make sure she was using it correctly (2nd ring) and it has worked a treat, in fact she has been back to the arena where she had problems and won a class, (we only went to see if the bit/lessons had worked), he's still in a snaffle for XC as she only uses it for SJ.

 

[kizzywiz]

If you need this bit then use it if it works for you, I ride my 14HH pony in a Myler Combination, very frowned upon by some. However, would rather use light rein aids in this & have her respect it if I have to take a pull, than be pulling her gob off in a snaffle. She competes at elementary level dressage by the way, but does lean & get strong jumping, I know that long term I need to refine my half halt & keep her up off her forehand so she doesn't lean, but as I am not Olympic standard, this is easier said than done. At least I don't get off pouring with sweat with shoulders that are agony!!! Stick with what works for you, you are the one who has to ride him after all.

 

[bex1984]

Thanks, I feel the same, that I would much rather be able to use my hands lightly than have to really hold on to him, which is what I was having to do in a snaffle. I have been using a cherry roller for the past 3 weeks and that had improved things a bit, but as he proved last night he could still get far too strong when he wanted too.

 

[jumpthemoon]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry but I think your friend is probably wrong about him carrying himself, it's more likely the extra poll pressure of the gag just pulled his head in......


[/ QUOTE ]

Moggy - He was carrying himself better - there was actually a moment of suspension in his trot as opposed to dragging his feet on the floor

I did not mean his head was tucked in therefore he was working in a perfect outline! I am of the same opinion as you as regards DG's etc, but I think Bex needs to be able to control the pony - hopefully he'll start to show some respect and start listening and as she has some lessons he will become more responsive. Hopefully she will be able to drop to a hanging cheek or something then.

 

[kizzywiz]

Bex, safety has to come first & no one is having a nice time if they are grunting & sweating & heaving!! In an ideal world we would all be able to dance around the place in snaffles with gorgeous engagement & self carriage!! These are our LONG TERM aims & if we need a bit of help along the way so be it. I have classical dressage lessons, but my pony was so naughty it was dangerous, so I rode her at all times in a standing martingale, only taking it off very gingerly for a competition. She now wears just a snaffle for flat, with the Myler & running martingale for jumping & hacking. My SJ trainer is not keen on the Myler, but he is miles too tall to ride her so can't jump on to see what I'm feeling. He is fantastic, but it must be hard to judge what you can't feel. All his horses are beautifully schooled & do go just in snaffles, but as I'm nowhere in his league, the Myler is here to stay for now, & I have promised him that I don't use it every day!! I am sure once your training progresses & he begins to carry himself more, you will be able to downgrade. As I said before, he's YOUR horse & you have to ride him, so it's whats right for you as a pair, I'm sure my SJ trainer could ride Kizzy beautifully in a snaffle (If he wasn't well over 6') but that doesn't mean as a mere mortal that I can.

 

[bex1984]

Thanks jumpthemoon and kizzywiz. Had a lesson last night and instructor agreed that Dutch Gag may well be the way to go for now. I like the fact that I can put it on the snaffle ring if he's having a calm, non-tanking day, and can use the other rings if he's not respecting me. I certainly hope I won't have to use it forever.

 

[kizzywiz]

Absolutely, you go girl. Good luck. PS just got back from sj lesson, I was VVV Scared, cried at one point, but did them all fine, & got a well done from trainer who doesn't give any praise unless you've earned it, & yes I was using the Myler!!