JessMannion
Well-Known Member
How to stop my nice cob type stop being so over bent... also can anyone suggest why horses get over bent (something to do with me but not sure what...) thanks
Overbent...
- Thread starter JessMannion
- Start date
marieE
Well-Known Member
open fingers and encourage to reach for contact, practice with free walk on long rein see how long a rein you can get him on while still being on the contact.
the watcher
Well-Known Member
causes may be too strong a contact, or an evasion - so consider the type of bit you are using, how much poll pressure is being exerted and whether teeth have been checked recently. Might also indicate an link between collection from the front and lack of impulsion from behind - the horse should be working forward into the contact - are you allowing it to do that?
Tierra
Well-Known Member
As the watcher said, its a common evasion; just a less worried about one by most people.
Make sure you're not fiddling with your reins. pressure on the tongue hurts and it makes horses evade.
Make sure you're using a ton of leg. If you fiddle with hands without first ensuring the horse is moving forwards correctly, a common result is to drop behind the bit.
Make sure you're not fiddling with your reins. pressure on the tongue hurts and it makes horses evade.
Make sure you're using a ton of leg. If you fiddle with hands without first ensuring the horse is moving forwards correctly, a common result is to drop behind the bit.
the watcher
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
, its a common evasion; just a less worried about one by most people.
[/ QUOTE ]
Do you know - it is the one thing that is guaranteed to get my blood boiling gently, because it is usually a sign of the rider concentrating on how the front looks without any attention to what is going on behind
So hats off to the OP for recognising that it isn't right and seeking to correct it
, its a common evasion; just a less worried about one by most people.
[/ QUOTE ]
Do you know - it is the one thing that is guaranteed to get my blood boiling gently, because it is usually a sign of the rider concentrating on how the front looks without any attention to what is going on behind
So hats off to the OP for recognising that it isn't right and seeking to correct it
Tierra
Well-Known Member
Oh! I agree completly!
Horses that hollow or do star gazer impressions.... people really worry about that
Horses that over bend - thats cool right? 
neck is bent, head is down - who cares if its a bit too far down
Drives me mental! Id honestly 100% prefer to see a horse above than behind the bit.
So yea, kudos to you OP
Horses that hollow or do star gazer impressions.... people really worry about that
neck is bent, head is down - who cares if its a bit too far down
Drives me mental! Id honestly 100% prefer to see a horse above than behind the bit.
So yea, kudos to you OP
mat
Well-Known Member
Agree with other posters, if you are not taking too much contact, and if the teeth/ back are fine, it sounds like you need to use more leg to push your horse up into the bridle. Also, think about riding uphill...don't look down, sit up and roll your shoulders back.
Try this: Starting with a long rein, push your horse forward, then take an inch of rein.. push forward again, take more rein... push forward again.. repeat until you have a good firm(and even) contact that is supporting, not pulling the front end. Also remember to allow with your inside hand through the transitions.
If you struggle to get this on your own, don't be afraid to get someone to watch from the ground who is experienced enough to tell you what you need to do and when you need to do it.
It can be a difficult thing to get the feel for when you cant really see for yourself whats going on.
Try this: Starting with a long rein, push your horse forward, then take an inch of rein.. push forward again, take more rein... push forward again.. repeat until you have a good firm(and even) contact that is supporting, not pulling the front end. Also remember to allow with your inside hand through the transitions.
If you struggle to get this on your own, don't be afraid to get someone to watch from the ground who is experienced enough to tell you what you need to do and when you need to do it.
It can be a difficult thing to get the feel for when you cant really see for yourself whats going on.
WishfulThinker
Well-Known Member
Mine was VERY over bent - in fact looked like Rollcur some times without so much as touching the reins. I swapped his bit to a MUCH softer one with No poll action, and did lots of work riding him forward from my leg.
I felt silly though as folk would always tell me to try and get his nose in, but I prefer it poking out a bit to being on his chest as long as I can feel his back working. He does pull it in in walk and canter though, but he is 100% better than before.
I felt silly though as folk would always tell me to try and get his nose in, but I prefer it poking out a bit to being on his chest as long as I can feel his back working. He does pull it in in walk and canter though, but he is 100% better than before.
kit279
Well-Known Member
My TB was so overbent when I got him - he used to trail his nose along the ground.. I think he'd been ridden a lot in draw reins before I had him and he thought he was doing the right thing. I swapped his horrible Myler bit (which was on upside down!!!) for an eggbutt hollow snaffle and spent a lot of time just letting him poke his nose and not fussing about an outline. I also lunged him in side reins which I attached to the D-ring on his saddle and eventually crossed over his withers so the most uncomfortable place for him was overbending. When he was happy and relaxed with that, I started asking for some contact and kept my hands quite close together and very still, mimicking the side reins. I never lift my hands to pull him up but if he trailed his nose I really put my leg on to push him forward. I also spent some time in walk just giving and taking a contact without asking for trot so he got used to it and didn't associate it with rushing and overbending.
Nari
Well-Known Member
Agree with other people that it can often be too strong a hand &/or too little leg. However it can also be a sign of weakness in the horse - Jim would go slightly overbent for years but once he was fully mature (took until the summer when he was 8) the problem resolved itself. Up until then he just wasn't physically capable of keeping rhythm, impulsion & self-carriage in a truly correct outline.