please help

[christy]

my horse is ridden in a happpy mouth gag on the snaffle ring, however when we are cantering along she sometimes puts her head right down between her front legs and i have no breaks, now i wondered whether this is due to the bit as it does draw the horses head down by the preasure? can anyone give me some advice or shud i change the bit? she is very strong !xxxxthank you

 

[dieseldog]

Why don't you try dropping the reins down a ring and see if you have more brakes? Good Luck, it's not nice not being able to stop

 

[christy]

i did drop itdown a ring and she still manages to put her head down between her legs. its only occaisionally and i know it is only because she is excited but i just wondered what can i do or change to make her keep her head in the normal position when we canter?thanksxxxx

 

[the watcher]

It is really difficult to say what the answer is without seeing you ride, or seeing why the horse is evading. You could make the bit stronger by moving the rein down, but I don't think that is answer, and you have said it doesn't help.

Some basics - is the horse fit enough and sufficiently well trained to balance itself in canter?
Are you happy that the back and teeth are OK or recently checked?
Does all the tack fit correctly?
What does your instructor say about the problem(if you have one)?

Suggestions; schooling, lots of transitions to teach horse not to go steaming off with head between knees, consider a waterford for schooling initially (at the moment you may be exerting too much poll pressure), if you don't have an instructor, have somebody knowledgable on the ground see what difference any of these make

 

[kerilli]

totally agree with the_watcher, would only add:
if she puts her head that far down, she's not reacting to the bit, she's doing it to evade your aids.
a waterford will help prevent her from leaning, as it has lots of joints and wobbles so she won't be able to set herself against it.
what do you do when she does this forging off with her head down? if you pull with both reins to try to get her stop, you are giving her exactly what she wants - something to pull against. it's like a tug-of-war match - if one team won't pull steadily, the other can't either. if she does it again, put one hand on her mane and give a sharp jerk or three with the other to get her head up and get her attention again.
my rule is: if they're being lovely and polite, so am i. but if they're being horrible and rude (and having no brakes, running off with head down, definitely qualifies in my opinion!) then i can too - a few sharp jerks with one hand may shock her back into her manners.
best of luck!

 

[jenbleep]

[ QUOTE ]

my rule is: if they're being lovely and polite, so am i. but if they're being horrible and rude (and having no brakes, running off with head down, definitely qualifies in my opinion!) then i can too - a few sharp jerks with one hand may shock her back into her manners.
best of luck!

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll remember that for future reference

 

[kerilli]

i'm sure someone's going to say i'm really cruel...!

 

[LCobby]

I;d put two reins on the bit ( which is how a gag bit ought to be used ) Then you can use top or bottom ring, as required.

 

[Shilasdair]

I agree with Kerilli and the_Watcher above, but I'd also like to say if possible, ride her forwards strongly with your legs.
If you are somewhere safe (a field or large arena) I'd try riding her forwards when she takes off...keep her going a little bit past the point when she is getting puffed...then ask for a nice downwards transition, ride her in trot/walk til she catches her breath...then ask for canter again.
Some horses learn that if they 'tank off', their riders will immediately try to stop them and will walk them afterwards so it can become quite a clever evasion.
S

 

[laura_1983]

i would give shilasdairs advice a try! i had a pony who used to tank off all the time and soon broke the habit by making her work harder than she wanted everytime she done it!

 

[quirky]

My pony used to tank off head down, when safe, I used to throw the reins at him, saving myself (and his mouth) for pulling when I needed to stop.

It took a while but he got the hang eventually and though always on the forehand in canter, he wasn't quite so rude about it.

I too agree with Shilasdair and Watchers idea's.