pony doesn't like any kind of contact

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missyme10

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Hi all,

I was just looking for some advice from those who have experienced the same problem.

My daughter has just got a new pony, she's fab in every way really.

However she really doesn't like much contact, if its anything beyond the lightest of contacts, she backs up and this can be a bit dodgy for my daughter as she's only 8 and not the greatest of riders yet.

Her other pony that she's had for some time is the opposite, she's forward going and needs a contact on her mouth at all times - so this doesn't help as she's gotten used to riding this way.

She is getting used to riding the new one with minimal contact, but the biggest problem lies in getting her to stand still, when asked to do so, she basically backs up and just generally keeps moving around.

I have her in a standard eggbutt snaffle at present, am planning on trying a happy mouth, maybe that will help.

Someone suggested a stronger bit, but I dont see how this would help as if its the contact thats the problem and she just doesn't like it, how will increasing that contact help???

Thanks xxxx
 
Assuming teeth are OK, how about lunging your daughter for a bit with no reins to ensure she doens't grab her pony? then you can start to work out what the pony will accept.

When all is said and done though, there are some horses who are overly light and try to evade by going behind the bridle. A friend of mine has a horse like this and it takes a while for him to relax into the contact
 
I personally wouldnt use a stronger bit as if she doesnt like the contact now, with a stronger bit she would only be worse! Im assuming you have had her teeth checked since you bought her as that was what was wrong with my gelding when i bought him (one of a few problems!). Could you try a bitless bride that works on nose/poll pressure rather than pressure in the mouth. I have heard the Dr cook bits are good or try a hackamore?
smile.gif
 
I had same problem any contact and mares head went up .The best bit for her was french link aurigan .I had to re educate myself to ask for transistions very subtly but it didnt take long before she understood.The backing up problem will improve if you can drop contact once she stands.Its really hard to change your way of going as the cob I used to ride was a bit tank like but sometimes less is more.I made myself give her more rein once she made slightest response.Happy mouth didnt help mine she tried biting lumps out of it the aurigan really helped her accept contact.She is now in hanging cheek french link and is brilliant in it.
 
Yeah she had her teeth checked not long ago, well what teeth she has, she's only 5, so only has the 12 at the front of her mouth.

It could just be her age, she is young and maybe just doesn't like a bit in her mouth yet. She was broken a little later than normal also as she had a foal at 3, her poor owner didn't know she was pregnant when she bought her !
So she's only been ridden for about a year and half, although U'd not know it, she's so level headed and sound to ride other than this bit problem x
 
I'd go for the gentlest bit you can find - maybe try a slim mullen mouth, made from one of the softer materials rather than a thick rubber. Do avoid some of the french links - in a small sized bit, the link in the middle is way too large in comparison to the length of the side bits, which means the joints can catch the edge of the tongue and the rounded edges of the link dig into the tongue.

FWIW, research has shown that when rein pressure is applied to single jointed bits, the nutcracker action means the middle of the bit can hit the roof of the mouth - hence the rise in popularity of the more modern shaped bits. Not saying this is happening, but it can and does more often than we realise!

As pony is only 5 and child is 8, maybe you could find an older rider (or very small adult) to school her for a few weeks to get her to accept more of a contact as you try different bits? It worked for one of my ponies when my daughter was struggling with a new pony
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Yeah I have the option of a better rider, or I could ride her myself (I'm only little!). I ride her other pony who's a 13hh welshie, and this new pony is the same. Maybe I should get on her myself to get a better feel to the problem.
But I think the right bit will solve it, or I'm hoping so.
She's a wee cracker of a pony for 5 years old, is reasonably well schooled and very level headed, u'd never know she was 5, and I wouldn't have touched a 5 year old for my daughter if I didn't know this pony already and know how good she is x
 
I've looked in her mouth myself and she has only 12 teeth, that being the incisors. She has no teeth at the back at all.

I'm confused now, there is a big difference between none and 36 !!!!

I am going to look again tomorrow, maybe I haven't looked far enough back in her mouth, but I dont know how I could have missed so many teeth and I had a good look in her mouth!

In terms of her having her teeth checked by a vet, its what the owner told me. I haven't bought this pony, I have her on loan and when I spoke to owner about the bit problem, and suggested having her teeth checked, she said they had just been checked and all was fine.
That confuses me even more, if she's been checked and all is fine, and she's meant to have a lot more teeth!

I give up
confused.gif
 
Well after doing lots of research, I've concluded that I haven't looked far back enough in her mouth - those other 24 teeth will be there! She's a lot more gum between her front teeth and her back teeth though that my other pony, I can see hers no bother looking in her mouth.

I'm gonna find out exactly when she did last have her teeth checked, and gonna take a good look myself. She fine letting someone look in her mouth, so shouldn't be a problem.

Then I'll get the vet to check her teeth if I have any concerns.
If the owner had them checked in the last couple of months, then its prob not her teeth thats the problem, and when someone says recently, I would presume in the last couple of months.
 
My daughter's pony hates a a contact (due I think to be over bitted and ridden in a standing martingale in the past) and we tried everything we could think of, and then tried a Jeffries Eldonian hanging cheek revolver bit which is lovely and soft and doesn't ever go rigid in his mouth. He is very happy in this - although some may object to the hanging cheek (poll pressure) but if hands are really light it shouldn't be an issue. I think you can get them with different style rings though too.

http://www.shop4bits.com/item--Eldonian-by-Jeffries-Revolver-Hanging-Cheek-with-Lozenge--BICR56.html

It looks more complicated than it is in the photo due to camera flash reflection.
 
if it was a vet who checked her teeth than that may well be the source of your problems. We had one here on livery that had had teh vet do it's teeth every year for 5 years. It was a head shaker and would not take a contact. I was concerned as I had never seen a horses quidding so badly so asked my dentist to have a look. Turned out the horse had severe gum disease and needed 2 teeth out becuase of how badly they were growing. the smell in her mouth was horrific yet a vet had not noticed any of this in 5 years. once 2 teeth removed and infection cleared the head shaking went and the horse suddenly worked on the bit, happily accepting a contact.

Tey a very gentle bit, a happy mouth straight bar, something that has no nutcracker action it may help. but i would get a BAEDT out asap to confirm that there is no underlying problem. for instance a wolf tooth, or retained cap etc.
 
some horses dont like the bumps on the happy mouth straight bar bits so i would go for a proper nathe straight bar-more expensive BUT much softer as the plastic is really bendy and soft and very narrow in the centre.

when jumping my TB hates any contact over the fence, basically wants me to throw the reins at him, which causes problems in doubles etc. if i do keep a contact he will stop next time round.
have just swapped him from a happy mouth to nathe and he's much better-can keep a light consistant contact with no stopping.

i would get teeth checked by a proper EDT and then get a nathe.
 
My mare was very green when I first got her and wouldn't take any contact. I worked on teaching her to halt with a combination of seat aids, voice aids, and bribery with polos. Once she'd got the hang of that, it took a while, but she dropped into a contact without me having to shorten the reins.
 
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