Pony is pulling on the bit!

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Faberstall

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I ride my instructors pony whom we have both worked together to re school after he was left in a field. He is cheeky and I love him to bits but recently (he did use to do this a lot but got a bit better) he has started rearing a lot more often (not too high but it's still naughty) and pulling on the bit a lot.
He isn't in pain he just gets either excited or nervous.
I asked my instructor for advice - she has told me how to deal with the rearing but not really how to prevent it.
He is in a Dutch gag with one rein.
He opens his mouth when he pulls.
Do you think I should ask my instructor if I should use two reins rather than one, or perhaps a flash? Only thing with a flash is that he has been tried in one before but he just gets frustrated with it on.
I don't want to seem to my instructor that I can only fix things with new gear if you get what I mean.
Any advice from the situation.

- he is definitely not in pain !
Thanks in advance
 
There are two types of trainer - reactive, and proactive - yours is reacting to problems by throwing tack/coping strategies at them rather than proactively coming up with a plan to address the issues through correct schooling/managing the pony and his quirks.

If I get a client who complains about a horse pulling on the bit, I ask them to substitute the word "bit" for the word "hands" - it's often a bit of an eye opener for them when they realise that they may be creating part/all of the problem. The bit is static - it has no action unless there are hands at the other end of the reins it's attached to. Ideally, your instructor should be helping you to ride this pony in a way that doesn't make him tense enough to rear in the first place.

If you trot round the school with no contact on his mouth, this pony will not open his mouth or rear. That's not an easy thing to do on a forward going pony, and he will need a lot of quiet, thoughtful schooling before you are able to do it safely, but this is what you should be working to achieve. Stop doing fast work/jumping/exciting stuff, and focus on a small set of achievable goals - walking quietly round the school and halting from weight aids/riding calm walk/trot transitions, etc etc. Thise are the building blocks which need to be installed before you start doing the fun stuff.
 
Totally agree with auslander re being proactive with the schooling and maybe trying changing your riding style in ways.

As for you saying he's 100% definitely not in pain, i'm not sold, you can't make that decision on his behalf. Unless he has recently had a full workup anything could have happened. My horse is utd with dentist, farrier, physio, saddler etc etc and if his behaviour changed I wouldn't rule out pain just because he is up to date with physical checks - it can still happen
 
How do you know he is definitely not in pain? Has he had his back xrayed?

I for one would change instructor as that is not an appopriate pony to be learning on (and especially not paying).

Crossposted - I also agree with Auslander. But you shouldn't be schooling their horse for them and paying them. Find a schoolmaster who you can learn from and an instructor who can fix problems.
 
I agree with others that there is some pain there somewhere.

I had the saddler out yesterday as my pony had started to be a bit of a wally when ridden. He was rushing, tanking and had taken to only walking downhill sideways. Saddle looked ok to me, it was only adjusted 7 weeks ago and according to the weight tape (done weekly) pony had stayed the same girth wise.

Well, Saddler put the flexicurve on him and the difference in his width in 7 weeks was amazing. His saddle was pinching badly behind the seat and I am surprised my pony didn't ditch me as he had every right too! It is a Saddle company saddle and after some adjustments I got on and my pony quite dramatically sighed and relaxed. He was a much better ride last night!

So you cannot ever say that a pony is in pain, and this just proves it.
 
It seems to me that the problem has not been addressed, as in the pony does not know how to relax to bit pressure.

I would start from the ground, with picking the reins up behind the chin, and waiting for the horse to yeild and relax to the bit, then I would drop the reins. TBH, I would really start this wit a halter, and use a tap on the front of the horse (chest or leg) to help him understand to yeild backwards to pressure on the front end, then transfer this to the bit.

I would only start to ride the horse again once he at least understands that when the rein is picked up he should relax and yeild to the pressure to find the release of pressure. I would not ride until nit only did he do this, but also could turn side to side by yeilding to the bit, and also back up softly.

To be fair you would need help with this, if you have not done such touchy feely work before.

Then I would mount, and make sure (with help from the ground if necessary) that the horse transfers his new skills to the ridden scenario, so he can soften and yeild to the bit when the reins are picked up (with the rider giving the rein back when he does), then being able to bend to the side, then being able to back up.

As you do it, the required pressure should get less and less to get a response. If you are wrestling the pony's mouth, then you are ding it wrong.

Once that is sorted then a steady walk/halt, with the pony remembering to respond softly to the bit, or return to the earlier exercises.

This can be built on, and is much better than nosebands, strong bits IMO.
 
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