Pulling :(

TinkyMole123

TinkyMole123

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any tips on getting a young horse to stop pulling my arms out the sockets i think he thinks hes a steam train :')
ridden in full cheek french link snaffle plain caveson noseband (had issues when put flash on) had all checks possible not teeth or anything

as soon as im on hes very downhill and pulling me has his mouth open alot!! he is quite strong but bit is what hes gone in since buying him?

ive got him sittin up slightly in trot and canter but he still pulls alot downward and just heavy on my right hand rein.
ive trieid giving him a little 'Gob' back and a pull to say Oi get off, quite numb to that, ive tried a kick or a tap to say come on dont pull me. he will go a couple of strides no pulling but then back to very heavy?

any tips, bit changes or excersies to help? he pulls ALOT when im askng him to work obviously hes young and finding working to be hardwork but im not asking to much just yet just simple figure of 8s surpentines loops off the track

Thanks

All advice appreciated :):)
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Just what I was going to say! Instead of fighting him push him on but I would also try to find a bit that he is more comfortable in.
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And me!

Use your legs, don't LET him pull, get some lessons from a really good instructor (who will cut your hands off if you "gob" him in the mouth again).

And if he's young and not capable of the schooling work, take him out and hack him in straight lines until he is capable.
 
Yep, takes two to pull and I’m very much in this category with my mare 😏. Totally my fault, I am aware and I’m working on it.

I found this a really useful watch.

 
when i say pull im getting it from as soon as i set off at walk?

i am pushing him forwards but we get to the point hes pulling me and then being faster, were not having a fight as i wouldnt win hes loads bigger than me lol!. hes just so heavy in the hand even if you have a loose contact hes making a heavy contact cus hes pulling me down and hanging?

any suggestions on bits to try ?
 
Mahoganybay said:
Yep, takes two to pull and I’m very much in this category with my mare 😏. Totally my fault, I am aware and I’m working on it.

I found this a really useful watch.

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Why? I must admit that I found he sound very difficult to listen to, it was far to echoey but I couldn't see any relevance to OP, just a rider with poor hands - whatever happened to 'coffee cups'?
 
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TinkyMole123 said:
when i say pull im getting it from as soon as i set off at walk?

i am pushing him forwards but we get to the point hes pulling me and then being faster, were not having a fight as i wouldnt win hes loads bigger than me lol!. hes just so heavy in the hand even if you have a loose contact hes making a heavy contact cus hes pulling me down and hanging?

any suggestions on bits to try ?
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He can't be pulling on a loose rein, because... well that's the definition of a loose rein! You need a good trainer to come and work with you. You need to learn how to ride a horse up from your leg, and not let him lean on your hands. Letting him lean won't slow him down - that's not how it works!
 
TinkyMole123 said:
when i say pull im getting it from as soon as i set off at walk?

i am pushing him forwards but we get to the point hes pulling me and then being faster, were not having a fight as i wouldnt win hes loads bigger than me lol!. hes just so heavy in the hand even if you have a loose contact hes making a heavy contact cus hes pulling me down and hanging?

any suggestions on bits to try ?
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Let go! He can only pull if you let him, drop the contact, so that he has nothing to pull against.

He is opening his mouth which tells me that he is uncomfortable. He is young, so he might need his teeth doing more often than you expect but otherwise, I would think perhaps he doesn't like the double-jointed bit.

You could try something that will sit still in his mouth, maybe a mullen-mouthed bit, or a Myler comfort snaffle or possibly a hanging cheek. Try the bit bank to avoid buying loads of bits - and be absolutely certain that the bit is the right size and sits in the right place. Are you certain that his bridle fits comfortably?
 
I think you are saying 'what has happened since we bought him' ?

When did you buy him?

Was he like this when you tried him?

If not, what has changed?

How old is he?


My just coming four year old has begun to lean at times because he is producing so much power that he can't balance by himself. It's my job to know when he needs that support and when to remove it in one of several different ways. Release the reins, circle, half halt, full halt and start again etc. (I also keep sessions very short, no more than twenty minutes and a lot of that in walk.) He doesn't like metal in his mouth and is far more settled in a plastic bit.
 
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ycbm said:
I think you are saying 'what has happened since we bought him' ?

When did you buy him?

Was he like this when you tried him?

If not, what has changed?

How old is he?


My just coming four year old has begun to lean at times because he is producing so much power that he can't balance by himself. It's my job to know when he needs that support and when to remove it in one of several different ways. Release the reins, circle, half halt, full halt and start again etc. (I also keep sessions very short, no more than twenty minutes and a lot of that in walk.) He doesn't like metal in his mouth and is far more settled in a plastic bit.
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ive had him a while now, hes only 5 i understand hes still baby. its kind of like he forgets what hes learnt each day quite hard to explain like we can go lovely at the end of our sessions then next day hes back to square 1 again i usually only school for max 25-30 mins if that because thats plenty. im giving him the support from my legs when hes loosing balance etc... im wondering if its the bit he isnt keen on as he has always opened his mouth ( thinking its just him getting used to me riding not previous owner) i do have light hands and dont yank about. maybe a bit change would help?
 
My horse was doing this and I've invested in an excellent instructor who took us both back to basics and has taught me to completely let go of his mouth so he has nothing to pull against. He has the option (in simple terms) of falling on his face or learning self carriage but I'm not going to join the 'fun' of getting into a pulling match. It was an evasion to avoid working properly and to get a reaction from me. I have to be very careful not to react when he does it and ride only from my seat. He's a much happier horse now
 
Pinkvboots said:
I would check the fit of the bit is it pinching is it too high in the mouth, (I see this a lot) get saddle checked and get some lessons with a good instructor.
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hes had all checks all can think with the mouth opening is he doesnt like the bit, maybe try nice mouthpiece warm or a nice tasting one
 
TinkyMole123 said:
i do have light hands and dont yank about. maybe a bit change would help?
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You don't have light hands if he's leaning against them - that defies the laws of physics. You also stated you've tried "giving him a little 'Gob' back and a pull to say Oi get off", which is the polar opposite of light hands.

You need a good instructor. The bit may not suit him, but changing it is not going to wave a magic wand and make everything great.

Fluffypiglet's post is super.
 
Leaning on my hands is something my horse will do when he’s unbalanced... like your one sounds, he’s naturally downhill and it takes me lifting my hands and encouraging him to push from behind to get him more uphill. I think the mouth opening is probably a sign of discomfort, whether that’s from the pressure of your hands on his mouth or the bit itself is something an instructor could tell you.
 
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