Realigning the "brakes"

[grandmaweloveyou]

What would you think if a horse that behaves impeccably at all times, responds well, has no issues with traffic etc but holds his head up when trotting and refuses to slow down when asked, ie dead mouth. Could it be teeth? Back? Behaviour? Should the bit be changed? Advice/thoughts please. Thanks.

 

[girla]

Could be all of the above, so best to check it all out and as a last resort change the bit. It's all a case of process of ilimination

 

[hellybelly6]

Could be teeth or back or behaviour. Was the horse used for trotting previously?

As somebody said, its a process of elimination.

Good luck

 

[Rayado05]

Do you know if this horse has ever been driven on the roads?

Many many years ago (I sound like your gran) I had a lovely coloured on loan, at a time when I was a poor student.

Anyway, he did similar thing ONLY on the roads, I once ran (well trot) him into a giant conifer hedge to stop him. We reverted to hacking him in his Liverpool bit with blinkers as he had been solely a driving horse for so long, and he was 100% happy. Schoolign and everything else was a snaffle.
It isn't so much dead mouth it's more that the mouth is different communicator in some ways to the driven horse.

Now I am older, wiser and have greater self preservation. I would look closely at the schooling issue when you have elmintaed the pain issue.

What level is his schooling?
What level is the rider on him when he does this?
His past?
Is there a trigger?


Or - find a large conifer hedge.

 

[grandmaweloveyou]

No never used for trotting but its that style that is showing through on this and no never driven (that I know of). Teeth are now going to be checked - next question: Vet and possible sedation or clinic and the crush? Hmmmm whys it so hard x (Ps conifer hedge will be in there somewhere I am sure).