Really strong horse

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horseluver4eva

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As my horse is getting fitter she is getting a lot stronger too. Out on a hack trot i have some control but not much and in canter and gallop i cannot stop her at all, she stops when she wants to stop. She is also becoming very strong in jumping. She is only in a cavesson noseband and a jointed hanging cheek snaffle. Is there anything i could do to help this? i dont really want to change her bit but do you think that would be better? thanks
 
A waterford gave me the confidence I needed to work through similar with my welsh pony... he's now back in a french link loose ring after a few months in a hanging cheek waterford.
 
thanks people have mentioned a waterford im just a bit scared incase im too harsh with it. and she puts her head up i thought she opened her mouth but i my friends have said she just keeps her mouth closed with her head held high
 
martingale for a start? or a pelham, so you can use the curb to bring her head down.
Even a kimblewick if you prefer one rein.

No point changing the noseband, and the hanging cheek has NO poll pressure before someone suggests that :)
 
My horse is in a Waterford gag on the bottom ring with bit rounding. It's good for her as she used to bite down on her old Pelham and I couldn't do anything. The Waterford is the best thing I've swapped to every. I don't think the standard one is that harsh just lots if links so they can't bite down on it I've also found fighting to stop her only makes her worse. So if possible let her go and once she's got it out of her system she might come back with less hassle
 
a true gag will raise the head.
a dutch gag is an odd contraption that would have poll pressure if used on a lower ring. I wonder if the fluidity of the waterford mouthpiece would stop it acting as well though.
I personally dont like them but if it works for you...
 
well she has had a gag in once and i dont think she liked it one bit. i might try the waterford im just worried that because im so used to having to use my hands quite heavily to stop her that ill forget what bit she has in and be too harsh
 
With one of mine, he lent on the bit (rather than throwing his head up and running off - when a gag/ martingale might help) I went for a Magennis (sp?), it's ultimately a snaffle action so you can't do much harm taking a good pull! but the rollers feel very odd on their tounge and they don't 'take hold of it' - it really worked for me
Maybe ask around your friends and see if there are some you can borrow to try out and see if that helps before buying lots of different bits.
 
I looked into the waterford a bit before I used one.

It lies quite nicely in the horse's mouth as it curves over the contours while the contact is light. If you have to take a stronger pull it won't hit the roof of the mouth, like a jointed snaffle. Although they look medieval they supposed to be quite mild when used gently and are surely better than a single jointed bit if you do have to take a hold for safety's sake.

They are mainly designed to stop the horse holding the bit between his teeth. My pony also went off with a bull neck and his head held high - I couldn't find a martingale short enough as he got his neck so short and compact. The waterford had an instant calming effect on him and I never had to take a strong hold.
 
would the waterford generally have the desired effect on most horses...or can some horses react negatively and make the situation worse? sorry not meaning to highjack the thread, just saves me having to replicate it. recently bought a new horse who leans on bit and until I can put time in schooling and getting him working better I'm considering changing bit to give me confidence.
 
I don't think I've ever heard anyone say anything negative about using a waterford (someone probably will now :-) ).

I think you just have to try it on an individual basis... I think if yours leans on the bit it won't make him worse.
 
I agree fully with what people are saying about lessons... but that is a medium to long term solution... I think people are trying to keep themselves and their horses safe in the short term.

I used a waterford short term... at that point no amount of lessons would have made that pony safe... he was running because he was scared of everyone and everything, being a ridiculously anxious animal... one thing has fixed that - time.
 
thanks i might try this. she is ridden very regularly and has been schooled, she gets excited that's all, im sure being stuck in a stable all day isnt very nice:/ my livery yard does not allow turnout during the wet weather,
 
metalmare said:
I agree fully with what people are saying about lessons... but that is a medium to long term solution... I think people are trying to keep themselves and their horses safe in the short term.

I used a waterford short term... at that point no amount of lessons would have made that pony safe... he was running because he was scared of everyone and everything, being a ridiculously anxious animal... one thing has fixed that - time.
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i agree theres things that lessons cannot teach, its down to the horses personality at the end of the day and if the horse is strong then yes it will take time, with maybe training with different bits, but i have lessons and there is nothing i can learn myself but for my horse to calm down and realise that by being strong she just getting a tug on the mouth which i cant imagine is very comfortable
 
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I think you need to do lots more schooling before you turn to a stronger bit.

How much leg do you use? There is no use getting into a pulling match with a horse because at the end of the day you won't win. By using more leg you can make impulsion and therefore make a bouncy slower canter so you can then circle safely.

It sounds mental but when my very highly strung horse takes hold the first thing I ask myself is how much leg am I using. 99% of the time its because I took my leg off. And yes even when hes tankig across a field into a jump I put leg on.

Another trick for when they really take hold is to just drop the reins completely, they get so confused that they aren't being hauled back quite often the stop.

If you are convinced on going fot a stronger bit don't go straight to a waterford, try copper rollers/ cherry rollers first. If that doesn't work then maybe look into Waterford but tbh it doesn't sound like a bit issue its a jockey issue.
 
Kokopelli said:
I think you need to do lots more schooling before you turn to a stronger bit.

How much leg do you use? There is no use getting into a pulling match with a horse because at the end of the day you won't win. By using more leg you can make impulsion and therefore make a bouncy slower canter so you can then circle safely.

It sounds mental but when my very highly strung horse takes hold the first thing I ask myself is how much leg am I using. 99% of the time its because I took my leg off. And yes even when hes tankig across a field into a jump I put leg on.

Another trick for when they really take hold is to just drop the reins completely, they get so confused that they aren't being hauled back quite often the stop.

If you are convinced on going fot a stronger bit don't go straight to a waterford, try copper rollers/ cherry rollers first. If that doesn't work then maybe look into Waterford but tbh it doesn't sound like a bit issue its a jockey issue.
Click to expand...
thank you i will try that it sounds like a good idea:) i didnt really want to change her bit so this is exactly what im looking for
 
Yeah, if it is a 'pulling match' that's different.

My pony always went in a very light contact except when he got going in gallop. Then I found that giving him the rein so he had nothing to pull against, then squeezing brought him back (but still in the waterford). In a snaffle I literally couldn't stop him at that point... we were heading towards a serious accident. I never fell into the trap of pulling though and allowing him to lean back on me... partly thanks to advice from on here.
 
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