Jenny_Sinn
Member
Hi, been lurking here for a while & the advice is so good I thought I'd get some opinions on bitting.
I've recently taken on a friend's pony while she is at college. The pony is lovely, but with her owner has always had a few issues - she's highly sensitive, has a high head carriage & a tendency to raise her head when reluctant to do something, which leads to rearing if not ridden in a sensitive way. This year she was diagnosed with gum disease, which explains a lot of her behaviour. She will be receiving treatment this summer & possibly having teeth removed.
Not knowing about the gum disease, her owner went along the gadget route & the pony wears a running martingale, flash noseband & a gag (not sure of name but def not dutch). Understandably, the pony is not happy in this. She will work well in it, but she feels tense.
I've been given a free rein to re-school her & get rid of the gadgets, but not sure how to go about downgrading her bit. Should I go straight back to a basic snaffle in the school & keep the gag for hacking until I'm confident in the change or be more gradual?
Any advice gratefully received
I've recently taken on a friend's pony while she is at college. The pony is lovely, but with her owner has always had a few issues - she's highly sensitive, has a high head carriage & a tendency to raise her head when reluctant to do something, which leads to rearing if not ridden in a sensitive way. This year she was diagnosed with gum disease, which explains a lot of her behaviour. She will be receiving treatment this summer & possibly having teeth removed.
Not knowing about the gum disease, her owner went along the gadget route & the pony wears a running martingale, flash noseband & a gag (not sure of name but def not dutch). Understandably, the pony is not happy in this. She will work well in it, but she feels tense.
I've been given a free rein to re-school her & get rid of the gadgets, but not sure how to go about downgrading her bit. Should I go straight back to a basic snaffle in the school & keep the gag for hacking until I'm confident in the change or be more gradual?
Any advice gratefully received