Rode my horse for the first time and a Q

lovely little mare :) The video has gone, so not seen her moving, but if she is not yet happy with the bit, perhaps her teeth are a bit sore (I went thru this with Shy at that age), and we rode in a bitless bridle till he was comfy.

She's very pretty x
 
It's for mud fever she came with but which has gone and the green hasn't worn off yet.

I am completely sure she is extremely unhappy in her mouth, but is not in pain in her mouth. She is only 4 and has had mouth discomfort at best and pain at worst her entire ridden life until now, so she is not going to forget that straight away. I asked the EDT who is also a horseman what the best way ahead with her mouth was and he said if i want to ride her in a bit i should crack on with the bit now and she would get used to it, he didn't see any benefit in riding in a bitless bridle which I had just bought, because I asked him. I am sure I could ask lots of professionals what to do and they would all come up with a different plan with her.

I am doing my best for her and I wish I hadn't bothered posting anything about it frankly.

Thanks for the nice comments about her, (and the pm's saying she doesn't look lame!) I am really pleased with her and I am pleased with her massive progress in a very short time. Rome wasn't built in a day.
 
What a gorgeous girl!!
I know how you feel, I was jumped on not long ago. I won't go into details, but it was pretty much the same thing "looks lame" and no one wants to listen to you. It's frustrating and upsetting, especially since I had made a massive break through. Though, I could shove it in their faces a bit...wasn't lame and I won 2nd in a show the same day, haha!

Wishing you the best with her, I can't wait to see updates and more pictures!
 
I didn't read it as the OP gettin jumped on, I read it as people saying what they see, after all, opinions were asked for.

OP, I can understand you being defensive about your new horse, but would you rather be made aware of something and find out if there is an underlying issue, or turn a blind eye and a situation go further than it needs to??

I have a horse on loan who can be fussy in her mouth at times, so it would be nice to see the video and if there is any similarity??

Hope you manage to get her sorted out properly, once she has matured she looks like she'll definitely be an eye catcher in the ring.
 
She is very beautiful!! Try and not to be down. I know its hard but it will all get sorted out. When things are bothering me concerning my horse I just think 'well its only for a season'. Well I try to think that!

If shes not happy in a bit then why not just ride her bitless? There is a brilliant site on face called bitless and barefoot-metal free. Its full of useful people. Id really consider it. My girl goes much better bitless despite opening her mouth for the bit. She is much easier to stop too. If you are open to trying it then working her from the ground is a great start while you are waiting for the saddle fitter.
 
The thing is I have had twice as many folk reassure me she is not lame as have said she is lame on here. That includes her breeder, a judge and my friend who is a vet as well as lots of other far more experienced horse women than me, amd they have seen a much clearer video than the one on youtube So I have taken the video off because I don't see the point in hearing more she is she isn't. What the vet thinks and what the chiropractor thinks of her in the fleshis what I will have to go on.

I didn't post asking if she was lame I posted about her fussy mouth and I still do not think she is lame, having seen her trotted on a hard surface this morning in the flesh.
 
It's six and two threes... People are only showing their concern. when you post something on a live forum, saying look at x, y and z will still be looked at. People are only trying to prevent you anguish.

If you feel she isn't lame and you've had it certified by professionals, then that's that. Although, the tone in which your posts may not be intentional but thy seem very overly defensive, and a little rude considering other posters were trying to help. Hey, shoot me down for voicing mine.

I would like to try and help you with the fussy mouth situ, if you would be happy to pm me a link of the video? It's such a complex world with bitting and so crucial early on in their careers. I'm no expert by any means, but it would be nice to see if there are any simulators to aforementioned loan horse and to make some suggestions, in order to help you and your new horse?
 
I couldn't tell much from that video, mouth wise or lameness wise. People who could pick up subtle lameness from that must have better eyesight (or imaginations ;) ) than me.

Maybe get a bit more of a feel for her and get her working more forward and relaxed, and if you're still having trouble with the fussy mouth make a new video but try and get a bit closer if possible.
 
FfionWinnie said:
The thing is I have had twice as many folk reassure me she is not lame as have said she is lame on here. That includes her breeder, a judge and my friend who is a vet as well as lots of other far more experienced horse women than me, amd they have seen a much clearer video than the one on youtube So I have taken the video off because I don't see the point in hearing more she is she isn't. What the vet thinks and what the chiropractor thinks of her in the fleshis what I will have to go on.

I didn't post asking if she was lame I posted about her fussy mouth and I still do not think she is lame, having seen her trotted on a hard surface this morning in the flesh.
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FW don't be disheartened. If you have had a vet look at her and say she isn't lame and that's good enough for you then don't take it to heart.

She looks like a very sweet little mare who needs some time to get strong and working correctly. I hope she turns out to be everything you hope. She looks like a lovely girl!
 
claribella said:
She is very beautiful!! Try and not to be down. I know its hard but it will all get sorted out. When things are bothering me concerning my horse I just think 'well its only for a season'. Well I try to think that!

If shes not happy in a bit then why not just ride her bitless? There is a brilliant site on face called bitless and barefoot-metal free. Its full of useful people. Id really consider it. My girl goes much better bitless despite opening her mouth for the bit. She is much easier to stop too. If you are open to trying it then working her from the ground is a great start while you are waiting for the saddle fitter.
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Thanks. Generally I am really pleased with the horse and I think she is potentially quite special, probably not everyone's cup of tea but to me anyway.

I have been working her bitless until her teeth were done and yes she went fine like that. I have nothing against working her bitless, but I have been advised to persevere with a bit. I have used a hackamore on two horses in the past and I have no problem with doing that again but I can only try so many things at once, she has to have time to get used to whatever I have changed.

That's what I was initially asking for, help to make that decision. I could keep asking various trainers and no doubt get numerous different answers and some may work some may not but ultimately I have to decide what order to do them in. My end aim would be to find a bit which is competition legal and she is happy with, if that is not possible then I will accept I need to ride her bitless and that is what I will do but meanwhile I just wondered what folk thought in terms of how long to persevere with the NS starter bit or move onto something else. I suppose the answer is probably get something else and if she is just the same I will have to persevere with something or go bitless now and introduce a bit again when she is more settled generally.

I could go and get lessons on her of course but I don't think schooling is what she needs just now I think she needs to be out hacking and enjoying her ridden work while she gets fitter and happier in herself.
 
Lizzie I was not intentionally shooting anyone down. Someone made out I wasn't taking it on board and that upset me because of course I am. I couldn't conjure up a vet to see her in the middle of the night however so I did what I could at the time and I already said very early in the thread my friend who is a vet and a rider is going to see her trotted up tonight and in fact is now brining her partner who is also a vet so two for the price of er, their tea.
 
Just in case anyone is interested 2 vets did a full investigation of my horse tonight and pronounced her completely sound.

She also has a chiro appointment booked. I got the day wrong for the saddler she is here on Friday :rolleyes:

I also tried her in a bitless bridle which she absolutely hated cue her poking her nose dramatically, hollowing and bucking - with no rider and no saddle.

This makes me feel sure her unhappiness stems from her mouth sensitivities and I have decided I will try her in a straight bar happy mouth type snaffle, possibly a fulmer as I believe that is more stable in their mouths which might be a good option for her.

Interested in thoughts on this particular choice of bit.
 
Not sure about happy mouths tbh, as they tend to be a bit thick for some. Absolutely agree with the idea of a fulmer, sounds like a good plan. She looks a lovely mare and other than her mouth issues, looks to be in fine fettle :)
 
I bought a NS starter for my horse, thinking he'd like it-wrong! More mouthy than before, backing off the contact and generally grumpy about the whole thing. Most of my bits are loose ring, so I thought back to when I first had him (years ago!) and used a borrowed Dr. Bristol-overkill really but that's all I had at the time and he wasn't too bad. The difference was the fixed rings, so he's in a NS eggbutt now and much happier for it. Just wanted something more stable.
 
Hi, I always use a happy mouth, mullen mouth with cheeks to start horses and those with fussy mouths do seem to really like it. The only issue you can get with a real chewer & player, is if it actively encourages them to suck the bit up and chew it which you don't want.
I think babies just need time to settle & learn to trust the bit & your hands,they also need the strength to work, which is gained by lots of hacking - which is what you are planning.
 
Hi OP

Try a really soft rubber like one in the link below with some bit guards on. The guards will help hold the bit steady and should give your mare some confidence to take the contact forward. Yes they can pull and chew with it but I've always found it helps with those who back off from a contact. It's a really soft bit and 98% of youngsters I've riddern with contact issues have been better after being riddern in this bit.

http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/Loose_Ring_Flexible_Rubber_Snaffle_rubber_horse_bit-(336).aspx

Also don't forget to check wolf teeth ;)
 
She has no wolf teeth for sure, one was removed and the other absent a year ago and the EDT I had out 5 days ago checked very thoroughly too.

Plain rubber sniffles (ha ha iPad fail - snaffles!) always seem quite thick to me, although that one doesn't look too thick I have to say.

She does have quite a big tongue for the size of her mouth which is rather wee.
 
She is very pretty!

If she has a big tongue for her mouth, then Myler ported comfort snaffles are a good way to go. I had my coloured in a NS loose ring snaffle and she had a complete meltdown in it (still haven't fathomed why - one day, ok, next day, meltdown, changed bit to the Gully's Myler and all was fine?) so changed her over. Both of mine are now in the above with eggbut sides, but I don't think they are dressage legal, which is annoying.
 
FfionWinnie said:
She has no wolf teeth for sure, one was removed and the other absent a year ago and the EDT I had out 5 days ago checked very thoroughly too.

Plain rubber sniffles (ha ha iPad fail - snaffles!) always seem quite thick to me, although that one doesn't look too thick I have to say.

She does have quite a big tongue for the size of her mouth which is rather wee.
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Good you had the EDT. Sometime they have blind wolf teeth and they can be right buggers!

Finding the right bit is a nightmare and your right that some of the rubber bits can be quite thick but it's one of the cheaper bits so worth a go ;)

One other thing, can't see from your old video, is don't be afraid to actually take up a contact. Sometimes we end up being so soft that we don't actually have a consistant contact and that can be unsettling for youngsters.

Hope that makes some sense?? :confused: ha
 
Thanks guys.

I would say I was aiming for a light contact but she was kind of snatching and chomping on the bit. She has a fairly low head carriage naturally (she is a paint horse so like a quarter horse) compared to my welshie so it all felt very different for the few minutes I was on her.

I have to say for all she was unbalanced, unfit, snatchy and green she felt utterly amazing to ride. :D
 
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