Schooling a young horse, advice needed please!

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Sarah1

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Please help me! I have a 5yo gelding who is just coming back into work following a back problem and susequently 9 months out of ridden work. I have done loads of long reining and lungeing and I've invested in a Pessoa which he goes very nicely in except for the fact that he's not quite low enough! I've been told this is quite common with young horses in the Pessoa.
He's had his teeth checked, obviously he's had his back checked and he now has a nice new saddle.
I'm having problems getting him to work into a contact, he always seems to be evading the bit and throwing his head in the air! He's currently ridden in a Myler Low Port Comfot Snaffle which he was working very well in before his issues!
I've read the earlier post about schooling a youngster and thought it would apply but as people have suggested a Myler I'm now at a loss as I'm already using one!
He's very responsive and will happily go forward he just won't bring his head down so that he's actually working properly!
I had thought about changing his bit to a rubber pelham but like the other poster I'm worried about using too harsh a bit at this early stage in his education.
Sorry this is so long winded - I hope I've explained myself properly!
Please help!
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ETS: I can quite clearly feel him actually set his jaw against me, the swine!
 
Well no, when he 1st came to me he'd been ridden in a Magennis (sp?) snaffle which was far, far too strong, he was really strong to ride - trying to get away from it. I think the lady I bought him from just stuck any old bit in that she had lying around! I changed to the Myler and the difference was amazing! So I just automatically kept him in it when he came back to work!
 
I'll just say now too that he is unbelievably well behaved 99.9% of the time - he's 5 going on 15 - and this really seems to me to be his way of rebelling! It's just like he's sticking 2 fingers up at me!
 
Since Christmas but he's had his new saddle since beginning of this month and that's when he started being ridden more than a couple of times a week. We were using another saddle, well padded out, on the advice of my saddler just so we could get him working in walk and trot to have his saddle fitted properly!
 
Perhaps not but he's been out of work for 9 months so he's really only 4 in his ridden education! I have re-backed him and started from scratch so it's like having a baby on my hands!
 
What do you do when you ride him. Are you asking him to come on to the bit, or simply just holding the contact and asking to move forward. Have you popped a flash on at all??
 
I'm actually asking him to bring his head down onto the bit and work in some sort of outline whilst riding him forward with my leg and seat.
Not had a flash on yet.
 
Someone did an excellent post a couple of weeks ago, but I cant for the life of me remember who.

It was aimed mainly to those I think going into dressage tests and its contents were roughly ...

Walk only for 15 minutes doing only circles and no straight lines. I think it was loose rein for 5 mins, gentle contact, then asking to work properly. Once this is achieved go on to trot using the same method (think long and low was mentioned). If the horse hollows or naps, go back to walk. Circles only.

Wish I could find the post as it was such very good advice I wanted to copy it and nail to my mares stable door !
 
A flash has made a big difference to mine (poster of other topic) but I'm not sure he likes the french link he is in at the moment. I'm advised that when I try him in the myler I'll have to take the flash off.

I'm conscious of tring to keep my hands still and not pull him into an outline but I'm probably a bit too nice to him at times - I don't want to pull him in.

I have ridden him in a bungee a couple of times which made life a lot easier as the bungee does most of the work and you can concentrate on the proper contact and you can put your leg on and ride him into the contact more as he doesn't rush off. I know it's not a solution but might be worth using for a week or two to give him the idea.
 
I wonder if he's needing you to get more firmly hold of him then. As you've been working him since Christmas, he must be up to cantering by now, so more than able to work in an outline for a period of time. The other thing that springs to mind is are you pushing him out of his natural rhythmn - if you think you may be, try slowing it all down a bit. Repeated half halts, and turns on the forehand can also help.
 
Think I am going to try the flash - worth a try isn't it?
Also thanks for the advice about a bungee - am not really into using 'gadgets' when I'm riding him but I know my niece has used one of these before and like I say anything is worth a try, thanks!
 
You know, my niece rode him (she's much better than I am!) and she said I'm not being firm enough with him!
I don't think I'm pushing him out of his rhthymn bit I will try to slow it all down a bit - you're right we are cantering now, he's doing very well it's just this obstructiveness that's driving me up the wall!!!!!
I have tried lots of half halts but that's another issue - he thinks he knows it all and I can't teach him, he just doesn't want to listen to me!!!!
 
How are you actually asking him, to come into contact?? I know you said you using your seat and legs but what legs are you using and what handsignals are you giving??

Also Myler bits wont work for every horse, my old horse absolutly detested the Myler so i was really worried trying one with my new horse but she loves it!!
 
I've been keeping my leg on and applying a bit of downwards pressure with my 3rd finger on the reins to encourage him to come down onto the bit - he won't entertain the idea of bringing his head down!
 
Try using the bungee as mentioned, it won't tie his head in, it'll just encourage and when he lowers his head it'll reward him by slackening. Be aware of overtightening it though.

Concentrate on riding him forward into your hand, but not allowing him to rush. Keep a firm steady contact down the rein and think about opening your inside hand a little to ask him to come round and soft in his neck. Don't allow him to shoot forward through your hand, you want to keep him underneath you. When you feel him give, however slight it is, relax the contact and praise him. Once he's come down and round, stop asking as such and just hold it together softly, if he comes back up, ask again and when you get it stop asking. He'll soon pick the idea up
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Hope that helps
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i have my horse in a rubber pelham with a curb chain and his head shaking has appearently reduced from his last owner. it is good to switch between bits as horses work well when you first change a bit. keep swaping until he gets use to the idea he needs to listen to your hands. be quite strong with your hands and as soon as he does what you ask release as a reward.
 
Hi,
I too use the low ported myler, but I alternate it with a french link loose ring. I find that my horse tends to lean a little on the myler. I haven`t read all through the posts but just in case no-one has mentioned it but have you tried opening your hands to about 18inches apart and lower them each side of his withers. Of course, you would also know that it all comes from behind with the use of your legs. Also, try just taking the weight off your seat when you first ask for the trot and then gently sit down. This used to work on my horse in the canter, she would always come above the bit, so I found if I took the weight off her saddle for a circle, then gradually sit back down, she would stay round. I hope this helps for your horse. Also remember that you have to have your horse going forwards freely and straight with rhythm, before he will round his outline. Good Luck
 
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