schooling help/exercises ??

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noodle_

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the 4 year old (green but very honest), has had saddle checked/physio out/ vet out/ and teeth done... (all in last month)

This is due to her sudden onset of chucking her head up when being ridden only whenasked to move foward from walk, into trotor asking for a more active walk!!! I did try a crop a few weeks ago (before all checks) and that tbh just upset her, so rather would avoid if possible but im not at all against a tap with a schooling whip if needed

I realise her mouth will be sore from having her teeth done (they were extrely sharp and apparantly never been done in her life :( ) (ive only had her a few months)! but i dont want this habit of lobbing her head up to become regular....

so for now im planning on riding her on a long(ish) rein and slowly building her confience back up that it dosent hurt....

any help/exercises we can do to get her more forward (she will happily go on the bit pre-problems)????

shes a 4 year old too nice to ruin, lessons will begin in jan - but for now some help would be appreciated :)

thanks...
 
teeth were only done on monday so yes. asked the dentist if it was ok to ride her and he said yes....

will give her time fof from a bit if needed. im not that desparate to ride i can lunge her instead :)
 
I find with the youngsters that making a bit as appealing as possible helps. I use rubber or nathe snaffles on most of mine and quite often tie a piece of chamois leather in a knot onto the middle section of the bit. I also put honey or something else sticky and sweet on the chamois to get them sucking and playing with the bit.
You can do lots of exercises off the bit just using your legs to bend in circles and gentle moving out down the long side. Also use poles around the school to walk over and bend through to keep the mind busy. If she does throw her head when you ask for transitions don't get cross and make an issue of it, ride her forward, give with your hands and ignore her. I always find with the babies that if you ignore their bad behaviour and keep asking for the same work they soon get bored of it.
Hope she settles soon.
 
Snow Tiddely Pom said:
I find with the youngsters that making a bit as appealing as possible helps. I use rubber or nathe snaffles on most of mine and quite often tie a piece of chamois leather in a knot onto the middle section of the bit. I also put honey or something else sticky and sweet on the chamois to get them sucking and playing with the bit.
You can do lots of exercises off the bit just using your legs to bend in circles and gentle moving out down the long side. Also use poles around the school to walk over and bend through to keep the mind busy. If she does throw her head when you ask for transitions don't get cross and make an issue of it, ride her forward, give with your hands and ignore her. I always find with the babies that if you ignore their bad behaviour and keep asking for the same work they soon get bored of it.
Hope she settles soon.
Click to expand...


thanks for that advce!

i did think of changing her bit - shes in a full cheek snaffle... but i know shes not keen as she turns awy from me when im wanting to tack up...

will look at a snaffle but diff type
and introduce honey! (shes fussy but will try)

thanks again :)
 
My advice would be when she lifts her head, ignore it, push her on with the leg and open the hand wide to encourage her to stretch down.
Do plenty of exercises with just the leg and try and fuss as little as possible in the mouth untill she's at the stage where you can take her up abit and ask more of her.
 
^^thanks

i had a tendancy to fiddle with her mouth a lot - i do leave her alone but if i give too much she falls in, then faff with reins etc

i do need (and will get) lessons afer christmas but moneys a bit tight atm but i know thye will benefit us.

but until then i want to work with her the best i can :)
 
updated;

rode today and she was insistant chucking her head up even in walk... so after 30 mins of fighting and my patience running out i borrowed my friends whip and smacked her shoulder...

horse went lovely. flashy trot and not p*ssing about :D

so will try again tomorow. then give her a week to think of something else to evade work :D lol!
 
I know it might sound silly, but make sure that the noseband is not irritating the hell out of her - I found it out accidentally, swapped a bridle as I fancied a change, the new one had a different shape of noseband (still just a caveson) and my head chucking young monster has disappeared and been replaced with a compliant one :)
 
hmm intresting theory!

will have a go with the crop tomorow.... and see if that helps then if not totally will remove the noesband and see how she goes...

im up for trialling anything to have a happy horse!! :)
 
Himself likes to chuck his head up in the usual ex racehorse style when hacking out so put him in a market harborough, head throwing cured after a few hacks out - not sure it would work for you but you never now! He's also 4 too, I ride in a happy mouth snaffle as he was in a standard snaffle but hated it, might be worth a try too?

Defo agree with the ignore bad behaviour suggestion, he is naughty for attention and stops as soon as he realises he won't get it :)
 
martlin said:
I know it might sound silly, but make sure that the noseband is not irritating the hell out of her - I found it out accidentally, swapped a bridle as I fancied a change, the new one had a different shape of noseband (still just a caveson) and my head chucking young monster has disappeared and been replaced with a compliant one :)
Click to expand...

hmm this might be why mine does this too - when i go to do noseband up she chucks her head up too! funny how we forget to listen to our horse!
 
thanks all :)

with the noseband - she hated me doing it up again today... so will whip it off tomorow and try it...


today rode with a crop - everytime she threw her head up she got a tap on her shoulder - soon got the hint! :)

will try tomorow minus noseband and then at the weekend im going to try a rubber snaffle to see if thats any kinder on her.....


she was good today but sweaty - so far i refused to clip but giving her a small clip at the weekend too as she realy does need it :)


any helpful suggestions on teaching bend would be fab!!.... for the next few days we are focusing on keeping the head from throwing up but after that i want to get her schooling properly!

:)
 
just updating this;;

bought her a loose ring snaffle but with (plastic???) parts over the metal

and removed her noseband....

going to ride her tomorow and will report back if anyones intrested :)
 
thanks HH :)

i removed her noseband and put her new bit in - instantly happier horse... shes just trying it on now :)

shes still lobbing head her up, however! no where near as much as she was (literally 3/4 chucks and worked...)

still need a crop (but using a whip tomorow) as shes incredibly lazy.

we worked on bending and that will take a lonnngg time but its a good challenge!.... i was to work on transitions over the next week as towards the end of the schooling i got some lovely work out of her - working in an outline etc

will plan to have lessons the week after new year :) as we definately need them :)
 
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