Annagain
Well-Known Member
You’re describing my old boy. I could school him and do ‘boring’ everyday hacking in a mullen mouth hanging cheek snaffle but when he got excited, I didn’t stand a chance. I could never school it out of him as it was impossible to recreate the situation and when I was in it, I just needed to keep everyone safe.
A waterford three ring gag with two reins was the only bit he’d accept that gave me any brakes. I tried them all, believe me. I rode mainly off the snaffle rein with the second rein tied in a knot on his neck, I could just grab them if I needed the emergency brake. Because I wasn’t using it all the time, when I did, it gave him enough of a shock that he listened. It meant we could enjoy fun rides and beach rides with others without having to worry.
One friend had been on a fun ride with me in the early days before I found this setup. She then came on another with me a year or so later and couldn’t believe that I was happy for her to canter off in front of me or come past me as I had been struggling to hold him so much the time before.
A waterford three ring gag with two reins was the only bit he’d accept that gave me any brakes. I tried them all, believe me. I rode mainly off the snaffle rein with the second rein tied in a knot on his neck, I could just grab them if I needed the emergency brake. Because I wasn’t using it all the time, when I did, it gave him enough of a shock that he listened. It meant we could enjoy fun rides and beach rides with others without having to worry.
One friend had been on a fun ride with me in the early days before I found this setup. She then came on another with me a year or so later and couldn’t believe that I was happy for her to canter off in front of me or come past me as I had been struggling to hold him so much the time before.