Training & or bit suggestions for newly backed 4yo.

[Oscar]

Just my my horse back from backing, yay!!

Trainer said he was starting baby lateral work, and starting to soften. I hopped on and it was like sitting on a piece of string! Very narrow and wibbly, wobbly lol. I just pottered round the school getting a feel,for him, and was doing figure of 8's across the diagonals to keep it big & easy, mostly steering with my body, trainer said take a firmer contact, but head went vertical even with a strong leg, asked for halt so I could show what I wanted in halt, but just got a jiggy/joggy steps, so asked fwds again with a longish rein and he was happy again. Did a few short trots and then Managed to do a few true walk, halt, walk transitions and hopped off.

I aim to hack him for a few weeks then turn away, but want to encourage him to stretch fwds & out, but he seems to resent his mouth being touched, I have looked and he doesn't seem sore, his teeth were done but may get them re- checked. He is currently in a copper roller with cheeks, what bits would you suggest for,a sensitive mouth? Or what schooling ideas that I can do out hacking, trainer said ride him in draw reins, but I'd like to avoid gadgets if poss?

Haven't tried Pessoa etc as I don't like the way they jab the mouth.

 

[_GG_]

Do you know if they did any long reining to get him used to the aids from the bit? He sounds very very uneducated for a horse that has been sent away for backing. Did you see the trainer ride him first? If so, how did the horse go?

I wouldn't personally worry at all about contact for these early stages. I'd just want the horse accepting the bit and accepting the basic stop, left and right aids from it, nothing more. They can learn the contact and seeking and stretching when they come back into work a little more mature.

EDIT: Trainer said ride a baby, just backed horse in draw reins? I am not namby pamby...I can see the benefit in using draw reins to "teach" the horse where you want it to carry its head. Big problem I have with that is that the head carriage is not a result of slow and steady, correct training, but a restraint put on the young horse

I like the way you want to avoid gadgets....so I would also avoid this trainer.

 

[Ponyclubber11]

Personally he's sounds very green and no ther bit then a snaffle should be used whatever the weather. He may have become hard in the mouth because he has been put in a too stronger bit. Try some transitions to get him listening to you and then on hacks try to desensitise him as much as possible. A great feed to use is TOPspec comprehensive a genuine non-heating muscle developing feed that really works. Try not to feed too much maybe a handful of chaff and topspec and garlic would do fine the days he works. Good luck could you send in a pic .

 

[Wheels]

Don't worry too much about the contact at this stage, just keep your reins short enough that there is no loops. It's really forwards you need first, yes I would get the teeth checked again, my 4 yr old had sharp edges in the spring after being checked in the autumn.

We tried a few different bits but settled on a neue schule tranz angled lozenge d ring, you might have to try a number before you find one that suits.

It does sound like his mouth is very uneducated, you could try some in hand work - there is a great book by Oliver Hilberger called schooling exercises in hand that I've found very helpful for teaching exercises to my youngster.

 

[ShowjumpingPrincess]

I think that from what you've said, it would be very beneficial to buy a bittless bridle (I mean a PROPER bittless bridle, not a hackamore.) they arn't very good for getting the horse on the bit, but at his age this shouldn't be a worry. They are really relaxing for the babies and give them a lot of confidence.

Your trainer doesn't sound to good and sounds as though they have been using 'gadgets' not really suitable for a baby.

 

[Llanali]

Personally he's sounds very green and no ther bit then a snaffle should be used whatever the weather. He may have become hard in the mouth because he has been put in a too stronger bit. Try some transitions to get him listening to you and then on hacks try to desensitise him as much as possible. A great feed to use is TOPspec comprehensive a genuine non-heating muscle developing feed that really works. Try not to feed too much maybe a handful of chaff and topspec and garlic would do fine the days he works. Good luck could you send in a pic .

I am afraid I don't quite believe its as simple as no other bit than a snaffle no matter what- horses for courses.

However, I do question a few things as other posters have- have they already been using draw reins on the horse? How did he go when they rode, and what input did you have to his backing process? Basically I'd want to know exactly what they ha done and not done to identify gaps, strengths and in the interests of continuity.

In any event, what's done is done. It doesn't sound a trainer that I would necessarily want to go with, suggesting draw reins so soon, but I am assuming you did your research.

I do believe that there is a fine line between not asking for an "outline" or shape, and not allowing the horse to slop along inverted and building the wrong muscle.

I would just get him hacking as per your plan, insisting that he does not go along upside down, but not concerned with roundness at all at this stage. Get him forward and interested, and relax his brain a little- boarding school and being broken in is mentally exhausting!

 

[cruzing]

My advice is quite blunt. You need a new trainer. Why start lateral work when there is obviously contact issues. He needs to accept the contact evenly in both reins going forwards on both reins first. Any bit with rollers will not help get him to reach and accept the contact. Put him in a ns or kk or even a happy mouth and ride him around the arena with even contact making sure he is in front of your leg.

 

[rowy]

I think you do have to ask for a contact from the very beginning as its a bit unfair for a horse to let it slip along with no contact and then suddenly ask the horse to work in one the whole time.

Firstly, has the horse had its wolf teeth out? All mine were sooo much better once they were taken out.
Also, what nose band so you use? I use a drop noseband on any youngster that opens its mouth to evade the bit although I keep them fairly loose. Most horses prefer drops to flashes as they are less constricting.
I agree with everyone who said no other but than a snaffle. Preferably loose ring with a lozenge. I don't like happy mouths on youngsters. I really like using either ns team up or sprenger ultras. They just seem a bit thinner and shape better over the tongue and youngsters prefer the warmer metal.
Training wise I would take a contact but not a strong one. Keep in trot and let the horse faff about and as soon as it softens, loosen your hand and rein slightly as a reward. I really believe in talking to the horse the whole time and patting when they get it right (with inside hand). A young horse that has never been asked for a contact before isn't going to understand and will try to get away from pressure. I always find it easier to ask for a contact in trot though.

Sorry about the essay

 

[Oscar]

I think you do have to ask for a contact from the very beginning as its a bit unfair for a horse to let it slip along with no contact and then suddenly ask the horse to work in one the whole time.

Firstly, has the horse had its wolf teeth out? All mine were sooo much better once they were taken out.
Also, what nose band so you use? I use a drop noseband on any youngster that opens its mouth to evade the bit although I keep them fairly loose. Most horses prefer drops to flashes as they are less constricting.
I agree with everyone who said no other but than a snaffle. Preferably loose ring with a lozenge. I don't like happy mouths on youngsters. I really like using either ns team up or sprenger ultras. They just seem a bit thinner and shape better over the tongue and youngsters prefer the warmer metal.
Training wise I would take a contact but not a strong one. Keep in trot and let the horse faff about and as soon as it softens, loosen your hand and rein slightly as a reward. I really believe in talking to the horse the whole time and patting when they get it right (with inside hand). A young horse that has never been asked for a contact before isn't going to understand and will try to get away from pressure. I always find it easier to ask for a contact in trot though.

Sorry about the essay

Thanks, he has never been ridden in draw reins, just walk, trot, canter in school, and hacked out.

Caps have been removed but not wolf teeth yet, we tried a a lozenged snaffle but he hated it, he was much happier in his breaking bit. Hacked him today and and he stretched out nicely and softened nicely in the trot came fwds from he wither, lots to work on but i was thrilled with his attitude. I kept a soft but consistent contact which he accepted happily.

Trainer backed him as requested, just the basics in the school then hacking. He is naturally like a giraffe, and seems to revert to default as standard. Draw reins were not suggested as a quick fix but I was sure they weren't needed and hope to avoid auxiliary tools. Hopefully a summers hacking will get him to relax down & fwds etc. thanks everyone happy riding!!