Using "another" gadget, along with draw reins?

[charterline]

Posting in here, as hoping for some more sensible answers, rather than I don't know what I'm doing, or talking about.

My horse is hacked out in draw reins. If not in them, she has a horrible tendency to use her head and neck as a brace against you when asking for speeding up/slowing down/asking got inside bend away from scary object. Is also ridden in either a flash or drop so her mouth can't open and ignore what you are asking.

She is 17, and has spent the best part of her life shoving her head in the air to do as she pleases; also built quite "head up in the air" anyway.

She works beautifully in the school. Had taken three years of hard work, as she'd never been schooled before o got her, but she is an amazing horse. I am trying to work on this out hacking.

As I said above the draw reins help to a huge extent. However, there are still times that she will spot something "scary", and then will use all her strength and still use her head and neck as a brace to get away from you, using scary object as an excuse.

We vary what we do out hacking, not trying to give her any time to make up trouble, however, some of the time it just does not work. No amount of "nicely" asking for bend away from scary object works, not amount of kicking and yanking works either; she's just plain rude and ignores you.

Therefore, I'm basically wondering if something else to help keep control of the head and neck would be of benefit for a couple of sessions? Possibly either a standing martingale or a market harborough?

I'm aware that my horse would looked trussed up like a turkey, however I'm not after any nasty vile comments that I can't ride, and I'm a mean horse owner, I'm asking for opinions if people have ever used two "gadgets" to help control a horse who knows exactly what it's strength can do

 

[be positive]

I hack one of mine out in running reins, same theory to keep control when I am up against it, I don't think having another gadget will help as the draw reins will override either a standing or market harborough they just will not be in play when the draw reins are fully applied, I do prefer them coming to the side rather than between the legs as I can turn the head effectively when he really gets fixated on something so that might be your next route to try.

The other thing I did consider using was a sheepskin nose but as mine is a slight headshaker I felt it may do more harm than good but they are supposed to help encourage them to lower the head. The best "cure" is to do as much as you can to desensitise them to what they consider to be scary, allow them to look but on your terms so they can take a good look as long as they keep moving forward even if it is not exactly in a straight line.

 

[Goldenstar]

It's always hard to say without seeing the horse but in my youth it would have been put in a double bridle backed up with standing martingale we would have ridden in the snaffle with the curb there to used when the horse misbehaved .
Having said that if I have horses on walking exercise after injury I will often put on a draw rein just in case I need to keep a lid on things .
You have to be safe .

 

[charterline]

Thanks for the thoughts. I currently use the draw reins right underneath, rather than at the sides. I will certainly give them a go on the side, it's not something that I would have thought of trying, but when you think about it, it should actually help with bend more!

Have used sheepskin Noseband in the past with horse, it doesn't really make much difference at all... If anything seems to make it all worse (certainly going xc anyway!)

I have thought about a different bitting arrangement, however horse is very difficult to bit; and doesn't really need much more than a snaffle most of the time.

 

[tallyho!]

It seems as if you have got this mare working well despite her tendencies to hollow. Have you had the physio out to see if there's something amiss? Having ridden high-headed hollowing horses, it's usually resolved without force. The personality of the mare seems to suggest she will fight to her detriment so perhaps consider some other options first.

Have you ever considered classical in-hand work? Helped both of my highly opinionated horses no end. I can't extoll the benefits enough. Ok, it's not a quick-fix but it's a permanent fix and the horses go so much better through the back it's lovely to see. It's basically re-teaching the horse the "language" of the bit in the mouth and it's gentle but so effective. It's taken me 6 months to get my mare to stop "giraffing" and I've only used a snaffle.

 

[charterline]

Has regular physio/dentist/saddle check, I'm sure there are no physical problems. I've had her for long enough to know her "personality" and this head up and gorping, is "her".

She is a thousand times better out hacking then when I first got her, but still has a long way to go yet.

Not tried classical thingy mentioned...

 

[Pigeon]

What about hacking in spurs? Mine can be stupidly spooky (I think its a slightly nappy thing) but he's fine if he's in front of the leg. I just have to be vigilant about it!!

Also I guess working on bombproofing might help. Even trailering to hack on some new routes should help with the brave pants. And just thinking forward all the time!

 

[tallyho!]

Has regular physio/dentist/saddle check, I'm sure there are no physical problems. I've had her for long enough to know her "personality" and this head up and gorping, is "her".

She is a thousand times better out hacking then when I first got her, but still has a long way to go yet.

Not tried classical thingy mentioned...

Head up and "gorping" is pretty much my mares' default style. If I hadn't done in-hand work with my last boy when we were having our troubles, I'd be on the same path as you are now with this mare... more gadgets, more straps, more metal. So glad I've found a more effective alternative. Do look up Sylvia Loch's books, Phillipe Karl, Ingrid Klimke... all the riding is based on very old cavalry riding. It's really fab and fun.

 

[spacefaer]

I would agree with be positive - your mare can't give you bend if the draw reins are going between the front legs - just think about it! If you put them as running reins from your lower leg/girth area, then she will be able to flex and give you bend as well.

In getting bend away from the spooky object, I would also be trying to think 100 yards ahead of the horse and asking for shoulder in plenty of time before she thinks of spooking. Hard to do sometimes, and it makes hacking hard work if you are forever trying to be more alert and observant than she is!

 

[whizzer]

My horse sounds quite similar,I used a market harborough for years but it only really helped a bit as by the time it came into action his head was already up & he was looking for trouble! I experimented with many things but in the end it was a Pelham & only ever with 2 reins, as he hated roundings, that transformed him. Like yours he worked well in the school but out hacking was always looking for things to be silly about so he could get his head up & spook,or spin,or jog & mess about.