violent rein snatching , run out of things to try . HELP !!

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maisiemoo

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My 7 year old mare snatches violently at the reins , this is very annoying and tiring , i have done all the usual things , teeth - saddle - vet check-back lady-tried a nose net ,
Seems behaviuoral and worse when she is anxious , she is quite a bold mare , not spooky and great in traffic . she does this wether she is on her own or hacking in company, i have been battling with this since i got her last july and have run out of idea's.
Do i try a standing martingale ?, side reins ?
The snatching is hard enough for me to deal with but obviously an issue for my 10 year old daugther .
She appears happy enough when ridden , ears forward , i am currently working on building up her fitness with advice from the physio who has given me some exercises to do inhand .
Could it be a habit ? any thoughts anyone ?
 
you seem to have gone through the obvious - but you also thought of getting a bit person out to check that the bit fits her correctly? beyond the normal "doesn't pinch corners". In theory, all my horses are pretty ridden in the same strength (basic loose ring snaffle) but every single one has had to have a variance on the same theme to keep them happy. Once you have ruled out her biting as well as every thing else, then either have lessons and try to replicate what is stressing out your mare so you can see how you react - or if this isn't possible, how about getting a friend to video you when she starts to do it? Without actually seeing how you ride how when she does this, its hard to offer any more advice but if you had a video, you might well see your own answer!
 
You could try a different bit. Ideally though a local bit bank so you don't end up buying loads of them. It could be because the bit she is in is too severe for her and she wants more freedom for her head. It could also be that it is not severe enough and she needs something to discourage a habit. Something like a waterford she can't lean on might help. If she has a fleshy tounge or bars she might been more space with some sort of ported bit.

Alternatively - you could try leaving her on a really long rein so she has nothing to snatch at? She'd need to be safe enough obviously - but often it you take away the game then they get bored with it and find something else to do.

It could be that she has discovered that this is a really great way of getting out of work. She snatches - rider gets off. or at least stops asking her to do anything difficult. In which case then answer is to stop her winning. Which might be where harness etc comes in.

A standing martingale will help stop her throwing her head up - but that isn't normally how a horse snatches at the reins - they usually reach down. In which case something like a grass rein might help for your daughter. But if this is in response to a bitting problem then stopping her doing it could result in something more extreme like rearing to get away from the bit.

This could be quite a complex problem. Do you have an instructor or something like that you really trust to help you? You may well go through a lot of options and opnions before you find something that suits!
 
My horse used to do this a lot. A lot of people told me it was uncurable, or that it was too complex to attempt.

I got one of the super-elasticy bungee type side reins which go up over the head and attach to the saddle D rings. Completely fixed him after riding twice in them.
You also have to make sure you always maintain contact, and never ever try to 'resist' or block the head throwing, because (for mine) that only made him worse as he would fight back. When he threw his head around I allowed my hands to go forwards, softly flexing my wrist to bring his head back. When he softened then I softened the contact, but never let it drop.

This is what I use: http://www.rideaway.co.uk/shires-elastic-training-reins-bungee-reins/default.aspx

They tighten up on the poll, so you can tighten when you are riding.
 
ah, my old mare used to do this all the time out hacking or when she was excited. Would drive me insane!! She never tanked off and was never strong but just did this infuriating and quite violent snatching of my reins.

I never found out how to solve it totally im afraid. I tried tons of bits and she was happiest in an eggbutt, something that was stable in her mouth. What I used to do is ride with my seat and not use my reins. I would sit really deep and relaxed in the saddle and drop my reins so she had nothing to pull against and just use my seat to control her speed. She was sensitive so it worked a bit.

The worst thing is to prop in the saddle and brace against it (which was my natural insinct) because they are always stronger and just pull you forward even more! She was ace to hunt and do fun rides ect because she was bold and never got away with me, it was just the jogging and the blimin snatching thing!! I can remember pulling all my arm and shoulder muscles after exciting outings like that and she would make me soo tired!!

I feel your pain!
 
Thanks everyone, she is in a cottage craft eggbut snaffle and has a lovely soft mouth. she has bolted twice when badly spooked [ tipper lorry at road works and car whizzing through large puddle ] soon pulled up and i would'nt say she was strong , i do ride with loose contact , she does it more when can't have her own way . Can't ride out on my own as she naps [ have tried various approaches and diffferent riders all admitted defeat ] , not too worried about that as more fun going out with friends anyway , maybe oneday when she's older and more confident she will be happy to go on her own. I do have a good instructor lined up so will book some lessons and see what she thinks,
 
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