Why can't horses talk? dilemma..........

Personally, Option B, though if you would rather have a baby, you perhaps aren't TOO attached to cob, and would be happy with loaning her?

I agree, although it could be a health issue, could it not purely be down to her conformation? If it IS an underlying physical ailment, would it really be fair to sell her on?
 
Well, i rode yesterday and she was awful - any contact on right rein resulted in head thrown up and mouth opening, much worse. Retired the ride early. I have decided to give her the week off till sunday and will try again as she seems so sore, despite the dentist telling me she would be fine to ride the day after.

Perhaps the mouth is a secondary symptom to whatever is going on with her one sidedness or is it a case of its just all come to a point now where it has just gotton so bad that she is showing pain by throwing her head?. Is it something going on muscular wise?
After reading through the internet last night another cause maybe she is not sound on her hind - although she looks 100% sound to me and to others including the vet and farrier. Also the farrier said she has worn her hind shoes evenly..
The plan is to give her the week off and try her in a happy mouth, mullen mouth and if no joy try bitless see if that makes any odds. I have thought about a mickelm bridle too, If not then am having the vet look at her, Determined to get to the bottom of this now!

Can anyone else shed any light or have any more ideas?
 
Have you tried just ridng in a head collar and reins? I have found with my arab that less is more. She is ridden in a halter and then I turned her bridle into a sidepull and she goes much better and is far more relaxed than ever. I wouldn't recommend a hackamore as they are too harsh but see how your horse goes in a head collar or a sidepull or a scawbrig might be worth a try.
 
claribella said:
Have you tried just ridng in a head collar and reins? I have found with my arab that less is more. She is ridden in a halter and then I turned her bridle into a sidepull and she goes much better and is far more relaxed than ever. I wouldn't recommend a hackamore as they are too harsh but see how your horse goes in a head collar or a sidepull or a scawbrig might be worth a try.
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Not sure how much control i would have in just a headcollar - i have been looking at the bitless bridles too, trying to lend one of someone rather than buy one to try first.
 
Goldenstar said:
This is not so some horses mouth conformation make it very difficult to fit the bit comfortably , I routinely have my horses teeth "bit seated ".
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Your bit is too high aswell then. They don't need to have the 2/3 creases in their mouth, providing it's not hitting the bottom teeth most horses can have the bit down a hole and they survive to live another day
 
If you do some groundwork then you should be fine but a rope halter is a good one to start out in as they have a small amount of pressure from the knots.
 
claribella said:
If you do some groundwork then you should be fine but a rope halter is a good one to start out in as they have a small amount of pressure from the knots.
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Yes we have a halter as above and she has done alot of groundwork in it.
Never ridden it, could take her up the menage and give it a go? do i need to get anything for it so i can attach the reins as it just has the loop under the jaw which the rope attaches too?
Would be very interesting to see if she bends any better to the right
 
lucky7 said:
Well, i rode yesterday and she was awful - any contact on right rein resulted in head thrown up and mouth opening, much worse. Retired the ride early. I have decided to give her the week off till sunday and will try again as she seems so sore, despite the dentist telling me she would be fine to ride the day after.

Perhaps the mouth is a secondary symptom to whatever is going on with her one sidedness or is it a case of its just all come to a point now where it has just gotton so bad that she is showing pain by throwing her head?. Is it something going on muscular wise?
After reading through the internet last night another cause maybe she is not sound on her hind - although she looks 100% sound to me and to others including the vet and farrier. Also the farrier said she has worn her hind shoes evenly..
The plan is to give her the week off and try her in a happy mouth, mullen mouth and if no joy try bitless see if that makes any odds. I have thought about a mickelm bridle too, If not then am having the vet look at her, Determined to get to the bottom of this now!
Click to expand...



Okay so another update.

I rode her this morning after a good few days off. Put her in a thicker loose ring snaffle with lozenge. Straight away she was doing her usual leaning on the left rein. When right rein was applied she seemed alot better as in she didn't throw her head about like she was on Monday which makes it likely the head throwing was from teeth and that seems to have settled now since the dentist.
Back to sq 1 regarding the leaning heaviness and stiffness to right bend. Rode her on a loose rein and didn't think about outline or anything yet she was still taking a firm hold on the left rein, with a slight bend to the left. This is very noticeable whilst doing road work on the left side of the road as she is tilted slightly to the left her quarters swing out toward the road making me have to take my hand from her neck on the left to physically move her over and a strong right leg to stop her swinging. Must admit shes not a joy to ride and 10 x worse in an ordinary snaffle :( came back from the hack feeling frustrated and deflated :( on the other hand her fitness levels have really come on and she has a decent walk and can trot up hills (steep ones) without being breathless when she stops and she is generally more forward.
When i got back i popped on her halter and did some bending with the rope attached either side from the ground. Right bend was 100% better, no tossing head and left bend was the same, if i do this with a bridle and bit she still tosses/looks uncomfortable to the right. She can do carrot stretches equally on both sides right round and is very flexible. Surely if it where muscular she would struggle on the right to do this? with regards to lameness she still looks/feels 100% and she is going actively forward, she never stumbles and her transitions into canter are near perfect now. You might have thought if lameness was an issue she would struggle with the above??
I really think its mouth related. Something is happening and she is not a happy bunny. Whatever it is has been happening a long time.
Its not a schooling issue and not my riding - have had a GP trainer riding her and she can't do anything with her either, in fact she may have been slightly worse. Neither is it her conformation or her saddle - she has been fitted professionally by a saddler with a wonderful reputation, he has been out twice. She is ridden in a gp and a dressage and goes the same in both.
Her bridle is an english leather good quality one with a padded comfort cut back head piece, her browband isnt too tight neither is her noseband, her bit is fitted correctly. She mouths the bit well and always has a frothy mouth after exercise.
She is forward going, transitions are improving all the time, her fitness levels are coming on nicely, she is shod all round has good feet hinds wear evenly. She is a happy girl, friendly never nasty or sorry. Her poohs are normal, shes never stressy or phased. She jumps well.

Bits i have tried

Loose ring NS snaffle with lozenge, thinner bit - leans dreadful to the left, very heavy refuses to drop down to a contact a real battle
FULL CHEEK SNAFFLE (fulmer) -l same as above
Single jointed snaffles/french links/egg buts - same again leaning

Show pelham, small port - 2 reins - 100% no leaning, very settled drops into an outline, very light and lovely and forward, this is the best bit she goes in.

Myler hanging cheek - better than the snaffle but still resistant to turn and crooked but no leaning/pulling - 2nd best bit

Thing is the pelham and myler i feel are masking the problem only and am not getting to the root of the cause. I feel if i carried on riding everyday in the pelham eventually she will start to lean on that too. Plus i want to be able to do dressage.

Getting desperate here! running out of ideas...........
I think the vet is next, maybe have some x rays done on her head/mouth area see if anything is going on or /and a full lameness work up?
Ideas?!
Thanks
 
Have you had a consult with another trainer? Perhaps someone with lots of experience with cobs?

I am NOT bashing your current trainer but not every system/approach works for every horse. This is not ruling out a physical issue (your report makes that sound likely, I'm afraid, although it may be something relatively simple) but riding is, effectively, physio therapy and can influence the horse for good or for ill without actually being "good" or "bad" from a purely objective or competitive view. In other words, making a horse go "best" is not going to be the same process for every horse and even the best intentions can have negative consequences.

Trainers are like every other professional - there is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion!
 
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