WOW what a difference - sunflower oil/wolf teeth/flexi reins update

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cobface

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Well i took my 4yr TB mare off the oil about 2 days ago ans already she was showing signs of being the chilled out lovely relaxed mare i know and love
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rode her today after a 12 day break after she has had wolf teeth out. Well she was really stepping out, took her round the lanes and we were out for about an hour on our own. Asked for contact - normally she would head toss and evade the bit, but no she totally relaxed into it and we had about 5 strides of trot where she was actually in a really nice outline
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i left it at that as shes quite unfit and dont want to push her, the rest of the ride was just relaxing
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One thing she kept doing on the way home though (she was rushing to get back) was pulling the reins out of my hands and opening her mouth to get her head, she was pulling her head down quite hard - enough to make me raise out the saddle
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Any suggestions?
 
It could be something to do with her teeth? Maybe she is expecting to be in pain? A good thing to do is kick on a bit when they do that, worst thing is to try and pull the head back up. I find a bit of a kick says "oi, get on and never mind doing that" to mine, sometimes a tap (no more) on the shoulder can be deserved. I'd definitely ride her forward when she does this, as it'll get her head back up. If you pull back you'll only get into a pulling contest.

Otherwise, a total result with the contact bit!
 
[ QUOTE ]
It could be something to do with her teeth? Maybe she is expecting to be in pain? A good thing to do is kick on a bit when they do that, worst thing is to try and pull the head back up. I find a bit of a kick says "oi, get on and never mind doing that" to mine, sometimes a tap (no more) on the shoulder can be deserved. I'd definitely ride her forward when she does this, as it'll get her head back up. If you pull back you'll only get into a pulling contest.

Otherwise, a total result with the contact bit!

[/ QUOTE ]

ditto that . I find kicking on sharply rather than pulling helps.
 
sleepeeze_dad - just read through your post and it sounds so similar to my mare!

Starting my lessons again next week, now theres nothing stopping us for the dressage test in may! whoop!
 
all sounds great.

the only thing i would say is that particularly as she is a 4yro she may be pulling at you becuase her back muscles are sore or tired.

i always get my bum out of the saddle a few times on a hack for 200-300 yards at a time to give the horse's back a bit of a rest.

my young tb used to pull like this on the way home but by giving her back a rest it stopped completely.
maybe try that while she is still strengthening up?
 
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