Re: RC: bitting questions (long)

[Abby Bloxsom <goneriding@snet.net>]

So here I am FINALLY getting back to this ... for those on RC, Marlene
posted eons ago about some bitting/behavior issues she was having with
her young horse.  As I worked on the response today, I realized that
some of this might be useful to others.  You can scroll down to find her
original post.
- - - - - -
There are a few different possibilities for what's happening here.

You said the horse responded differently to the trainer using a
different bit than to you.  That indicates that the difference is either
you or the bit. (possibility #1/2)

You said the horse went okay in a bitless bridle (is that the one with
the "X" under the chin, or a basic sidepull, or another hackamore?),
which indicates that the bit is the problem (#2).  But you also said
that the horse had recently had some "issues" regarding setting the
speed and control, etc., which indicates that there may yet be something
about you (#1) that's different.  It's not unusual for there to be
multiple factors at work, you know - part of why "quick fixes" aren't
usually effective for very long.

So, you can try changing the bit (#1) to find something he'll like
better, or you can try changing the way you use your seat and hands, and
possibly changing your perspective (#2).  I would suggest that you do
both.

The Perspective Thing: 
Sometimes we as riders need a reminder of who is in charge, here, and
it's important that if you say stop or slow down YOU HAVE TO MEAN IT. 
It's like the parent who says "Okay, sweetie, it's time for bed" to
their kid 42,358 times without following up on it, and then complains
that the kid isn't responsive.  

This is extremely common with horses when they reach about 4 ... they're
hitting adolescence, and have decided that They Know All About This, and
the rider assumes that since the horse has been to a trainer and been
trained, it should do what it's supposed to do.  After all, the trainer
didn't have any problems with it.  This is an age and a time in training
when Consistency and Follow-Through are of the essence, because the
snot-nosed brat has decided HE is in charge.

Regarding bitting:
If the horse is leaning & hanging, then there may be too much tongue
pressure, or the bit may be too fat.  Thinner is not necessarily more
severe, if there's inadequate space inside the horse's mouth for the big
fat bit.  If the horse is tossing his head, then the joint of the bit
may be touching the palate, in which case a french mouth bit would be in
order.  

Things I would stay away from under the circumstances are: Dr. Bristol
bits (look a lot like a french mouth but the third piece in the middle
is rotated so that it puts a sharp pressure on the center of the
tongue); curb bits, especially jointed curbs (a curb is a higher-level
bit, best not to go that route until *after* you've got the horse
working well in a snaffle, especially a 4 year old); specialty bits,
like gags and elevators ... you'd have to really work hard to convince
me of a need for that on just about any horse, especially a distance
horse.

To all, especially Stef:  
I'm happy to entertain discussion on these issues, but I have no desire
to enter into any highly charged arguments about the value of various
pieces of equipment.  If I think you're looking for a fight, I will not
respond on-list or privately.  This is the holiday season, and I'm quite
enjoying the Peaceful Ridecamp these days.

-Abby B


Marlene Moss wrote:
> 
> Ok, I have just started riding my 4 yr old gelding.  A little history, prior
> to me sending him to a trainer, I was riding him in very controlled
> situations, but noticed that he would not really listen to the bit and kept
> stretching his head to the ground.
> 
> I don't know enough about green horses to know if he was confused, evading
> the bit, the bit didn't fit, was just being his goofball mouthy
> neck-stretchy self or whatever.  I didn't fight him since I didn't want to
> mess up his mouth not knowing what I was doing.
> 
> The trainer didn't notice any of that behavior.  I was using a fat eggbutt
> snaffle and the trainer was using a full cheek snaffle.  The trainer worked
> him in 2 environments - round pen and on trail.  I have found that the horse
> goes beautifully on the trail and is getting much better in the arena.  But
> he acts very confused in an open field with no trail.  He sticks his head up
> in the air, down to the ground and just kind of fights me - and seems
> nervous too.
> 
> The problem is most evident at a canter - head goes down with a little
> crow-hopping.  It doesn't happen all the time - sometimes we canter quite a
> distance very smoothly.
> 
> I have ridden him with a bitless bridle and he goes pretty well.  But as
> he's gaining confidence, he's starting to resist me and want to have more
> control over our speed.  So as he's started acting up a bit, I've been less
> confident about going bitless.
> 
> I had his teeth checked in the spring, but haven't had them checked since,
> so I can't rule out issues there until I get the dentist out.  But there
> were no issues at the time and he has had his wolf teeth out.  I have no
> idea what to look at to determine if there might be teeth issues, nor how to
> look at a horses mouth to determine what kind of bits might work.
> 
> I've heard that there might be some good books out there, and I'd like to
> know what they are.  But I'd also like to know if there are any immediate
> things I can check to help determine the best bit.  I don't want to just
> experiment without any thought.
> 
> The other bits I have available are a skinnier full cheek snaffle, a 3 piece
> snaffle with a flat round center piece, a kimberwicke, and another 3 piece
> with a round cylinder shape as the center but it's pretty skinny.  I
> probably have a curb around somewhere that came with a bridle, but it's
> cheap and light and I know nothing about curbs and really wouldn't think
> that was something appropriate to a young horse anyhow.
> 
> I appreciate any ideas and I will be sticking to the arena until we have a
> direction that seems to make sense.
> 
> Thanks,
> Marlene
> 

-- 
* * *
Abby Bloxsom
ARICP Certified Instructor
Level III Recreational and Distance Riding
Colebrook, CT USA
dearab@horsecom.net
goneriding@snet.net