I got a new horse almost 2 months ago. She is a
second generation mustang – her parents were mustangs. She is a 4 year old
mare that is somewhat green. She is 14 -2 hands, slender and somewhat fine
boned.
I think in the past, she has been ridden, although always
with other horses and just kind of followed where they went. I know it
sounds crazy, but she had been trained to neck rein, but not how to direct rein.
She didn’t understand what in the world I was asking of her when we first
started. Now she flexes nicely when asked and does turn when I use
a direct rein. I ask her very softly and gently and she responds.
She needs very gentle treatment to stay calm. I had her teeth floated and
her wolf teeth pulled a month ago and started riding her in the arena just
using a rope halter. I have lately been using a snaffle, but am
considering using a bitless bridle. She constantly is fooling around with
the bit and is constantly lowering her head and tossing it all around when it
is lowered. I should try the rope halter again, because I don’t remember for
certain if she did it when I used the halter … but I think she did.
I have tried a Meyler snaffle and also a full cheek snaffle (just because
I already had it) and it doesn’t seem to make any difference. I
have tried lunging her with the snaffle and she does the same thing –
especially when she canters. I have tried lunging her with the snaffle
and she still does it. I have lunged her in a halter and she still does
it, although I think she does it even more when I use a heavier lunge
line. It is not like she is tossing her head in the air like a lot of
horses do – she actually reaches down with her head. She sure does
have a lot of energy in her. I don’t know whether something about a
bit bothers her or whether it is just a “I want to be free to run on my
own attitude.” - Or could this just be some kind of left-over from
the last owner who rode her even though her teeth needed to be done? It does
not matter if she is on a loose rein or I have contact. Maybe she just hates
having something on her head. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Also, can you use a lunge line with a bitless bridle?
