Contact Question

[sweetbriar]

OK, here's the problem. I have got Lizzie going in a nice trot or walk. She always chomps on the bit and there is always some foam on the bit when take it out.

I'm riding her forwards and she plays with the bit. I ask very nicely with my fingers, gently squeezing as Heathers book instructs and she throws her head to the ground. It happens quite a lot whether I'm schooling or hacking.

I have her teeth checked twice a year and she's ridden in an eggbutt snaffle.

When I school we have lots of breaks where she is given a long rein.

[Heather]

HI Sweetbriar,

Does she ever go happily on the bit, for instance if you just take up a contact and don't ask her with the fingers, does she work on the bit when you use your legs to send her hind legs under and seek down for the contact or is she always fussy?

What breeding/age level of schooling is she at?

Cheers,

Heather

[sweetbriar]

When I first take up a contact she's fine. We start out walking on a long rein in both directions for about 10 mins. Then I take up a shorter contact and she happily chomps away on the bit. She only starts taking her head down to the floor when she's really warmed up and working well from behind. When I send her forwards in a normal contact she still puts her head down as if to avoid working into that contact.

Lizzie is in her mid to late teens. I can't be more specific because my horse dentist couldn't give me a definate age. I don't know her breeding exactly but its been suggested to me that she may be a Connemara pony. The dealer she came from, according to people I have spoken to, does buy a lot of his stock 'off the boat' as it were. Having looked at the Connies in your book and on various websites she does have the build, the look and the attributes of the breed.

She was bought 3.5 years ago as a riding school pony. She stands at approx 14.2. I have had her for 3 years on part and full loan. We do prelim dressage, novice hunter trials and showjumping.

For the first 10-15 minutes of any hack, schooling or jumping she can be very 'stuffy' and it takes a while for her to work in. I have found that frequent changes of pace and suppling exercises (ie circles, serpentines) work best to warm her up. She will go off the lightest of aids when she's going forward.

Her paces are quite nice. The canter is beautiful, the trot could be more beautiful and have some lift as it does tend to drag a little (probably my fault in riding not hers) and the walk can also be a little dragging sometimes.

At present she can do leg yield quite well, we've started doing a little rein back, her turns on the forehand are quite good. I need some instruction really because I would like to do shoulder in, flying changes and some travers/renvers. She is more than capable and I think she could do some really nice work.

Sorry its so long Heather. I hope this answers your question.