Accepting the bit

[Anne]

Hello:-)

Can anyone tell me how to encourage the livery horse I ride to accept the bit. Her owner has no problems getting her into a wonderfully relaxed outline and both she and my instructor say it takes practice, and I will be successful as I ride her more.

I think one of my problems is that she is a 16hh.2 and feels somewhat bigger than the horses I've ridden in the past and her gait feels completely different. I'm 9st.3lbs and 5ft 3" so I'm told my height and weight isn't really relevant, but although at the end of each lesson I do feel I'm getting somewhere, I feel very frustrated that most of the time I cannot get her to bring her head down when I ask her.

She's very responsive to the leg and seat, but I do worry that I might pull and hurt her mouth if I cannot get her to stop resisting the rein contact to get a good outline. I haven't had this problem with other horses, but it must be something I'm doing wrong ... too much contact .... too little .....? and of course the majority of the other horses I've ridden have been well-schooled horsemasters/horsemistresses ...

Any helpful hints and advice much appreciated.

Anne

[Sarah]

Hello!

Firstly I wouldn't worry about it - getting a horse to go in an outline is something that will happen if it is going well - go cen't get it to go well by trying to get it in an outline. I am afraid that the owner and instructor are right, it will just happen with time.

Remember that having the horse's nose tucked down is a result of it raising its back and engaging its hindquarters more - you must get it to do this first by using your legs before the nose will come down. When the back is in the right place, the horse will automatically drop its head - if you get down on your hands and knees and arch your back up, it is far more comfy for you to then drop your head a bit. Likewise if you hollow your back, it is not comfortableto drop your head. It is exactly the same with the horse.

In summary, just don't worry about it. With regular lessons (which it seems like you are having) the horse will start to go better then naturally go into a good outline.

Keep us informed on how you get on!

bye!

[Anne]

Thank you Sarah ... your reply much appreciated, and your explanation of how a horse comes to the bit very helpful. I hadn't realised she was hollowing her back and will ask my instructor to demonstrate this for me (that is, the horse, not the instructor ... :-)<g> )... s'cuse me,think I'm a bit tired today!

Just goes to show how much I have yet to learn, but I'm thoroughly enjoying myself and even the frustrations are worth every minute ... exhaustion has taken on a new meaning since I started, but who cares ... I just love everything about these beautiful creatures and can't believe my luck!

Thanks again ...

Anne