Annoying habit!? How can i help him??

[dunrobin_topper]

Just a niggling habit my pony has picked up over the last week and i really want to nip in the bud now incase it gets worse!!

Im currently riding him in a straight bar soft rubber pelham with a curb chain which is a tad bit too long but isnt annoying him. (well i dont think so anyway!!) Occasionaly half way through a hack or schooling sess he will tuck himself right in and be very 'over bent' i dont hold the double reins firmly just have a light contact and ask gently and this usually works!
BUT he has now started to try and bite the last ring and bottom rein on his left side! Its very annoying and i find myself losing concentration fighting to get my contact back (he pulls the rein right out of my hand!)

Im thinking this might be a sign of boredom but its frustrating and i really dont want to constantly have to grip my reins as im trying to get him to relax (very tense in his neck and back!) He is always grumpy schooling but i try and make it more pleasurable by introducing lots of cirlces, turns, changes of rein etc and transitions but this snatching thing is annoying and especially in trot! and bending!!

Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks! x

[Kate F.]

Just a niggling habit my pony has picked up over the last week and i really want to nip in the bud now incase it gets worse!!

Im currently riding him in a straight bar soft rubber pelham with a curb chain which is a tad bit too long but isnt annoying him. (well i dont think so anyway!!) Occasionaly half way through a hack or schooling sess he will tuck himself right in and be very 'over bent' i dont hold the double reins firmly just have a light contact and ask gently and this usually works!
BUT he has now started to try and bite the last ring and bottom rein on his left side! Its very annoying and i find myself losing concentration fighting to get my contact back (he pulls the rein right out of my hand!)

Im thinking this might be a sign of boredom but its frustrating and i really dont want to constantly have to grip my reins as im trying to get him to relax (very tense in his neck and back!) He is always grumpy schooling but i try and make it more pleasurable by introducing lots of cirlces, turns, changes of rein etc and transitions but this snatching thing is annoying and especially in trot! and bending!!

Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks! x

Over flexing like this is usually an evasion of the bit - there's something he doesn't like about it. You could try another bit, or try taking the curb rein off and removing the chain. The fact you say he's very tense in his back and neck also suggests discomfort. Assuming you've had back, tack and teeth checked - I think the next thing is changing the bit. He might go better in a jointed bit - and if he has a tendency to over flex - keep away from anything with poll action and/or a curb rein. Just a simple snaffle, single or double jointed, may be more suitable for him and help give him confidence to work softly onto the bit. It sounds as though the bit is too severe and he's looking for any way he can find to get away from it - pull the reins out of your hands or duck behind it.

I think pelhams are over used, and often abused as "stronger brakes". If you look at horses that go in double reins/double bridle correctly, eg dressage horses, they usually school in a snaffle and just use the double bridle for extra refinement for performance.
Double reins were never intended to be used as a regular schooling bit - just for refinement on a horse that is already going confidently and correctly. I think a pelham is really only suitable as an alternative to a double bridle for ponies or horses with small mouths that can't cope with two bits. It is not an every day, every purpose bit.

[Daffy Dilly]

Try a different bit. Daffy does the same thing (but a better job of it!) and its because he doesn't like the combined action of a pelham, he prefers his double.

Also get tack/back/teeth checked, if he's stiff through his back and neck there's probably something going on. The dentist may be able to advise you on what bits may suit as well.

[dunrobin_topper]

3rd time lucky i hope it posts this time!!

THanks for all your suggestions guys...just a quick update really!

Had a few words with my friend's RI and she says its probably just boredom when schooling as he is very grumpy when we go in the school anyways! Throws in a few surprise spooks occasionally.:eek:She also says the curb chain is probs too long and this just encourages him to try and grab it lol! making it a game for him so im gonna try and cut it shorter!

To Kate, i completely understand what you mean about Pelhams being abused but really he was a complete nightmare in all the other bits i have tried snaffles mostly! Not quite sure if there are any other bits that i could try? He used to b V evasive and grumpy hauling me around the school (my arms hurt like hell, no matter what i did he would not relax one little bit!!) but using the pelham and doing lunging, groundwork etc had improved him so much! He is very light in the mouth, listens to my seat and weight and doesnt lean so much...this is why i was surprised when he started tucking in! But it was usually after about 20 minutes of work....think i need to let him work long when he starts that. I think lateral work would also help but i think i will need my friend's RI for that lol

I should also note that he used to be very stiff in his back leg from when his bone/muscle were growing at different rates (cant mind what the vet called it but it was when he was 4) and having him working from behind and not on his forehand may be awkward for him until he fittens up abit. This might be a cause for the stiffness as he is difficult to keep in canter (his balance is a bit off in out school as its quite tight!)

Cheers! x

[Bay Mare]

Why not try and elastic curb? You still get a curb action but it can be better on sensitive horses.

[dunrobin_topper]

Hey just a quick update!

I have done alot more work with topper over the past month but changed his curb chain to an elastic curb and what an improvement! He even decided to pop into canter on both reins without any fuss! Im really pleased with him. Even had him pop over (small!) a straight for me yesterday. He usual tends to cat leap any height but he just went straight over with out any fight.

Thanks!!:D