One Rein Stop and Curb Bit

[Gypzywingz]

Does anyone know if you can effectively do the one rein stop with a curb bit?I know we are suppose to teach it in a snaffle bit initially. The reason that I ask is because my horse Breezy learned it and it save me several times on her; but now I have new trail horse and I don't think he knows it and I want to teach him. Before he was ridden in a gag bit with a nose band and he actually might still need that. I am riding him now in a western grazing bit that has short shanks and when I try it with him he mostly braces against the bit and turns his head but doesn't turn his body without me having to really pull down and force it. I know this can be dangerous and I think I am going to go to a snaffle bit and work with him on this. But can I ride him in a curb bit later once he knows the one rein stop and effectively stop him this way with a curb bit?

Thanks
Debbie H.

[Tuff_up]

Please do not take any of this the wrong way i know how wonderful it is to be able to use that one rein stop in an emergency but here we go...

To me i don't think it is possible to do it because there just is no break so you would be moving the whole bit and it wouldn't help at all in the situation. The curb bit was made to be used for neck reining and shouldn't be used two handed either, in training a horse you always start with a snaffle to break out all the habits and gain the horses intrest, trust, and respect before theres the transition to the curb (where in showing the horse knows to keep head low and just the movement of the rein is supposed to move them).Of course this is in a perfect situation so i would either

A)work with him so he doesn't want to or you have the need to have to use the one rein stop (trust, teach him a different way to react to something scary, ect)

B) change the bit and if he is not going to be used for the high end horse shows it wouldn't kill him to keep the bit in a snaffle so you can do your one rein stop and finally..

C) if he is very responsive maybe a quick neckrein will act as a one rein stop (thats how i dealt with my friends responsive horse(in a curb) i just reined him in and made a quick turn). Good Luck

[Gypzywingz]

Thanks for your reply. I ride him on trails and just around my property and stuff like that. I play around with barrels for fun and I am going to get poles to start jogging him through too. We don't do any shows so the type of bit, as far as that is concerned, doesn't matter. I definately was going to try a full cheek snaffle on him. It has been raining for days here so hopefully soon I can get out and do that. He has started to listen to my verbal and seat cues more and has now started to stop better. I also lightly pull back just on one rein one quick pull then release if he doesn't stop and that has seem to be a cue that he better stop if he doesn't want to get circled. He really only seems to act up when we are going home and when he thinks he should be done and it's time to eat since I ride a lot after work. He will fight with me, put his head up and push through the bit or continue his really fast extended trot when he doesn't listen. Other than that things are progressing. I have only tried to lope him twice since I am very nervous about it and since I know I don't have full control over him yet I really don't want to. He was ridden in a gag bit with a nose band so I don't know if that was just a way to keep him under control or have it when they did need it. He does really good neck reining. I am not sure if something like putting a rope halter under his bridle and attaching a rope to it like I guess a side pull or something so I could pull on that instead of the bit when I need to pull him around like that one rein stop. Heck I don't know, lol.

Thanks for your comment Tuff_Up

Debbie

[levi1739]

he mostly braces against the bit

I start lateral flexing in a halter and then move to a snaffle bit when the horse/human understands "give" to pressure. It doesn't sound like your horse understands "give" regardless of the type of tack being used.

Keep on, keepin on

Jack

[Tuff_up]

I would say stay in the arena untill he learns flexing and give because its obvious that no matter what bit we will just keep barging his way through in the way HE wants. In my opinion a stronger/harsher bit doesn't solve any problems just makes them worse. He needs to be put back into training for his stops and a really good thing that helps to slow your horse down and keep thinking of you unstead of whats next is:
Stopping (once they know how) and going at different unexplainable times so they have to keep intrested on you.

Backing up- it takes much more effort to back up so i like to back my mare up when she gets tough or goes faster or out of the pace i want her in (e.g if she starts to jog unstead of walk i back her up about 20 feet) and then i turn her in the other direction and tell her (by verbal or physical) to walk on. This helps build up there muslces in the back end and helps keep them on their hip (western reining/western pleasure type collection) and is a good start on learning a spin.

Another training tip is never start loping unless you have a good down pat stop/whoa. So if there is an error you know you still have your trusty brakes. Good luck and i recommend a simple full cheek snaffle or a loose ring snaffle because riding with a halter maybe a little to dangerous in a horse already keen on pulling and as a nevous rider sometimes knowing there is still a bit there helps you mentally.

[Gypzywingz]

Thanks guys. I pulled out my full cheek snaffle last weekend after my trail ride with him and was going to try it out. Today is suppose to be nice so hopefully after work I can ride him in it. I agree that a harsher bit doesn't solve the problem and to go back to basic building skills as well. He might not have ever really been taught to give to light pressure. If he was always ridden with the nose band and tie downs and such he was probably more agreeing due to the pain involved and not neccessarily listening and responding to the rider. I will let you guys know how that goes :D

Debbie