No brakes!

[Jenn_and_Benji]

hi all,

Please can someone help - my horse is a cob, and therefore has a very muscular neck and shoulders which he sometimes uses to his advantage. When we are cantering out on a hack with other horses he tends to hold his head very low and lean on the bit, which puts enormous strain on my arms and shoulders. I'm a competent rider, and I try to slow him using my seat and legs as well as my arms/shoulders, however he really is very strong sometimes and I feel absolutely knackered when I get off. I usually ride him in a simple eggbutt snaffe and flash noseband but I'd like to try something which gives me a bit more control. I tried a ported kimblewick (without the curb chain) but that was worse as he just leaned on the straight bar. I was thinking of trying a french link snaffle. Has anyone else got a strong horse who tends to lean on your hands? By the way, I don't pull with both reins at once as I know this gives him something to lean on.

Any ideas would be great!

Thanks, Jenn

[No_Angel]

My moms horse did this, he came in a Dr Bristol and that didn't stop him, we tried him in a french link dutch gag and that didn't stop him either so we tried a ported Uxter kimblewick (with a curbchain and the rein on the lowest slot for added poll pressure) and that worked, now we have taken the curb chain off and he is still easy to stop.

[AJB]

Hi Jenn, how long have you had Benji-has he always done this???

[Alex]

Sheree (our QH) always used to do this, and the french snaffle was the solution for her.

[Jenn_and_Benji]

Hi AJB,

I have only had him for a few months, but yes, he has always done this. He has had his back checked (all fine) and we got him a new saddle because his old one was squeezing his shoulder blades.

He doesn't do it when we are cantering alone - its just when he is behind another horse and is pretty much saying "Yee-ha here we go!!"

Jenn

[AJB]

thanks Jenn I have Pm you as i wanted a bit of info on him!!

[DITZ]

My horse does this sometimes too - isnt it annoying!

I use a french link but have tried a pelham in the past too. I'm afraid only schooling helps as its usually associated with lack of balance - basically he's leaning into the bit for support. When he does it again try giving him the reins for a couple of seconds so that he learns to balance himself and stops leaning.

I also found that because mine was leaning on my hands alot I was not using my legs on him enough as I felt like if I did he'd just go faster but of course this isnt the case you need to maintain a good leg contact to get his hind legs working properly so that he can balance better.

[ros]

Unfortunately these strapping cobs often do know their own strength, and when the adrenalin rush hits them schooling goes straight out of the window!

The little bit of poll pressure you get with a Kimblewick without the curb chain is hardly likely to make any difference, so I think it would be worth giving it a fair trial. If it would make you feel better you can always attach one rein in the normal way as you would on a snaffle bit, and another to the bottom slot (assuming you're using a slotted Kimblewick) so you can choose exactly when to use the curb action. Or alternatively try a Pelham with two reins (*and* a curb chain ;) ).