Sleeping on the bit - HELP HEATHER PLEASE!

[Gwenllian]

I've just acquired a six year old Clydesdale X,to 'replace' my Dan,(though he never will!)She's VERY laid back,bomb proof,and largely obliging.By the previous owner's admission, she's done precious little more than hacking, and her manners COULD be better.She tends to use her weight to her advantage, though she isn't a bully - just seems to think it's all too much hassle!!I had my first lesson with her yesterday.We did a few transitions, and found her surprisingly forward going.We then did some transitions to halt in an attempt to get her to soften.We stood....and we stood..... and we stood, and she would not soften.My hands were hurting.Far from softening, she was leaning on me, until my instructor started to giggle.Rosie was fast asleep,leaning on MY HANDS!! I'd call sharply and send her forward a step, for her to do the exact same thing again.Today, my shoulders are actually killing me, and my hands are blistered.The most I got out of her was a token chomp on the bit...and it WAS little too! Her other evasion technique was to snatch the reins from my hands.We attempted to remedy that by doing a tight circle,using the schooling whip on the inside and giving her a good verbal telling off at the same time,..tone of voice, not volume you understand.Now THAT, she seemed to be getting the hang of by the end of the lesson,and anticipated the circling, and she'd more or less stopped snatching by the end of the lesson.But as for softening,any lowering of the head was miniscule, and took ages.....any ideas Heather?? Or is it just a matter of time??

[Heather]

Which bit are you riding her in Gwenllian? Also, if she is prone to being a bit dopey, get your instructor to smartly crack a lunge whip behind her wheh she seems to be falling asleep. If this doesn't have any effect, as its sometimes won't with a real laid back sort, swishing the lash of the whip round her quarters, not hitting her, just sloshing it around the hind end, will often activate them as they don't know where it is coming from.

If she is really resistant, and I presume you have her in a snaffle, thenshe is an obvious candidate for the Pelham.

Heather

[Gwenllian]

Thanks for replying.Yes, she was in a Fulmer full cheek snaffle.I've never used two sets of reins before...Do you think a Globe Pelham would be any good,as it is only used with one set of reins? It does have a curb chain.I've only seen it used in small strong children's ponies, but I've never really taken any notice as to whether they're available in bigger sizes or not.Or is it about time I DID leran to handle two sets of reins??

[fionahogg]

Whats a Globe Pelham? I've never heard of them!

[ZoeEnglish]

Gwen-- go for the Pelham. I started with double reins for the first time in my life two weeks ago and they are a snap. Just hold them the way Heather illustrates in her book--the snaffle rein around the OUTSIDE of your little finger, the curb between your little and ring fingers. The snaffle is the rein attached directly to the bit, the curb is attached lower down. It's a cinch, trust me. I can even manage looping them down to let her stretch and then picking them up again at the CANTER now!

Good luck, but you won't need it.

[Gwenllian]

Fiona,Do you know what a Tom Thumb bit looks like?Or a Weymouth? Well a Globe Pelham is a little like one of those two.You have a ring either side which attaches to the cheek piece of the bridle,I THINK it only comes in a port mouth, it has a fairly short shanks at the end of which is a simple ring to which the reins are attached.It also has a curb chain.Hope you can work this one out!! It's a super little bit for a child who has a pony which is a little too strong for her and who can't handle two sets of reins yet.

[fionahogg]

Thanks Gwen for the explanation!!

Fiona