Stuck in training

[Avid_Rider]

Hi. I have a 5 and a 1/2 year old Standardbred mare whom I have been training for 2 years. I have hit a brick wall however. She is ready to go except that she is slow to take to the bit.
She has no pronlems with mounting or dismounting and she knows her pace on voice command, and shes fine for line driving. But as soon as I get on her back (I still have someone lead her) she doesn't respond very well to the bit. I still ride her in a snaffle bit bridle as well as her halter. I have trained horses before and have not had this problem. However, due to work I can only make it out to see her once or twice a week.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

-KK-

[galadriel]

If she's fine from the ground, and she works well in long lines with this same bit, then I would guess that she has difficulty with:
* The saddle's fit
* Weight carrying
* Her back

There are a number of other areas to check, but I would start with the saddle's fit. Standardbreds can be hard to fit to a saddle, because so much of their breeding has focused on harness instead of ridden work. A horse may not offer objections when the saddle is uncomfortable, particularly if they like you and are trying to please. An uncomplaining horse may not object to wearing the saddle or to mounting/dismounting or to the riding, but may simply not be able to accept the bit & relax the jaw.

Even a horse who's never been worked hard can have a back problem. A simple slip in turnout can sometimes cause a back problem that stays unnoticed for years. Back pain, too, can cause discomfort that prevents a horse from accepting bit contact well.

Sometimes a horse is just not prepared to carry a person's weight, for one reason or another. It could be a joint problem, it could be a lack of conditioning, it could be emotional tension associated with riding. I would start with other possible factors, though, to make sure that they're not the primary problem.

[Avid_Rider]

The only reason I can think of is that there may be something out of place in her hip, and my farrier has reccomended massage/chiropractic which I am currently looking into.

Thanks though I was thinking the same things. And yes, saddles are not meant for Standardbreds however, one of mine fits quite nicely.
I am also going to have her teeth checked however they look fine.

Thanks again, I'm just impatient to have her finished. :)

[galadriel]

Well, I can definitely recommend the massage. It'll be helpful for evaluating any potential tender spots/trouble spots, and even if she's not having a distinct issue it'll still be good for her ;)

I have some articles about therapeutic equine massage here:
http://lorienstable.com/services/massage/

I have found that a lot of times farriers can be right on when they suspect a problem in the hind end. A farrier can be really good at observing hoof wear; if the hoof wears unevenly or badly, it can be a sign of a hindquarter problem. Also, when the farrier is working on the hind legs, he can feel if there's a difference in the ability to hold the leg up for a long period of time.

Some time ago, my farrier was the first one to point out to me that one of my horses was a lot tighter in one hind leg than the other. A lot of work later, she's almost even, and *both* sides have improved a lot. Even though the other leg wasn't necessarily having problems, it's now much more comfortable for her, and more flexible, than it used to be.

[Avid_Rider]

Thanks again.