Help with a bit of tack!

[horsy]

Hi everyone.

Ive had a few words with people about beth grabbing the bit, and had a few suggestions. She already wears a martingale and it doesnt help, and a woman i know showed me a training aid called a pesoa that i had never seen before but that would take ages to work. The another friend told me about a thing called a market harbourer, which clipc on the bit from the girth and keeps their head down, rewarding them by releasing pressure when they do it. I looked for it in the catalogues tho, and i cant find it. The closest thing i can find is called a harbringer, or something. Does anybody know what i am talking about? Are those two the same thing?
horsy
xxx

[Cathy Reynolds]

No they aren't the same thing. The Pessoa system is a system of schooling reins that encourages the back to work but the Market Harborough is a martingale where the forks pass through the bit and snap onto the reins so the head sets better. Have a look at http://www.derbyhousesaddlery.co uk - I was reading their catalogue before coming on line this evening (which is why I knew what you were talking about!).

[clip-clop-oops-crash]

my mare (yes its suzie!) has a habit of grabbing the bit in her teeth then basically doing what she wants - my latest thing im trying is a bit with keys which seems 2 be keeping her occupyed but we will have 2 wait + c coz she gets bored easily!! ;)

[Dizzy]

Horsey, What type of bit are you using?, When does she take control? What I mean is, is it all the time or, when you are out hacking or, schooling or jumping? Does she hollow or, flatten or, set her jaw or, overbend?.

Sorry its not the answer to your question, but sometimes taking a good look at the problem can sometimes help.

Lesley

[fionahogg]

Hi. The Market Harborough is different to the Harbridge (I presume this is what you meant). The Market Harborough is like Cathy described. The Harbridge is a training aid that starts as a single strap from the girth, passes through the front legs and splits into two. These two straps then clip to either side of the bit. It's supposed to encourage the horse to stretch downwards as opposed to just tucking the nose in, and works on a give-take basis. I personally don’t like or use training aids. You've probably been asked this before, but are you sure her teeth, back, and tack are OK - remember that an ill fitting bridle could cause head throwing. Do you have lessons? How long have you been riding the horse and how long has she had the problem? Does she do it with everyone who rides her? I'd be inclined to find the exact reason as to why she's throwing her head before using a training aid - if she's in some sort of pain or your contact is too strong (not saying it is!) then using a training aid will only exagerate the problem in the long run.

Hope this helps.

Fiona.

[horsy]

Beth shakes her head and grabs the bit when she has had enough of schooling at a walk and trot and wants to go galloping round the field because she is bored. She does it with everybody, and the vet has checked her over many times and she is perfectly fine. We previously found out that an old owner of Beths was an alcoholic and crippled nearly all the horses she rode, so i think that might have something to do with it (although shes not crippled) The Harbridge was what i meant. My friend has the pesoa and was going to come and try it with Beth, but it needs to be used regularly and takes quite a while to take effect, so i really dont know what to do. The headshaking doesnt really bother me, its the way it throws you out of the saddle and then she gets the chance to grab the bit and charge around and not feel anything in her mouth. You just have to wait for her to stop in her own time....
horsy
xxx

[Dizzy]

Do you have lessons on her? A good instructor will be able to help you to get her working in a more obedient manner. Horses who have been abused by hard hands take alot of convincing that the bit will not hurt them. I do find the head shaking worrying, a horse that puts it head up and grabs the bit, normally fixes its head and kneck and takes charge from there, without head shaking.

I know you said the vet has checked her, but did the vet see what happens. I know I've seen many people on problem pages with a similar problem (headshaking) some of the reasons given are COPD, teeth (possibly hooks on the back teeth), and kneck/back problems. If it happens after she's worked nicely, because she's been using herself correctly, she may be aggravating a otherwise un-noticed problem. I would ask round about a recommended physio and get her checked.

I'm afraid I don't like training aids, (please don't take offence) but I think they are usually used by people who want a quick fix, that forces the horse to accept what you are asking. Also they are obviously used on problem horses who have learned to evade discomfort, so when they are used it just confirms what they have already decided, humans are bullies.

You didn't say what bit you use. Also have you tried a flash noseband, or even a grakle may help, used for a short time, it would help to restrict her ability to grab the bit and give you a chance to 'establish' that carting off is not acceptable.

If you try the Harbridge, my advise is lunge her in it first, some horses react very badly to having their heads restricted, some will even throw themselves back over in panic. I would also use it as a last resort, it would be very unfair to her if she does have a physical problem which only shows up when she's working in an outline.

Take care

Lesley

[intouch]

Try letting the bit down a hole at each side, and see if she still tries to grab it.