Sticking nose in the air

[Louisa]

There is a horse at my riding school who is seven but has only just been broken in, about a couple of months ago.

I have been given this horse to ride in my group lesson :D for the last two lessons and he is very sweet if a little green.

The only thing I have noticed is that sometimes when we're going from trot to canter especially, he sticks his nose into the air and just trots faster instead of cantering. If I slow his trot down and then ask again he will usually canter. He is in a standing martingale (that is the one going from the girth directly to his bridle isn't it?) and wears a strap to keep his mouth shut and to stop him playing with the bit (can't remember what it is called :rolleyes: )

Anyway, what I wanted to know is how can I ride him to make sure he doesn't stick his nose in the air? Is it my riding or is it a habit he has learned?

Sorry if this doesn't make sense, it does in my head! Please note that this is a riding school horse so I am limited in what I can do with him, but I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts. Thanks.

[Bay Mare]

and wears a strap to keep his mouth shut and to stop him playing with the bit (can't remember what it is called :rolleyes: )


Sounds like a Flash noseband (you have the 'normal' cavesson and then another strap which is joined to the cavesson and fits underneath it ... hope that makes sense!).

If this is a very green horse then it could be that he's not built up his muscles yet and/or is still unbalanced. I wouldn't say that it was a habit but something that a youngster might do. It could be bit related, it could also be tack or back related. As he's not your horse you obviously can't do the usual checks that we would do.

As far as your riding is concerned you can help the situation by sitting as quietly and correctly as possible. Also make sure that you have a steady, elastic and consistent contact down the reins.

Personally I don't think that putting a martingale on OR putting a flash on is the way to solve the problem as it inhibits the problem (by stopping him putting his head too high and by limiting the mouthing) but doesn't address the actual cause. Unfortunately it's a quick fix for the school but one that might come back and bite them in the bum if they don't sort it out!

Please let us know how things pan out. I'm sure that others will have other ideas too :)

[eventerbabe]

if he's sticking his nose up and running on its probably because he is unbalanced. which does not suprise me since you say he's only just broken. when asking for canter, make your aids clear, avoid pulling/hanging on his mouth (he will take this as a signal you don't want to canter), always ask in a corner and ask from a nice swinging (but not rushed) trot.

i know you can't do this since he's a riding school horse, but i'd have that martingale and flash off. if he's only mouthing the bit then this shouldn't be discouraged. he's essentially a baby and a bit will be a strange thing to him! and (dependant on how its fitted) i can't see the martingale doing much. tbh, i'd rather he had his head free to help him find his own balance at this stage.

[Louisa]

Bay mare - thanks, yes it is as you describe. Interesting what you say about his tack, I do know that he doesn't have his own tack yet, I might ask my instructor at my private lesson on Friday and see what she says. I would rather that than him be uncomfortable.

eventerbabe - Thanks, I would rather him not be trussed up like that, but unfortunately it's not my decision. It doesn't make much sense when he is only just starting out and getting used to it all.

I will let you know how things go, I'm just very aware that he is quite green and so I want to make sure I'm doing all I can to make things better for him.

Not that I can make much difference considering I only get to ride him once a week!