Grabing bit and running!!!

[horse_lover0095]

Recently, my horse has been grabbing the bit, putting her head down and trying to go where ever she wants at what ever speed she wants. Some people say that I should pull on the reins kind of hard. I think they called it popping the reins or something... Anyways, is pulling on her reins going to make her mouth hard?

Thanks!

[Lovemyappy]

I dont know if Im gonna be able to say this right or even if I will be right, but anywho...

After you ask her something sharply or even not so harshly, you need to give a release/let go of the reins... kinda like a reward and will keep her off the bit... some days my horse is strong on my hands and I flick (hard to explain.. hope some one can do better :o ) the reins forward to get him off after I have asked something or if he is just being strong... Im not sure that really tells anything... been a long day.... uhh so I think unless you pull, pull, pull and just keep pulling without any sort of let go and all the time then yes.. but if you make them short and let go no... but please feel free to correct me!:p

[Cheeky]

Hmm .. I think that pulling the reins is kinda silly .. just causes pain and in instinct the horse will flee.

HAve you had her back and teeth checked? Sounds like something could be upsetting her .. maybe the tack is a bit small/big? She may be 'biting' onto the bit because the bridle is a bit too lose and she needs to hold the bit, rather than it being comfortabley held?

Any photos would be great

[Cheeky]

lovemyappy - I think your correct too :) Ask, release, ask, release :) As soon as you feel the horse starting to stop after asking, even just a little bit, you release the pressure. then ask some more, release .. erm .. yeah kinda hard to explain hehe

[Bay Mare]

I agree, if you pull on the reins you'll only get into a pulling match which she most definitely will win.

A trick that works for us when Saff is being a moo is to do lots of changes of direction even if it means doing one circle to the right and then immediately change to the left. It MAKES her get her mind back on me and also puts me back in control. As my trainer says, SHE doesn't know that you've changed your flight path ;)

[amandal]

Seconding bay mare here, when Ziz does this changes of direction really work, and when she does it in the school lots of transitions, moving across the school - anything to keep her mind busy on what I want her to do eventually sorts her out. It's been causing a bit of a problem recently, as she's been brought back into work after time off with arthritis I'm meant to be avoiding circles, queue lots of dashing off on her part with me going "I have no brakes":D

[Jessey]

Just a thought, Check your bit suits your horse, Bo used to do this and even turning he would fight or try and run through. It was alll because he didn't like the loose ring snaffle he had in, acctually it got so bad we got in a pulling match one day while out and about, it acctually bent the rings on that bit :eek: . Since changing the bit you can stop him on a dime and he is incredibly light and soft, does western so will respond to the weight of the reins, no contact needed :)

J x

[kedwards]

Pulling hard with both reins is almost never effective.

There are two very strong positions you can get it when it comes to "brakes":
1) If you have a a very good seat, it is possible to ask for a halt with your seat in such a way that any pull on the reins from the horse will only serve to pull you more deeply into the saddle (this doesn't work for horses that get behind the bit).
2) Although using both reins strongly isn't generally effective, one rein can often be quite effective. Asking a horse to circle falls into this category, as does a "one rein stop," and a "pulley rein" (from least to move severe).

[Kira657]

My horse used to do this really badly, I blamed it on naughtiness until I had her back checked and her pelvis was out by 4 inches and apparently she has tight hamstrings, so when you ask her to work properly she responds by shoving her head forward and running off with me due to it being uncomfortable for her. I have since been doing hamstring stretches with her and she's slowly realising there's no pain to run away from anymore, it took a few months but she's tonnes better than she used to be

[Cheeky]

Just another thought..

why not teach the one rein stop? Will deffantly help you .. I know a mare who was exactly the same .. she is now working on a lose rein and willing :)

Make sure if you chose to do this, to train it properly :)