Yey! On the bit at last!!

[muzzy]

This evening in my lesson at last I managed to get Tufter on the bit!! I have never done it before...but it felt so good! I couldn't believe the difference in walk and trot!!OMG!!:D -sorry I just can't stop grinning..anyway my question is I could keep on the briddle for a while, but then his head would just fly up again...any ideas how to stop this apart from making the contact a lot softer as soon as he is on the bit?? Is it just practice??
Thank you, lol muzzy:p

[ros]

Don't blame you for grinning - it's a wonderful feeling!

Yes. practice it is. Don't worry about losing it quite quickly; now you know what you're aiming for you'll get it back again. Once your horse is carrying himself rounded and in balance, I find it helps to think of riding very softly - soft seat, soft hands, soft everything (soft, not sloppy, of course!) - so you're saying to him "Yes, that's what I want, carry on just as you are".

[qwerty]

Woo hoo! :D

I was always told to encourage the horse to stay on the bit by gently "giggling" the bit in their mouth by gently moving your ring finger back and forth gently. I don't know why it works but it certainly did for me today!

[Elfin]

Yup that's waht Sarah said, I mean muzzy did great on Tuft!:D

[Dizzy]

Haha! Well done. I can remember the first it happened for me, I had tried for so long, (obviously too hard!) then one day I it happened, I felt Dizzy's back lift, her whole top line lengthen, back legs stepping under and really soft through the jaw, I think it lasted for about 6 strides then it was gone.

My instructor was shouting 'now you know what I mean' it was as if someone had switched on light in a dark room. Its one of those things that no matter how well someone describes it to you, until you feel it you don't really know what they mean. But once you do - riding takes on a whole new meaning :D

Lesley

[muzzy]

Thank you for all your help everyone!! I am still grinning about it!!:D
It is so like a light going on in a dark room Lesley, that's a very good way to describe it....a very bright light!!:p
Mmmmm i will deffinately try giggling the bit etc...but I'm not riding until next wednesday:(So am gonna have to wait till then to try again...I can't wait!!:) I'm seriously considering a career in dressage now!!;) He he!!
Lol, thanks again!
muzzy

[Elfin]

woo hoo dressage! I am thinking about Team Chasing! I read all about it and it looks great!

[muzzy]

mmmm, we could make up a team!Me, you, lolly and Alice....is it four members or am I thinking of something else??:D

[Elfin]

Yup it's 4 members!

[muzzy]

We're drifting of subject....becareful!!;)
Sooooo.....when you get really good at riding is it possible just to get on a horse and the go straight on the bit cause you have such a nice contact do you still have to squeeze, wiggle, pull etc????

[qwerty]

Aslong as the horse knows you I think so!

[muzzy]

whey hey!!:p

[qwerty]

That's just from my experiance! Horses that doen't know you may try to mess around instrad of concentrate!

[muzzy]

Well, I had a surprise lesson on Saturday. But didn't get on the bit cause I was too busy trying to stop Jacob from biting the pony in fronts bum!So he was deffinately not concentrating!!:rolleyes: Not helpful!! It was such a bad lesson, I am not grinning anymore!:( ;)
lol, muzzy :p

[Mazpup]

:( :( :( I'm not happy, I can never get horse on the bit, I've been riding for ages and I'm hopeless, I wish I had a really good riding school near me, as it is partly due to the fact the horses won't do it. I've felt horses soften up a bit, but straight after a transition, or any change they just put their noses back in the air. I can't do it at all boo hoo hoo:( :( :(

[Mazpup]

does anyone have any ideas to help me with..... I'm desperate here.....

[Dice]

Although (obviously!) I can't give you any help with your problems, I've a query for us lesser mortals around here (well me anyway! :D ) - 'Horse on the Bit', what exactly does that mean? :confused:
I'm sure I could find out by other means - but I thought I'd let one of you give me a clue (and besides I'm too lazy! :p :D )

[Debutante]

Thank you Dice... (I thought someone would ask eventually).

Is there room under that dunce cap for me? I also have no idea either what 'on the bit' means, ... but I'm betting it's a good thing. ;)

:confused:
Cheers,
Deb

[muzzy]

um, it can also be called being 'on the bridle' and it just feels amazing!! Like the horse is listening to you and ...well, wow! it's hard to describe.....but well, you'll see sometime soon I'm sure!!:D

[muzzy]

Oh, yeah, right Mazpup..um, it's kinda hard to explain how to get on the bit....apart from using Elfins good advice!:p I needed my instructor telling me how to do it virtually all lesson before it came...but you MUST have the horse bent the correct way and your hands should keep a contact but be still, and you should keep your lower leg on-just lightly though...I think...am I right Elfin? grrr...not to good at this giving advice thing! have just ended up confussing myself!:rolleyes::p

[Elfin]

You have to have the correct bend going around the corner, bend your horse around your inside leg, push your horse over and around, and to get a bend, inside hand a bit higher than outside, your outside hand is your handbrake, little squeezes will get your horse listening, then when going along the straight you can check and see if your horse has been listening and has gone on to the bit.....you should be able to feel a difference in the horses way of going......... :)

[muzzy]

Wow!! you are so good at explaining things Elfin!!:D

[Elfin]

Why thank you!:o :D

[qwerty]

When on the bit the horse's head should be perpendiccular to the ground like Elfin said, but that alone doesn't meen they are on the bit. The poll (inbetween the ears) should be the top tengent on their rounded neck, their hinds should come under them and their back rounded.

[Penelope]

When the horse is on the bit he is also very very soft in the hand, you don't feel at all restranitive. I personally ask my horse to come round by jiggling my fourth finger on the inside rein, and lowering my hand slightly. She is quite soft mouthed so it doesn't take much! Dice- Don't worry if you can't work on the bit is took me six years !!!! Many horses at riding schools don't understand the concept (and I've met a few instructors who don't either.....) and it is hard for someone who has never been taught how to work a horse on the bit, to teach the horse to work o the bit. That was the unfortuante way I had to learn!!!

[qwerty]

Penelope - I'm always told to use my ring finger to "jiggle" the riens! http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/thumbs.gif

[Penelope]

i beleive fourth finger and ring finger are the same!! Just i get confused wiht ring finger! Don't worry bout me.... lol

[Mazpup]

Yeah, I know about getting on the bit and stuff it's just (as Penelope says, many horses at riding schools dont understand the concept (and my school is the pits....) so it's just hard going. Also I do occainsionally get horses on the bit (normally after a 10m loop figure of 8 when turning back to the track) but as soon as I try to make any kinda contact with the horse (legs or hands) they just end up going back on the forehand!!!

[qwerty]

Penelope - I know! I have just never heard of anybody else told to "jiggle" before! :)

[Dice]

Originally posted by Elfin
, but not as erm, rounded and bulging!:eek: no Dice!;) )

:D

I've an idea now as to what you lot are on about now - but as Penny said, I'm not at that stage to worry about it or get the most out of it yet!

Qwert - what's that you're 'jiggling' then? ;) :D

[Elfin]

hehe!:D

[qwerty]

You "jiggle" the reins by wiggling your ring finger! It should gently vibrate the bit!
http://www.3dpcgame.com/cwm/s/ups/kamikaze/smilie_colors1.gif

[Dice]

Originally posted by qwerty
You "jiggle" the reins by wiggling your ring finger! It should gently vibrate the bit!
http://www.3dpcgame.com/cwm/s/ups/kamikaze/smilie_colors1.gif

Ah Ok, must've missed that bit! :D (no, that's not meant to be a pun :rolleyes: )

[qwerty]

A pun on what??!!

[Elfin]

qwerts, he said, missed that BIT get it?? I think that's what he meant anyhow! :D :D

[qwerty]

Oh! Ha Ha http://www.stopstart.btinternet.co.uk/sm/really.gif

[Mazpup]

ummm ok sry 4 sounding dum, but which finger's ** ring finger?

[qwerty]

The one inbetween your middle finger and little finger. You have a ring on that one when you get married.

[muzzy]

One moment of really nice, collected and rounded canter yesturday made the lesson for me!! Yay!!:p It wasn't on the bit but felt good anyway!;) So, I'm happy again!!:D

[Dice]

Originally posted by Elfin
qwerts, he said, missed that BIT get it?? I think that's what he meant anyhow! :D :D

As I said, it was unintentional - I just couldn't be bothered to think of rewording it as I was short on time, so I just carried on.

Well, at least someone's tuned into me (even if it's only Elf! :p ) :D

[Elfin]

Aw:o

[muzzy]

He he! I'm sure he loves you really Elf!!;) :D

[qwerty]

Either that or I'm just a BIT dence! :o

[Elfin]

Originally posted by qwerty
Either that or I'm just a BIT dence! :o

ha ha ha!:D

[qwerty]

I had a great lessons on the bit! Jappy is amazing...so much easier then Bounty!
We did loads of cantering and I felt like I had so much controll over him! In the end I had perfected the transitions without him going above the bit! WOO HOO!

[Elfin]

Well done qwerty! Wish me luck for tomorrow then!:D

[muzzy]

Well done qwerty!!:D Transitions and all, I'm impressed!!
I think I could use some luck tomorrow too!! :rolleyes: :p

[qwerty]

Good luck to both of you!

[Elfin]

We didn't ride because Sarah is poorly. On her birthday too, geeeze! Poor her!

[Dice]

Originally posted by qwerty
Either that or I'm just a BIT dence! :o

Oh dear! :D

[muzzy]

Originally posted by qwerty
Either that or I'm just a BIT dence! :o
I know the feeling!! :p

Grrrr.... we have to wait until Saturday until we ride again.....:(

[bettina1270]

Please don't jiggle the bit! To be correctly on-the-bit, a horse must have a stable and balanced frame, and if you jiggle the bit around, he won't exactly have something to rely on.

To get your horse on the bit, you must do 2 things simultaneously: you have to apply halt-halts (which will be explained below) and you have to keep the impulsion going by keeping your lower leg on your horse.

A halt-halt is exactly how it's named - you ask him for a halt but release the pressure before he actually halts. A proper halt-halt can slow a horse down in the gait he's in, or teach him to not depend on your hands for support. It isn't simply yanking and giving, it's a steady rhythm following your breathing pattern. Inhale/pull... exhale/release... inhale/pull... exhale/release.

Keep your leg on at the same time, and he'll learn to balance himself properly. When a horse is on the bit, his hindquarters step further under him, and his poll goes up (though be warned: a horse can travel all strung out with his head tucked in, and that is NOT on-the-bit). Good luck!

[Elfin]

o erm ok:o

[qwerty]

Jiggling is similar to half halts, but it is geantler. Jiggling works VERY well and it sounds to me that doing loads of half halts wont provide a stable frame!

[muzzy]

ok! um, thank you for your advice....I will do as my instructor advises though...but help appreciated!:D

[qwerty]

What does your instructor advise?

[muzzy]

um, kinda a mixture of both...as in yes jiggle to keep on the bit but also keep lower leg contact etc. However....never been told to half halt in conection to getting on the bit...or at least not that I can remember...what do u think Elfin???

[Elfin]

I think ya got it spot on!:)

[muzzy]

I try my best....;)

[bettina1270]

I've been riding for 5 years (jumping for 4 years), I routinely train and school horses, and I am an assistant instructor, so I do know what I'm talking about.

Jiggling is sliding the bit around by alternating applying pressure of each rein, and that won't do... when your horse is on-the-bit, he is balancing himself, and jerking his head around this way then that way is not going to help him balance at all. Half-halts teach horses to balance themselves. Qwerty, you don't do LOADS of half-halts. You only use it to get the effect you want, then you let the horse go along, and you just maintain the on-the-bit effect with light contact and steady impulsion. This keeps everything stable, and nicely framed.

I've seen a lot of instructors teaching the jiggling technique, and trust me, it isn't a pretty sight. Most horses just get stressed out from the inconsistency of the movement, instead of on-the-bit. If you're having trouble keeping the on-the-bit movement, it's probably because of the jiggling.

Oh well, I've said my 2 cents.

[Elfin]

I don't think we do it all the time, jiggling the bit encourages the horse to chew on the bit, making them more relaxed, workinh on the bit.

[muzzy]

I'm sorry if it came out like I was disagreeing with you, as with anything it is hard to describe what you are actually taught to do without doing it if ya know what I mean! But whatever we are taught to do, it is probably correct, and my fault for not explaining clearly or something, as our instructor is BHS approved etc so I have full faith in her! :D

[qwerty]

I onlly "jiggle" when using the double bridle. Then it is only using the curb rein, remaining contact with the other so the horse still has support.

[Elfin]

ooooo never used a double bridle! I listen to what Sarah says! I think she knows what she's talking about! Thanks anyway

[qwerty]

Nina is a GREAT rider and brilliant instructor. I totally trust her, she would never do anything to harm a horse, most of them are her own.

[Elfin]

yeah, all of them are sarah's apart from Harvie, Jacob and Sammy! So she has about 40 horses and ponies! She teaches very well, and like yu qwerty, I totally trust her!

[qwerty]

Nina has about 12! There are only about 15 all together!
Because of that, When i was booked into a group lesson, everyone was adult apart from me so all the big horses were taken, leaving me with Kerry who is about 12hh! Turns out I couldn't do the lesson anyway because my mum had booked it while I was tacking up without asking me if I was free. Unfortunatly I'm in school rehersing so I had to cancel!

[Elfin]

aw thats a shame! 12hh! sweet! Kerry is a sweet name too!:)

How do you get on the bit then, when you are not using a double bridle??? :)

[muzzy]

Originally posted by Elfin
She teaches very well, and like yu qwerty, I totally trust her!
She would NEVER do anything to harm any of her horses or any others.....:D

[Elfin]

:p

[qwerty]

I've been on Shirron recently with the normal bridal. He is very hard to get on the bit but I did manage for a short time on Wednesday! I just had the reins quite short and he just seemed to relax and round up nicely...then he charged off as normal, very over-excited with his protein diet!

[muzzy]

So does it feel weird riding in a normal bridle now you've ridden in a double one?:D

[Elfin]

aw! Minstrel is hard too, I can only keep him on the bit, (and he is a bit of a neurotic chomper) around the corners and for about 2 metres down the long side! I try though, cause he feels so nice!

[qwerty]

It's sooo much simpler! No messing about with all you fingers and stuff!

[muzzy]

Yeah! It looks kinda confussing!:rolleyes: :p

[Elfin]

It does look hard! watching sarah ride in a double bridle doing sitting trot for about 46 mins! God she rides so well!:rolleyes:

[muzzy]

and she was, er, on the bit wasn't she?!!:D

[Elfin]

god yes! her hair fell out! that was funny!:D

[muzzy]

yep! But Thomas was going so nicely wasn't he?!:rolleyes: :p

[Elfin]

beautifully!

[qwerty]

Once you have the reins sorted in your hands, it's not that hard!:p

[Elfin]

Just looks hard eh??;)

[muzzy]

I'd get in a right tangle!!:p lol!