Kimblewick

Question
I hope you can help me, my friend has a very strong pony and the only bit she can control him in is the Kimblewick. The only problem is she is she is a bit ruff in her hands and he brings his head right to his chest and I was wondering if we put roundings on the kimblewick, will it help a litle bit. We will try anything.

Please help...
Bronwyn

Answer
Hi Bronwyn,

Your friend needs to educate her own hands before she can educate her pony.  I once put one of my students, who had an excellent seat but terrible hands, on my lightest mouthed horse and tied her reins to the bit with sewing thread.  She spent a couple of weeks zooming around the arena with no reins every time she broke the thread when landing after a fence until she leaned to be light with her hands.  (This was a lovely horse that would stop to my voice so I put her in no danger) This is NOT an exercise I would ever recommend for any student that doesn't have a solid seat. This student was a strong, bold rider that was ruining horses mouths. Horses do not learn to be light before their rider knows how.

If your friend's pony is tucking his head against his chest, she has lost her control.  No matter what bit or gadget she switches to, she will only get a temporary solution. Putting a rounding on a Kimberwick is a poor substitute for double reins. I serious doubt it will stop him from tucking his head, however, I wouldn't recommend double reins either.  She needs retraining as does her pony. Her pony needs to be TAUGHT to respond to the bit not strong armed. When a horse tucks his head to his chest, he is way behind the bit and you have not only lost the "whoa", you can also lose all lateral control. There are a million gadgets out there, but this is a problem of training and a plain snaffle is what I would use to retrain this rider and pony.  It sounds like you need a good trainer to help you.  Go to some local shows and watch the riders who's hands you admire. Watch the riders who's horse's mouths are not gaping open, not tucked to their chest and not resisting the bit. Talk to some of them and see if you can find a trainer/teacher that knows what your friend needs to learn.

If your friend was my student, we go back to a light snaffle.  Your friend would work on her hands while teaching her pony to go on the bit. I would keep the two of them working in a contained space, no open fields and no unlimited spaces until they are both in control of themselves.  The need lots and lots of lateral work, turns and half passes.  Perfect the lateral and the straight ahead will come more easily.

Good luck,

Lynne Curtis Gudes
"Common sense isn't."