Question
My horses Storm left M
Help- is there another bit that is kinder and easier on a horses mouth (currently using full cheek snaffle w/keepers)?
PROBLEM: I have been leasing one of my horse -and riding with- a friend who has a good basic seat, is very kind but does not have that natural horse sense. She loves to ride and does quite well but she is way too heavy handed and extremely rigid- no flex or give at all. I have been working with her to rely more on her seat, legs and balance but she has cemented a very bad habit of relying on the reins for everything. I just rode the horse yesterday (after about a month of her riding him) and was horrified and dismayed to discover that his mouth has become like iron! He was not at all like that previously and really was quite soft. Both my horses are Quarter horses. I knew of her issues and felt the less the bit slid around in his mouth the more chance he had- short of telling her no more leasing (which I don't want to do) I am thinking is there another bit that is kinder? I will continue to work with her (I use the "Cherryfield" book with diagrams etc for specifics) what do I do?
AnswerDear Molly,
Hmmm- this is a tough call since (as I can see that you realize) the real trouble is your friend's hands and not the bit. Yes- there are bits that are softer but (and again, I think you realize this) your horse will continue to harden his mouth with heavy hands no matter what is in his mouth and once he has become resistant to even the softest bit- where will you go from there?
You could go to a thick (generally the thicker the mouth piece, the softer the bit) egg butt snaffle.
I would try seeing if your friend would consider riding with a neck strap and then if she feels unsteady- she has something to grasp at instead of her reins. You might also see if she would take some lessons (perhaps from you) on a lunge line without reins to strengthen her seat and reduce her reliance on her hands.
I hope this helps.
S. Evans
fetlock protection
QuestionQUESTION: hello madam, how to protect horse fet
behaviour
QuestionMy boy!
QUESTION: Hi Lyn, hope you can h
Front leg injury
QuestionQUESTION: Hello, I do understand you are not a
Brachial Plexus nerve injury
Question
Friskys bad shoulder
I have a 9 year old Thoro
curved mouthpiece bits on racehorses
Question
curved mouthpiece
hello Lynne. I work i
