Bit problems

Question
Hi I am hoping this comes under behavioural problems, I bought a 17 year old TB two years ago with only track experience and I have been slowly training her myself with slow improvements. I was riding in a bitless bridle for about the first six months and I have been training her in a myler loose ring snaffle for about six months. Before this bit, which she seems to prefer, I rode in a two piece, loose ring snaffle. She has a very sensitive mouth and for the last six months I have been trying to improve both of us by working on control by every means except for through her mouth, except for guidance. She has improved so much (both of us) by this but there are times when I just need to have the reins there. Unfortunately everytime I put too much pressure on her mouth she will get upset and open her mouth (not all the time). I don't believe her to be the type of horse to try hard to avoid the bit but she just hasnt got enough training to listen very well and she is VERY sensitive in her mouth ( she has no pyschical problems, I am positive on this!). I have taken a few lessons on her and my instructor says I HAVE to put a flash noseband on. I completely disagree with her and refused to put it on, I cannot see how this will solve my problem and I see it as a cheat in her training and would prefer to be able to ride my horse without artificial aids that force her to do what I want, I would prefer to work her slower and ask her to communicate and listen to me. Most of the horse people I know are not interested in what I say and think they know whats best for my horse and so I am asking for advice on how to work on this problem. I am aware that this is an issue that improves over a long period of time and I am in no rush but it would be useful to have some tips or suggestions on the type of things I can do to control her better without the bit and also gradually ask her to listen to soft aids.

Answer
Kate,

Good for you!  Don't let others tell you how to handle your horse unless they are on the same page you are.  If you have a 17 yr. old TB with only track experience you've got a lot of training to overcome.  I absolutely will not use a flash noseband, I'm on your side with that.  Pat Parelli has a bridle out that is meant to be an intermediate step between the bitless bridle and using a bit.  It works differently than a normal bridle.  It works on the nose and poll like the bitless bridle more than the mouthpiece of the bit. It's an interesting concept.  Where you attach the reins makes all the difference.  Yes, it is a Western-style bridle, not really an English one, but who cares?  A friend of mine is using one as an intermediate step for her Arab and he goes well in it.  The bit is mylar on the mouthpiece.  Hate to tell you but it may take a while yet.  Took me 6 yrs. to get my 5 yr. old STB mare to work correctly, and nearly 1,000 mi. of competition as well as all the training I did on the trail and in the ring. I was only working with a horse that raced for 3 yrs.  Your horse is a lot older. Give the Parelli bridle a try, you can always sell it on eBay when you are done with it, and be prepared to spend more time.  And whatever you do, don't listen to your trainer or others who want to force behavior on your horse.  

You may even want to try an animal communicator.  There are a lot of good ones out there and you may be able to better understand what her issues are if someone talks to her for you.  We've had some very interesting issues resolved through a communicator.  One involved a horse who had had eye surgery and his optic nerve was tingling in his nose and driving him nuts.  Put him on some medication to stop the discomfort and he's a different horse.  Would have never known what was going on until the communicator talked to him.  She didn't understand what he was telling her, but the owner did when it was relayed to her.  She knew about the surgery, the communicator didn't  so couldn't have suggested this, didn't even really understand what the horse was telling her.  

Good luck and feel free to contact me anytime you need someone to back you up on not using artificial devices.  

Lyn