what now?

Question
Hi Denise,
our work is going well. I had a major triumph in the round pen. I sent him around and he went about 3/4 circle then squared up to me and shook his head up and down like usual. I checked the eyes and they were open and round so I stepped back and to the side had him yield the forequarters and asked him again to walk on. This time I waited for it to soak and he went!! yeah!! and we did it both sides.
I used the links you provided and bought a nice D ring and a saddle; it arrived yesterday. Fits all the horses like a dream. They all wanted to go faster when I was riding in the saddle than when I am bareback. Could be my position is more secure or maybe they think it's 'work'. Could also be MY apprehension, that I think is more likely. My mustang was walking along and I finally kicked my feet out of the stirrups and he started gaiting which he has not done in a long time. On a scale of 1-10 it was a 15! :)
I used the appy to drag some logs, he has accepted the ropes all over him and trailing behind. So leading him we loosely tied a rope on a log and looped it around the saddle horn in case he freaked and put a little pressure on it. I think he has done this before! he threw himself into it. I purchased an old fashioned pulling/breast collar so that we did not do any damage to his chest.
I tried to do it mounted and he would have none of it. so we put him away after 3 big pulls and I dug out the mustang and arab and used both of them for dragging smaller piles. what a blast!
on to my question. I ground drove in long lines the appy and the arab with the D ring. when I mounted the appy we worked at a walk and he seemed ok with it. He stays naturally collected with a really fast engaged walk. He drops his shoulder occasionally; gotta love that D ring! Wish I had used them a long time ago. what a dream he is! The arab on the other hand will suck in her head to her chest , hollow out her back and forge ahead, I had no pressure on the reins just light contact with her mouth and basically let her run amuck in controlled 30 m circles until she wanted to walk straight. took almost an hour and as soon as she did it in a relaxed manner I put her away.
she does this each time. both she and the appy were started in a curb, he is lucky I got him after only 6 months. she has been ridden in a , don't gasp; tom thumb for 10 yrs before I got her and a high port curb with a roller before that.
I tried a rubber snaffle,o-ring french link, and now the D ring..she did the same thing in all of them. in frustration wanting to ride in this gorgeous weather I dug out my old crockett: a low port short shanked curb. she did a little better but still forged.
in trying to transition them to the D ring what steps should I be doing after the ground driving? apparently I am missing something. maybe I skipped a step?
by the way the arab works off of leg and seat and does neck rein. she did ok in the bosal, but she hollows out her back even then; only when she gets excited though. the appy stays collected but tosses his head alot. the bit on both horses is adjusted without the 'smile' at the corners ,it is just neatly laying in the mouth in the open space.
ready for any ideas you have. FYI-the "tail" is a narrow broom stick handle about 36 in long so you can make it 'sing' and the tail is a hair piece 32 in long from the 99 cent store. I simple unbraided it. I was going to use it for a fly whisk but it works better as a "tail". I ask, if no response I ask again with slightly louder movement, then I sing the tail behind me and turn my face away and keep them in the corner of my eye. the appy is yes mamaming me! *giggling* I use it as a last resort, just keep it tucked in my pocket.
Siski aki

Answer
Hi Siski!

You are the BEST!  Really giving your horses a JOB will be so great for them!  Pulling logs, helping clear trail, and doing spring cleaning is just the best.  You will notice and you have already, big changes in all of them.  Congratulations!

You are noticing the "brace" that was built into your horses by them having been started in a rather unfair way.  Your Arab puts a brace in his body to avoid the hurt coming from a curb bit.  A curb bit is a bridle bit, a signaling bit, something for the finished horse and not as an educational tool for a greenie.  Sad.  You can help them all with your snaffle, halter, and NEW SADDLE!  I'm so proud of you!  Not only will you be safe, able to pull logs and do a job, but your horses feel the security.  Fabulous.  

I think you are hand enough to help your horses a bit more.  Rather than let your Arab go and run for so long, get her bending and yielding those hind quarters.  You will have to show her there is a better way and that she need not run so far for so long to find it.  You are good enough now Siski to be kindergarten clear with your horses and to teach them, show them what to do with their feet.  You bend the horse to control the life and energy in the body.  This energy goes through the body down the legs and to the feet.  When you get control of the feet, you get the MIND of the horse.  When your Arab takes off, she is relying on old information and her old way of going.  Show her she does not have to feel that bad and to go through that again.  You may even get into the round pen and ride her in your halter.  It just depends on what you are feeling from her.  Do lots and I mean tons of bending with her.  When she (is your Arab and He or a She?) get hollow and leaves, bend her.  Comb down the inside rein, this can be your halter lead also, bring her nose back toward your knee, keep her head level and do now tip her jaw up in the air.  Your hand will come back toward the front pocket of your jeans or breeches.  As your are bending her head and neck, your inside leg is bumping her well behind the girth.  Her inside hind leg should be reaching up and under her body and yielding in a circle.  Her inside front foot should be stepping in a smaller circle with the shoulder elevated and not locked up.  The hinds will eventually move around the fronts with all four feet stepping the apropriate amount.  When she relaxes, release your leg from bumping, keep her head and neck bent until her feet come still.  This is called yielding the hind quarters and when her feet come still, it is a one rein stop.  Very useful tools and something your horses need to be very, very good at, to the point that when they feel you start to comb down the rein, they start to bend.  This will create a place of safety and relaxation for all of them.  Use this tool to teach your Arab that it is no longer necessary to take off.  You will also see her learning how to carry herself without becoming hollow.  You can get to the point that you do not need to come to a complete halt, you can just roll your horses over their hinds and go in the other direction.  This is a great tool that you will find cures a multitude of braces and mistakes.

Try this out and make sure you are only riding in ONE rein.  Your horses can and have learned how to brace against two hands.  We only need to ride in one rein, so get into the habit of never asking with both reins at the same time, only one.  You can do this in your rope halter first then in your snaffle bit.  Let me know how things are going!  Yippee for you!

Smiles!  Denise

PS I gotta know, what kind of a saddle did you get???  I LOVE my McCalls!  It is the most comfy!  I'm so glad you made the commitment to get good gear.  It is a life insurance policy!