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Post by mirejaal on Mar 25, 2012 8:19:53 GMT
Hi I have a beautiful, mannerly 153 hh whom my 12 year old has now taken in to the show ring, it is a fabulous picture!!! My only problem is that being a very large animal, the canter to trot transition could be better,as he pokes his nose as he lands in the trot.Hi is ridden in a Pelham with a small port.
The trot is his worse gait, as he tends to lean on the bridle and go a bit nose out, and heavy in the hand.Even when I have ridden him, he is reluctant to soften, and leans on you in trot. It is a picture worth perfecting as even with this issue, he got his Royal International ticket a few weeks ago!!!!!!!!!
I appreciate this is a schooling long term issue, as he was a show jumper and has not really been asked to always 'bridle', but I so need ideas as to bits to try, thank you in advance for your help.
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Post by speedysally on Mar 25, 2012 21:16:28 GMT
i've said this to alot of people, but couldn't you try a bitless bridle? he must be strong as you've got him in a pelham but the bitless bridle applies pressure to the nose and when he trots he's nothing to lean on has he because he's no bit in his mouth, it might even make him softer in his mouth? :-) hope this helps
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Post by GinaGeo on Mar 25, 2012 21:26:11 GMT
First of all Congratulations on the RI ticket!!
You said it yourself, schooling is the only real answer here. He shouldn't be heavy in trot, and if he is I'd suggest you look into having a professionals opinion on the best schooling route to take. I find lateral work and transitions very useful for encouraging more uphill work in my own horses. It's not a quick fix, but in the long run will lead to better results. Putting a stronger bit in at this point will only increase the heaviness problems as you won't be promoting a true outline. If he were mine I'd be going back to a plain snaffle and really getting my schooling nailed.
I understand that the twelve year old may need help on a 15hander in the ring, but he shouldn't lean in trot regardless, he cannot be working truely if he is. I'd seriously look into her having lessons on him to try and correct this. A good instructor should give you some useful exercises that will help.
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Post by tabbyx on Mar 28, 2012 17:35:54 GMT
First off, big congratulations on the RI ticket!
Correct schooling, I'd use a french link snaffle, all of mine prefer french links to jointed. Get someone a bit taller, stronger in the leg and more experienced on him to school, y have 4 months to get it right without having to worry about qualifying. Lots of transitions, walk to canter, halt to trot, lateral movements etc. will help lift and bring the hocks underneath and lift the front end off the forehand.
laurandsally, just because a pony has a pelham on doesn't mean they are strong, it is correct for ponies competing in open classes to wear a double bridle or pelham as it is more advanced. I have my stallion in a pelham, he's not strong at all but it is correct for the classes he competes in so that is what he wears. Don't just assume that a pony competing in a pelham is strong!
Personally I wouldn't use a bitless bridle as to my mind it wouldn't aid the pony, more be a quick fix where correct schooling is needed.
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Post by sparkysunny on Mar 28, 2012 20:03:41 GMT
The way I see it, bits (lorinery?) are a minefield. We have used French link eggbutts, nutcracker loose rings, Wilkies etc on our Section B, even a pelham with split reins for open classes. He's not strong, he's not silly, so we now just use a loose ring nutcracker - he hates French links and the Wilkie made him back off instead of working through from his hind legs. If I were you, if your horse isn't strong I'd go for the softest possible bit and start from there - open classes do not require pelhams/doubles - they're just 'the done thing' but we will never put our Section B in a pelham again - what's the point when he goes so much better in a good old-fashioned snaffle? The less you put in a horse's mouth the better, I reckon. Well done on your RI ticket - look forward to seeing you there!
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Post by lulah on Mar 29, 2012 10:18:00 GMT
from experience , horses do tend to lean in pelhams .
waterfords are good for leaners, although i think the awnser like you said is more schooling, get a goods instructor to help you . lunging in pessoas are good for transitions and encourage the horse not to poke thier noses, as it sounds he needs to be a little stronger and take more of his weight on his hocks to smoothly transition down .
as for the bitless bridle - your not aloud to show in them are you ??
congrats on getting your RI ticket !
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Post by vikki85 on Apr 14, 2012 8:38:48 GMT
just because a pony has a pelham on doesn't mean they are strong, it is correct for ponies competing in open classes to wear a double bridle or pelham as it is more advanced. I have my stallion in a pelham, he's not strong at all but it is correct for the classes he competes in so that is what he wears. Don't just assume that a pony competing in a pelham is strong! Completely agree with this, there is a lot of 'bad press' about pelhams I find, but I don't ride my mare in anything else unless I have to for a dressage test, etc. A pelham is a good alternative to a double if pony/horse is at a certain level of schooling but perhaps doesn't have the space for two bits in their mouth. Of course, pelhams are mis-used a lot and this is where they get their 'harsh' label from. I only ever use an elastic curb chain with mine. Of course, they are not the bit for every horse but I personally find mine goes brilliantly in one. Congratulations on your RI ticket mirejaal, sounds like your horse has a lot of promise! If he's leaning and struggling with transitions it sounds like he does need take more weight onto his hind quarters so I'd be doing loads of transitions and lateral work to really get that back end engaged. |
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Milliesmum
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Post by Milliesmum on Apr 14, 2012 9:05:00 GMT
Agree with all the comments about schooling, do you have him in the pelham all the time or just for the show ring? And if he goes in a different bit at home, do you still have the same issue? Just thinking that if he goes better in a snaffle at home then you might be better with a double bridle than a pelham as you can ride more off the bradoon rein and the curb is just there for 'show' so to speak.
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