Side reins in the stable/ schooling

[Kerbeck]

This is a bit long winded so I will apologise beforehand!

A friend of mine on my yard has recently bought a coloured cob mare, she is very novicey and very niave, she is lovely but is the sort of person that asks you for advice and then totally goes against everything you have suggested! Anyway it became apparant that the poor mare has not been properly broken, she has been driven alot and is passported as being 8.

When she came her mouth was a mess, she had been ragged about and had bruising to the bars of her mouth, she is incredibly nervous and has obviously had a horrible time. She of course was sold as being 100% in all ways etc etc, due to the weather and waiting for her mouth to heal she was not ridden until last Friday, we took her out with my bombproof pony and just went in to the near by estate for a gentle hack, she stood to be mounted but as soon as bum hit saddle her back end went up, every time her owner squeezed she kicked out with her back legs (almost bucking) but was ok if she gave little kicks, she was scared of everything, spinning, kicking, snorting, her eyes were wild, a jogger approached slowly and she reared. Owner went to pat pony and she bolted!

Saddle fits fine, its a wintec and she had borrowed a straight snaffle which is what she tried her in, pony was very strong and leaning all the way round, I suggested we cut the ride short and took her home, I advised the owner to have herback checked, she is poor but has put on weight since coming to our yard, she is ok in her stable (comfort zone!) but a b****r to catch and lead!

I got on her yesterday in the paddock and she has no mouth, she kept planting her feet and then kicking out when nudged on, I rode for 10 mins in walk and trot and then got off her and told her owner I wasn't happy to ride her until she has had her back done.

The owner then rang me last night to say she has decided to send her away and have her rebroken and schooled, she has found a yard and she is going for 8 weeks in 2 weeks time, however I am really concerned about my friend and the mare, it is not just a ridden issue she is incredibly nervous and mistrusting and needs lots of ground work to get her right, obviously this is going to take a long time. I suggested that she sold her to someone more experienced but she won't as she is worried about her ending back up with travellers.

The place that are taking her have said to leave her stood in her stable for 1/2 and hour twice a day with side reins on and put her in a loose ring copper roller snaffle ( I believe this is the same mouthpiece as a tom thumb?) I agree she needs to be in a bit she can not lean in but to be quite honest i think she needs a breaking bit in! I don't know how this 'professional' yard can suggest a bit when they haven't even seen the pony. They have said after a week of doing this she will foam at the mouth and they will be able to do anything with her.

The owner is very sensitive and if I say anything she thinks I am being negative, what do I say to her? It is not the way I would do things and I have broken a few my self (never used any type of gadgets) What are peoples views on this? She hasn't mentioned having her back done either so I presume she is sending her without.

[onthespotfine]

Guessing the mare has actually come off travellers then who wouldnt of rode her and just driven from a young age most certainly would of had some harsh treatment along the way,just seems like she has no idea whats expected of her and I would def talk her owner out of sending her to them doing that to her, how cruel and wrong is that dont care what anyone says thats not the correct way to break a horse and very un professional of them to even suggest it,i swear by intelligent horsemanship methods maybe suggest that to her and explain how wrong it sounds of these people and that they could end up making her worse

[rightrein92]

at the end of the day the horse sounds like its in pain doesn't hurt to get a vet out its the responsible thing to do and just plain common sense sounds to me that the mare needs alot of groundwork to build up trust before anyone gets on her again its just common sense really

[catkin]

I am not condoning some of the other points you make, but you don't have to actually use a mouthing bit to mouth (well in my experience anyway). The point being to get the animal comfortable and accepting of the bit. The idea of the 'keys' is to get the animal to play with the bit, to soften the mouth. Perhaps a copper bit will be suitable? It may well help create saliva and thus have the desired results. I have used loose ring snaffles to great effect when I haven't had a suitable sized mouthing bit. So, perhaps its not the bit itself but the way its used and introduced that's the important thing? I think in this instance, the type of snaffle used is the least of the mare's problems. Also, do you think some of the behaviour might be down to being very fresh having been kept in for a while?

[Kerbeck]

Hi thanks for comments, catkin I may have worded my post wrong but she had actually been out every day since she came, just wasn't ridden until last Friday. I agree regarding the bit and obviously every mouth is different I just thought it odd that they have given such a specific but when they haven't seen her and have no idea of her mouth conformation

[catkin]

yes, good point. Perhaps its something that works for them. Time will tell!

[michelle22]

I would b working on getting the pony to trust and some tlc,get the ground work sorted out and vet out for a check over.wouldn't even consider sitting on pony till i had all they issues sorted/checked out.time and patience will work I'n the end. I use a happy mouth bit for breaking and would never put side reins on I'n the stable and let a pony stand especially one that's been through a bad time.keep us posted on how pony is doing!!

[sarahp]

At least the recommendation of bit was not to be ridden or worked in, which is where the mouth conformation is so important, but as a mouthing bit, which does need to be very movable and "playable with" by the horse. I wouldn't use side reins either.