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Post by gurnos on Apr 11, 2013 19:13:47 GMT
I need some tips about how to get my little stallion to relax his jaw. He is 11 years old but fairly new to ridden work. I broke him to ride and drive in May but concentrated mainly on the driving until August. He is lovely and relaxed in walk comes straight onto the bit, turns beautifully, but I am really struggling with the trot work. If I can get him relaxed, he goes beautifully, but when it comes to turns or if he starts rushing so I can't control him with my seat and have to increase the rein contact, he resists, pulling his head up and forward, opening his mouth and crossing his jaw. And the trouble is that as he's getting fitter, he is of course getting more forward going so does it worse and also being a stallion is prone to getting more excited anyway. His teeth have been done and I'm sure its not a back issue as he can go so nicely when he wants to. So any tips greatfully received.
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baggygirl
Full Member
King Brian Boru :D
Posts: 452
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Post by baggygirl on Apr 11, 2013 19:37:32 GMT
Try a grackle noseband on him and when he tenses with his jaw, instead of increasing the contact, soften your hands or even drop the contact so he cannot grab hold of the bit. Or experiment with different bits eg Mylers, or bits with a loose ring on it.
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Post by gurnos on Apr 11, 2013 19:56:20 GMT
I use a loose ring on him but will perhaps try a grackle on him. If I drop the contact too much wilst turning he falls in on his shoulder, but I know he does go better on a soft hand.
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baggygirl
Full Member
King Brian Boru :D
Posts: 452
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Post by baggygirl on Apr 11, 2013 20:11:36 GMT
Another suggestion, as my pony can get very tense and grab hold of the bit which makes it difficult to turn, is do lots of leg yield as soon as he feels tense then do leg yield as it will loosen the body up again, and you can leg yield into corners so you don't need to rely on the steering to turn. This has worked wonders on my pony as he usually get tense and worried just before a dressage test so I do some leg yielding on the outside of the dressage arena  |
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Post by gurnos on Apr 12, 2013 18:33:27 GMT
Thanks Baggygirl. I rode him today in a drop noseband, but I don't think that really made a whole lot of difference. I combined your advice, rather pushing him into the corners and turns and keeping my hands as soft as possible and it seemed to work!! :-) I've just got to be able to do it when we're out and about too now!
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Apr 13, 2013 10:50:31 GMT
I had a big WB years ago to "turn the right way up " again in terms of correct muscle development after a longstanding shoulder problem, which included getting him soft in the jaw and no longer resisting. The best bit of advice I got, from dressage trainer, was to ask him to come on the bit with hands and seat, and immediately soften your hands as a reward when you got a response. Along of course with all the usual schooling stuff - changes of bend and pace, transitions, leg yielding etc to get the hindlegs underneath.
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