|
Post by bethanyy on Apr 17, 2010 17:29:21 GMT
I have a 4 year old that has been in ridden work for about 8 months, but is now rushing himself in the school. He is steady in transitions but in trot/canter he gets himself wound up and really excitable. I have been practising transitions with him which seems to be working in relaxing him and slowing him down, however he is very strong, especially when we are away from home. Do you think it would be an idea to try him in a stronger bit? Just worried about putting something too harsh into his mouth as he is only four, he is currently in a loose ring snaffle and backed him in an eggbutt
|
|
|
Post by sageandonion on Apr 17, 2010 19:05:16 GMT
No, what does your instructor think?
|
|
|
Post by audra on Apr 17, 2010 20:27:45 GMT
i personally don't like snaffles ( the nutcracker action) is not nice and sometime feel the horse is running away from this in anticipation of its action. Even in soft kind hands it still has this action. I am currently riding a welshy and she is doing something similar, so i am doing a few strides of trot then straight back to walk, try long reining her and see if she does it without the weight of you on her back. if she is fine, then maybe have someone on the ground to see how your position is, she will be picking up on your vibes.. so think 'slow' sorry im waffling now x
|
|
|
Post by audra on Apr 17, 2010 20:28:30 GMT
sorry i called your boy a girl :/ xx
|
|
sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
|
Post by sarahp on Apr 18, 2010 6:23:46 GMT
A double jointed snaffle doesn't have the nutcracker action of a single jointed one, and nor will one with a straight mouthpiece - I don't like single jointed ones either mucker but there are other varieties of snaffles. I wouldn't put a 4yo in anything but a suitable snaffle personally, I'd think of bethany's situation more as a schooling problem, and something her instructor who knows her and the pony should be able to help with.
|
|
|
Post by audra on Apr 18, 2010 10:17:06 GMT
yes i agree sarahp.. why dont you ask your instructor bethany? xxxx
|
|
|
Post by bethanyy on Apr 19, 2010 19:54:33 GMT
thank you all i dont have an instructor, just have an experienced YO who occasionally teaches me. All she has mentioned is the transition work and taught me when i rode him a few nights ago. She hasnt seen him behave when he is away from home either, (personal reasons wont hack out etc..) so doesn't know what to suggest about a stronger bit and is far too big to ride him herself.
|
|
|
Post by sageandonion on Apr 19, 2010 19:59:13 GMT
You need to find yourself a qualified instructor straight away, absolutely essential.
|
|
|
Post by bethanyy on Apr 19, 2010 20:10:20 GMT
She is qualified, just cant afford lessons at the mo.
|
|
Milliesmum
H G Addict
COCKERP00S RULE!!!
Posts: 23,901
|
Post by Milliesmum on Apr 19, 2010 20:14:10 GMT
Could you do some work around the yard at weekends in exchange for a lesson? I really think you would benefit from it.
Also, is the pony getting plenty of turnout time and what is he being fed? He's still quite a baby and perhaps might be a bit calmer if he gets a bit of 'me time'?
|
|
|
Post by bethanyy on Apr 19, 2010 20:20:30 GMT
I considered this MM, but was told i could only have a lesson on one of the school ponies, which i occasionally school for nothing anyway which is a waste of time Unfortunatly we dont get winter turnout, which doesnt help at all! We have been told summer turnout in 2 weeks IF all goes to plan he's fed on Alfa A oil, Baileys No.4, Pink Powder and a few carrots.
|
|
|
Post by bethanyy on Apr 19, 2010 20:22:01 GMT
For a 4year old without turnout hes really calm, until you get on and take him out haha!
|
|
Milliesmum
H G Addict
COCKERP00S RULE!!!
Posts: 23,901
|
Post by Milliesmum on Apr 19, 2010 20:30:05 GMT
If it was me I'd chuck him out 24/7 and see if it made him a bit more chilled. I do think being in all the time would blow any pony's mind, but especially a baby. Fingers crossed you'll see a difference once he can go out.
|
|
sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
|
Post by sarahp on Apr 20, 2010 7:04:07 GMT
I totally agree mm, but sadly we don't live in a perfect world and it sounds as if that might not be an option.
What about loose schooling him or putting him on the lunge before you ride and letting him get the gremlins out of his system by hooning around until he settles? I had one that would come out some days and work from the word go, but on others you could get no sense out of her until she'd galloped around on the lunge for 5 mins! For a 4yo with no turnout it sounds as if he is pretty good! Ideally again, hacking out is best for a baby rather than work in a school. All natives are intelligent and easily bored, which would make them more likely to act up when only ridden in a school. You are of course "schooling" your horse whenever you ride including on hacks!
As far as schooling goes, transitions would be the way to go but I think this is really more of a management problem than needing a stronger bit. As a general but not personal observation from someone getting a bit long in the tooth, it now always seems to be the first thought for any problem - what new bit do I need - rather than addressing the problem as a whole as we learned to when growing up.
|
|
|
Post by sageandonion on Apr 20, 2010 7:55:46 GMT
I am not sure what feed Baileys No 4 is as mine don't get 'feed' as such and work very well on nothing but their fibre and balancer. If you move on to hifi and a vitamin supplement, I think it would help and you would save money to put to lessons.
I hope your pony can have some turnout soon.
|
|
|
Post by bethanyy on Apr 20, 2010 10:05:14 GMT
I totally agree mm, but sadly we don't live in a perfect world and it sounds as if that might not be an option. What about loose schooling him or putting him on the lunge before you ride and letting him get the gremlins out of his system by hooning around until he settles? I had one that would come out some days and work from the word go, but on others you could get no sense out of her until she'd galloped around on the lunge for 5 mins! For a 4yo with no turnout it sounds as if he is pretty good! Ideally again, hacking out is best for a baby rather than work in a school. All natives are intelligent and easily bored, which would make them more likely to act up when only ridden in a school. You are of course "schooling" your horse whenever you ride including on hacks! As far as schooling goes, transitions would be the way to go but I think this is really more of a management problem than needing a stronger bit. As a general but not personal observation from someone getting a bit long in the tooth, it now always seems to be the first thought for any problem - what new bit do I need - rather than addressing the problem as a whole as we learned to when growing up. No we dont if he could be turned out, believe me he would be out everyday I usually do lunge or freeschool him before i get on, he's just a VERY forward pony so he might get the buck out of his system but he can still be on his toes. Hopefully once we do get turnout he will calm right down. He does get hacked out quite a lot, because we have some lovely trails near us, but then the problem is he gets really strong and out in the open transitions just go right over his head. Will just keep practising the transition work in the school and fingers crossed we will get turnout soon or will have to look for another yard. S&O No.4 is conditioning cubes - due to the lack of turnout the local feed store owner recommended that i put him on it as he lost a lot of condition and weight because he lived out all summer and our YO suddenly took turnout away from us, which wasnt fair at all on any of the horses. It doesnt help that the yard has fabulous facilities, meaning it is quite expensive however turnout is the only let down. Thank you all again for your advice, its greatly appreciated!! ;D ;D xx
|
|
|
Post by sageandonion on Apr 20, 2010 14:02:39 GMT
Maybe you should consider moving to a less posh yard to one that has the most important thing which, for a horse, is turnout. For a horse it is a place to let off steam and therefore be a calmer ride, but more important (particularly for a youngster) it is a chance to eat grass and play and socialise as a horse is meant to do.
If you were at a cheaper yard it will mean you can afford the lessons which we all of us need and, as you are looking to a stronger bit for a four year old, I think it is an essential for you.
I am not preaching, I am trying to be helpful. The stress is showing under saddle right now, but it may not be long before other even more undesirable effects show themselves.
|
|
|
Post by traffik on Apr 20, 2010 18:51:31 GMT
a double jointed snaffle is infact a driving bit, why the short cuts? once you chap is srtong enough hack him out build his muscles to enable self carriage, driving bits will not make life easier, not for a ridden animal.
|
|
|
Post by bethanyy on Apr 20, 2010 19:43:20 GMT
a double jointed snaffle is infact a driving bit, why the short cuts? once you chap is srtong enough hack him out build his muscles to enable self carriage, driving bits will not make life easier, not for a ridden animal. he isnt in a jointed, hes in a french link sorry if i didnt make this clear, also didnt realise jointeds were driving bits, never heard that before. Thank you S&O, have been considering it but its not as easy as it seems i understand what you are saying though and appreciate your advice x
|
|
|
Post by mol123 on Apr 21, 2010 10:41:29 GMT
bethanyy - I totally understand your problem, my young horse was on a yard with no winter turnout when he was 3/4 and was a nightmare, it got to the point where I said I wasn't going to ride him until they went out (May) as he was so dangerous from being shut in for so long. As s&o says turnout is so essential to a horse and I now have him on a farm with a few stables, a bit smelly but we have as much all year turnout as we need which is brilliant! He is so much calmer and more sane - hes not a bad lad just being shut in sent him nuts! Spare box here if you are in my part of the world !
|
|
|
Post by sageandonion on Apr 21, 2010 11:55:26 GMT
mol's smelly yard sounds fab.
|
|
|
Post by mol123 on Apr 21, 2010 21:30:12 GMT
haha thanks s&o it is and the smelly cows eat all the left overs as well and we get to ride on the farm land - me and Alfie horse couldn't be happier
|
|
sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
|
Post by sarahp on Apr 21, 2010 22:42:37 GMT
A double jointed snaffle is NOT a driving bit - just a snaffle with two joints instead of one. They can have a link or a lozenge in the middle, or the myler is on these lines with two sides with independent action rather than a nutcracker one.
|
|
|
Post by sophieandcallum on Apr 22, 2010 9:46:09 GMT
Mol your yard sounds like ours ;D I love it, The cows get given our horses leftovers too...usually a stray few wandering about, very good for bombproofing ponies All year turn out is a must for me that's why I'm at my yard and not at a posh one with an indoor school and fancy stables with a horse walker etc. I hack, have a little outdoor school and turnout that keeps my pony happy therefore I am too Btw bethany, I found the double joint with lozenge alot kinder than the standard french link That's what i have my soft mouthed 10 yr old in anyway! And his brakes are still superb, which is always handy, I think the last thing to be doing is putting him in a stronger bit...he's only a baby
|
|
|
Post by bethanyy on Apr 22, 2010 19:59:11 GMT
Thank you everyone! Its not the school I have a problem with really, its more when hes away from home like hacking etc.. when he gets really strong. In my area on a yard you either get good turnout and no school, or cr*p turnout and good schooling facilities :/
|
|
|
Post by sageandonion on Apr 22, 2010 21:33:42 GMT
I am a real snaffle fan, especially with babies. However, if your safety is at all in question, then I would say perhaps go for a stronger bit but for hacking only. It would follow that this would be a last resort really after looking at what you can do to allow your chap to get rid of his excess energy, cut his food down to fibre only. Make sure you go out with sensible company on calm days and just walk on hacks until he is behaving himself. Put a balance strap on the front of your saddle.
Then comes the question of which bit. I do think you need to book at least a couple of lessons to ascertain what bit would be best for your pony.
If you don't see an improvement over the next month or so, then I think you must consider forgoing your school and other facilities and get your baby turnout. He is telling you he needs it, he is just using horse language.
|
|
|
Post by norwalk on Apr 22, 2010 22:44:54 GMT
Where are you based bethanyy?
|
|
|
Post by bethanyy on Apr 23, 2010 12:32:29 GMT
Thank you S&O And Leigh/Lowton area norwalk, near to Manchester-ish
|
|