Conference noted::equitation

    
    
    Bonni,
    
    I have several show horses who do the same thing.  They get very
    heavy and pull through your hands.  All have been switched off the
    plain snaffles and now go on "cork screw" snaffles.  They look like
    slow twists but aren't as severe because the edges are smoother.
    If this doesn't work, the next step might be a slow twist that is
    less inviting to pull through.  Just be careful the first time you
    ride in a new bit, especially a more severe one.  It sometimes catches
    them off guard and they could rear unless you're gentle.
    
    Neither one  of these bits are very harsh, just give the rider a
    little more of an edge to make the ride less stressful and more
    fun.  My hunters love them.
    
    Good luck.
    Anna

    YOu could also try a Kimberwicke, or a jointed Pelham...I ahve a
    Standardbre mare who if allowed to will just stick her nose in 
    the air and go...something with a little leverage works wonders!
    Be careful, though, they can be hard on the mouth, so keep your
    hands as soft as you can...Godd luck!
    
    

    Bonni,
    	  I ride a 7/8 thoroughbred who thinks he is boss at times and
    we ride him in a French Bridoon bit. Basically it is a double jointed
    snaffle but the centre piece has been rounded to make
    its action less severe. This is in comparison to the DOCTOR BRISTOL
    bit which basically looks identical but the centre piece has square
    edges making it very severe. 
    	The French bridoon ( unlike the Doctor Bristol) is allowed in
    dressage tests as well and it is recommended by alot of the top
    English competitors for Young Horses since it encourages them to
    play with the bit and thus carry themselves nicely. I personally
    found this to be true.
    	Also if you are concerned about damaging the horses mouth why
    not add extra stopping power to his nose with a Grackle noseband
    or a Kineton. I hope these are called the same in your country but
    the Grackle is an X shape and the Kinneton is more severe.
    	I ride our horse in a Grackle more because he has a tendancy
    to open his mouth but it also helps control him.
    		
    
    
    		regards Gareth    

    I would take it in stages. Try a jointed snaffle, perhaps as mentioned
    in the last note with a grackle. (This works great on my horse).
    If you find that doesn't work try something a little more severe
    and go from there.  Going straight from a snaffle to something like
    a Pelham is not a good idea. This could work out expensive so I'd
    see if anyone you know already has other bits you could try before
    actually buying one yourself.

    
     This is just my opinion but by going to a more severe bit, you are just
     over looking the real problem being discipline or excess energy.
     A change of bits in most cases is just a quick fix unless the bits
     you are using don't fit him/her properly or are hurting them (teeth
     as well). He or she should work just as well on a halter if obedience 
     is achieved. If he takes the reins from you, he either has no respect
     for you or no respect for the bit. His actions should cause you
     to inflict unpleasantness in one way or another. A new bit, if it
     works, may fit his mouth better and your problems solved. 
     But he may resort to other means of evasion as well like head tossing 
     and rearing
                
     I learned this the hard way by dealing with a head tosser, and
     for a cure I changed to many diff. types of bits and martingail.
     The only REAL fix was to show him that I am the boss, what I say 
     goes or you will suffer the penalty by repeating my intentions 
     untill you understand this. He now understands this after many hours
     of repeated exercises. He found it no fun to circle many times,
     turn away from home a work, get home and receive an extremmly hard
     workout, and on, on, on. 
    
     Try some reschooling in the area of giving to the pressure of the
     bit, because it sounds like this is the real problem.
    
    

    I agree with .5 changing bits is one step in correcting the problem
    but mutual respect is the solution. My TB is soft in the mouth but 
    likes to 'hang' on me. I started working him on the flat with a
    snaffle but gradually changed up to a Dr. Bristol and *was* using
    a double copper twist when jumping but changed to a double Palham.
    This is where the riders experiance plays a vital part. I would
    not suggest a double till you can properly control the bit. It *can*
    be very severe if improperly used. If he is hanging on you, try
    slight half-halts on the outside and if he's really dropping his
    head use your legs to 'squeeze' him onto the bit. (A small spur
    might also be a good aid) again depending on what level you're at
    and what you feel comfortable with.
    
    B.J.
    

    Have you had his teeth checked by the dentist?  As I have found
    out this can cause many problems.
    

    
    I can empathize with you; my horse did the same thing - threw his
    head up and out and he was then in complete control. I went from a
    snaffle to a Kimberwicke to one of the easier "screw" bits. This
    last bit gave me more control when I had to haul him in, and made it 
    easier for me to keep him on the bit, but he was still able to get
    hold of it during jumping, or if we got up any kind of speed.
    
    Then a woman who does a lot of riding saw one of my 'episodes' and
    suggested a running Martingale. I'd tried a standing Martingale, but
    it hadn't worked. Well, the running Martingale has made a new horse
    out of him! Hopefully, if I use it regularly at home and out on the
    trails, I won't need it for shows.
    
    I can't go into the mechanics of the thing, since I don't know that
    much about it, but I understand you need kind hands for it, and that
    it makes the pressure on the bit more consistent. Maybe someone else
    can explain? At any rate, I was feeling pretty awful about having to
    go to a more severe bit, and now I don't! Maybe I'll even be able
    to go back to a kinder bit.
    
    Good luck!
    -julie

    
    Martingales create a pull downwords when you pull back on the reins
    as though using draw reins. This will keep his head down.
    The same effect can be acheived from reining as low as possible,
    whether english or western.
    
    

RE.5
    
    AMEN!
    
    		WENDY O'
        
    

    On running martingales -
    
    They can be either severe or gentle, depending on how "tight" they
    are adjusted.  The recommended way to adjust it is so that it only
    comes into play when the horse raises it's mouth above the height
    of your hands (remember straight line from the bit to your elbows?).
    If it's too loose, there's no controlling effect at all. Too tight
    and the horses head gets pulled into his chest every time you use
    the reins.  With a short martingale you also loose some lateral
    control. You do end up with a pretty (but fake) headset and the
    horse can continue to be disobedient. 
    
    About the only time I use running martingales anymore is with
    student who hav a tendency to carry their hands too high (beginners
    pull up instead of back for some reason) and a martingale limits
    the effect of this on the horses mouth somewhat.

    
    
    
    				.5
    
    
    			THANK YOU !!!!!!!!
    
    
    	Sometimes people are too quick to change the bit.  Very often
    the problem is the rider, not the horse.  There are all kinds of
    devices which make the riders job easier (bits, side reins, spurs,
    etc) but don't actually solve any problems.  It's not that I'm saying
    these things are no-good, I just hate to see them used as a replacement
    for proper/good riding.  These devices are great aids but not escapes.
    
    
    			  just my $.02 worth
    
    			         Thanks
    
    
    

    Punch went through a bad patch of throwing his head around, and
    walking along with his head on one side.  We decided to get the
    dentist in, but he found no hooks, and his teeth were not in bad
    shape anyway, as we have them done once a year.  We had a tip from
    a friend, and tried him on a Hackamore (spelling???).  He had been
    riden with one before, so we knew he would know what to do.  
    
    Well my riding days, have completely changed.  Hackamores work by
    cutting off the air supply, and at the same time, pulling back on
    the nose is a normal aid to a horse.  It sounds harsh, and can be,
    you must remember to ride with a very loose rein.  This worried
    me at first, as I knew that Punch wanted to go all the time, and
    I did not want to pull back on the reins all the time.  But it worked
    the opposite way.  He knew that he was on a loose rein all the time,
    and no longer tries to take the rein from me.  The responce time
    of the Hackamore, is instant, at all speeds.  He also Knows when
    you are going to ask him to trot, walk canter etc, as he can feel
    every move I make on the reins.  But I think that the horse has
    to be trained to work on one of these, and I do know they have to
    be fitted.
    
    Oh yes!  He was on a normal snaffle before, with the bog standard
    martingale.
    
    good luck anyway
    
    Helena
    

    re.14
    
    hackamore.. are you referring to the mechinical hack or the bosal.
    if mech. my hackamore was up on the bridge of the nose and what
    gave control was the chin strap and length of the shank (leverage)
    
    also as far as gaits and etc, your body posture has alot to do with
    transistion of gaits..
    
    	i agree some other horses you have to use a severe bit 
    but thats basically when i dont have time like (8months) to get
    them where i want them, especially in speed events.
    other areas its just not worth it to take short cuts..
    
    		wendy o'