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Conference noted::equitation

Title:Equine Notes Conference
Notice:Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151
Moderator:MTADMS::COBURNIO
Created:Tue Feb 11 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2080
Total number of notes:22383

1264.0. "Need help for a sensitive mouth" by DISCVR::HERRON () Mon May 14 1990 20:44

    I have a problem with a horse I was hoping you could help me with.
    He has a VERY sensitive mouth. I have been working with him for 
    about a month now and I have tried a few different things. I had him 
    in a low port bit with a copper roller. A snaffel bit, no curb. And
    draw riens with a snaffel bit. I am very light handed. I have tried 
    riding with my hands at my knees, and just in front of the horn but he
    will push his nose out at the least bit of pressure he feels. He
    also travels with his head high and nose out (mainly at the canter).
    He is a Quarter horse 7yrs. 16.1 hands. The woman that owned him
    before was very large and I suspect heavy handed. She said she used him 
    for dressage but I cant see how with him sticking his nose out and 
    never picking up the right lead. (he takes the left one fine).
    The draw reins work good, I can keep his nose in but I have to push 
    him forward so he dosent break his gaits. Also as soon as I take them
    off him he starts bringing his head up again, so I even use them on the
    trails. I guess Im wondering how long I will have to use them for. 
    If there is anything else I should be using or is this just a matter of
    time for him to get used to me and what I want? If anyone has had 
    similar problems I would really like to hear how you made out.
    
    Thanks a bunch,
    Robin
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1264.1Try wrapping the bitNIKKII::TRESEDERMon May 14 1990 22:367
    You might want to try wrapping the bits with latex.  On the curb,
    wrap each side of the port ... I usually wrap it about three or four
    times around.  And do the same thing on the snaffle.  Also, if you
    use a curb chain, wrap that too.
    
    Good luck, it's really a pain trying to get a horse's head in when
    he doesn't want to do it!
1264.2lots of things to consider...DNEAST::BUTTERMAN_HOTue May 15 1990 15:2427
    
    	There are a couple of things that come to mind... the first thing
    to consider is 'what your horse is trying to avoid or get away from' by
    raising his head and sticking his nose out.  Is it real (his mouth
    HURTS - either from previous damage - or maybe his teeth need to be
    tended to) or is it something he learned (his previous owner might have
    used a very tight caveson to keep this mouth closed - or maybe they
    used a harsh(er) bit and hurt him...)
    
    	They almost always are trying to give us a message... before you
    try and fix this situation take a long look at what some of the causes
    might be.  Latex, softer bits, tooth fairies... all possibilities.
    
    	I think the things I would do are physically check his teeth and
    gums, tongue and mouth... if there is nothing obvious then I would work
    the horse from the ground w/a fat snaffle and bitting harness...  the
    other thing that needs to be observed is the potential for pain in his
    back...  Often when a horses back hurts, they will try and position
    themselves in a manner which avoids the pain... check your saddle as
    well to make sure it isn't pinching him anywhere.
    
    	Once you determine what is causing the problem you can work towards
    helping your horse understand that it isn't going to hurt any longer.
    
    	Good luck - let us know how you make out - regards - holly
    
    
1264.3could be a number of causesCARTUN::MISTOVICHTue May 15 1990 16:207
    My last horse would not flex at the poll unless I took a very firm
    contact.  Anything less and the nose would go up and out.  She liked
    the feeling of support and also needed a lot of leg to drive her
    forward.  A lot depends on what their used to, plus every individual 
    is different.  You may ride very differently from his previous owner.
    
    Mary
1264.4I dont think it is his mouth.DISCVR::HERRONWed May 16 1990 03:1330
    RE. Holly, I have checked his mouth out pretty well and I could not see
    anything wrong. But I'm going to have him checked by the vet to be on
    the safe side. I have run my fingers down his back and applied various
    amounts of pressure on his back. He seems fine, didn't even put an ear
    back to me. I think he is expecting to be "pulled in" all the time.
    For the first two weeks we didn't get past mounting without him getting
    all tensed up. You could actually see him getting nervous. Like I said 
    before the woman was very heavy and she most likley really had to pull
    herself in the saddle. So we spent a couple of weeks with me with just
    one foot in the sturrip talking to him trying to get him to stand still 
    and relax, then we graduated to half way mounted, and now we are at the 
    point where he is relaxed but will still take one tiny step.
    
    Do you think that this might have anything to do with his head being
    high? : They tried to make him do dressage, pulled his head up and in,
    but every time they worked him out he came up lame. (Wich is wy I ended
    up with him). Now, his front legs are crooked, and they tried to make 
    him straight. When I got him his shoe size was way to small. He
    actually had corns because of it, and he was reluctant to step out.
    Gee I wonder why!!! Anyway (I'm getting lost here) the poor guy went
    bear foot for a while and now im trying to widen his feet.
    He is just a big lovable mess! No really he is a Ryker bred horse with 
    alot of heart and potential. I was thinking about taking him for a 
    massage therapy session. Have I made any sense here or does this sound
    like a lot of babbling? Cause when it comes to my "boys" I tend to
    ramble on!
    
    
    Now, he has crooked
    front legs (witch is why I have 
1264.5Don't think it's his mouth eitherDECWET::DADDAMIOTesting proves testing worksWed May 16 1990 20:2021
    We have a horse who threw his head up when we first got him.  He had
    been shipped around to various trainers to try to sell him and everyone
    tried to get him to do 2nd and 3rd level dressage movements.  He was
    trained in dressage and we had seen his owner ride him - he was very
    nice and fairly talented.  The trainers did get him to do lateral work,
    etc., but he wasn't quite ready for it and it blew his mind.  He also
    had a very sensitive back.
    
    We have to be careful with him, but he is a lot better after years of
    work.  He kept throwing his head up and hollowing his back to evade the
    rider's aids.  Now he will willingly keep his back round and stay on
    the bit.
    
    A friend of ours has had Robert Altman (trained by Jack Meagher) do
    massage on her horse for several years and he has helped the horse a
    lot.  I think someone trained in massage could help find what muscles
    are actually bothering the horse and show you what to do between
    massages to help the horse.  Sounds like it's not his mouth, but his
    body (and maybe his mind) that's the problem.
    
    						Jan
1264.6Where is he?DISCVR::HERRONThu May 17 1990 20:209
    Would you happen to have Roberts number? I have had Jack up to my house
    and he was wonderful! But, he has such a busy schedual that it is hard
    for him to fit me in. I live in Epping NH (approx 25 mins from
    Haverhill Mass), which tends to scare people away.
    Jack came up and worked on another charity case I used to have and he 
    was great, really worked miricals with him.
    
    Thanks for the help!!!
    Robin 
1264.7Ed Lamb, messageREGENT::WIMBERGFri May 18 1990 13:3917
    
    I have the number of another message therapist trained by Jack Meagher.
    He is just starting his horse message business and is looking for
    work. Ed Lamb is located in Littleton MA. I don't know if he'd be
    willing to go Epping NH but you could always ask. His number is
    (508) 264 4445.
    
    He also has a beeper number - 1 800 202 7854
    
    As for your horse - it sounds a little bit like a condition known as
    a 'cold back'. The horse drops his back and raises his head until
    he warms up usually at that point the back starts coming back up and
    he starts to use it and lowering the head. Your horse probably doesn't
    because of the other problems.
    
    Good luck
    
1264.8that's massageREGENT::WIMBERGFri May 18 1990 13:425
    
    OK - I can't spell - but Ed really is a massage therapist not a
    message therapist
    
    
1264.9I'm going to call himDISCVR::HERRONSat May 19 1990 03:016
    thanx to all of you for trying to help me out. I am going to give Ed 
    a call on sat. I hope I can get some one out soon! I just had him shod 
    again and thing are looking great in that area, FINALLY! 
    
    Thanx again I will keep y'all posted on our progress.
    Robin