please help!!

by **dellyo** on Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:55 pm

Hey there I am totally new to this so please bare with me!! My 8 year old welsh sec C came to me last year in a driving bit...his previous owner stated that because he is soooo strong and she had tried others such as: dutch gag, pelhams...this was the only one that actually controlled him. I have just tried to jump him and he is cantering with his head vertical and not able to look where he is going so he just runs through the jumps.... I had the dentist out to him 6 months ago as he eats his food (hard feed only) with his head in the air too!! But even though he had never had them rasped they were,nt to bad and he would start eating better...but he never has. I am worried now that this bit is not the right one or I need a vet to check this 'head in the air' thing...If there is anyone, anyone at all who can help I would really appreciate it!!!
Thank you so much!!!

by **Sasca** on Fri Mar 02, 2012 1:23 pm

driving bit is a big no for riding, they are designed to be used with very light signals, not a constant contact.

Instead of going stronger and stronger in his mouth, the issue needs to be addressed and solved, instead of the symptoms. Going stronger and stronger is going to make for a very unhappy horse.

As you have got his teeth checked (well done) next step is to get his back cheacked and saddle checked as well. If he is jumping and curving his back with it being sore, then it is going to give him a big surge of pain, either through nerve troubles or pinching saddle and he is going to try and run away from that. The action of lowering the head may also be very painful for him. Get a good chiropractor out and give him a full assessment to make sure no pain is involved and the saddle is ok.

IF everything is pain free then he needs taking back to basics and starting again in a snaffle. He is just waiting to be pulled and gobbed so he pulls first. He needs to learn that the bit isn't going to hurt and to relax with his tack. Get a nice mild snaffle and start basic lunging and work in a pessoa to teach him about contact when he is comfortable and happy in his mouth then you can start riding again on a loose contact and build it up until he is happy.

I suspect though that he is either associating or experiencing pain whilst ridden and trying to avoid it. If he eats with his head up, the action of lowering his head is probably painful. Strong bits are never the answer. if in doubt, take the bit out and ride bitless in a dr Cooks. Not having anything to associate with his pain might make him respond better.

by **dellyo** on Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:52 pm

Thank you so much for your reply!!! today I put him in a jointed snaffle (loose ring) and a standing martingale. He never raised his head once and he was so controllable... we even jumped around 1.5 and he was brilliant!! on the approach and landing, thank you so much for your very good advice and for your kindness in replying...I will let you know how we get on in our jumping future...
adele xxxxx

by **dellyo** on Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:57 pm

Btw he seemed so much happier in himself too... so that bit is going!!! xxx

by **nix123** on Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:33 pm

Im glad your getting things sorted, just a quick tip your not meant to jump with a standing martingale as it doesnt allow for the natural movement of the horse, maybe try using a running martingale even if its just used when your jumping and the standing one for flat work.

by **Sasca** on Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:43 pm

Well done for moving back to the snaffle, he'll be much better.

However i must agree that a standing is just tieing his head down into a fixed position. A running martingale will allow his head to move but not come up. And by tieing his head down its just stopping the head problem and not looking at the cause. He could still be in a lot of discomfort but not able to express it to you. If this is the case and you just stop him from raising his head by tieing it down, he will eventually just erupt on you. Jumping is straining a lot of muscles at once and if any hurt normally they will be excruciating for him to jump.

Make sure there is no pain involved before you jump anymore. If he checks out ok and is pain free then take him back to schooling on the flat to get him riding correctly and then see about jumping. Don't use any equipement that fixes his head. Horses are naturally compliant creatures and there is always a reason why they argue and 99% of the time it's discomfort or misunderstanding on the owner.

by **dellyo** on Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:13 pm

Hi!! thank you so much for both your replies...I honestly didnt think about the restriction of the standing martingale but I have only jumped him the once and he's jumped a very small 1.5 foot around 4 times in one day. I will definately put the running one on him when jumping now... I've got a local chiropractor coming out in a few weeks just to check his back just in case the use of thay horrible drving bit may have caused any pain/damage. I also have the dentist popping out next month to check his teeth as its been around 6 months since his last check up and treatment.
Thank again for sparing the time to share your knowledge and give me this support.
I will let you know how we get on!!!
xxx

by **Sasca** on Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:40 pm

Good luck

let me know what they say.