Most horses love this bit and you can usually leave a horse in it for most of his training. If you want to try a piece of equipment that DOES HELP a horse learn to give to your hands, supple-up and flex at the poll… use a German martingale. It is possible for a horse to lighten its forehand while its nose is behind the vertical but the imbalance this position creates causes stiffness and tension. The loose shanks make it much easier to take a horse’s head to the side and get lateral flexion. Many people automatically reach for a different piece of equipment when their horse starts to open their mouth while riding. Another remark that means the same thing is, ‘could be more uphill’. Courtney follows bending work with reinforcing the “whoa” command. for teaching a horse how to position himself and use his body correctly. The key to softening the mouth of a resistant horse is careful retraining. The Australian Cheeker If you wish to lift the bit in the horse's mouth a comfortable way of achieving this is by employing an Australian Cheeker. “If I’ve started the horse, ‘whoa’ in a halter and lead rope is part of leading training. A freelance equine writer, Audrey Pavia is a former editor of Horse Illustrated and author of “Horses for Dummies.” She has trained in western, hunt seat and dressage, and competes in NATRC-sponsored competitive trail riding. Larry also offers instruction to riders who want to learn reining, cutting or reined cow horse. This semi-solid mouthpiece gives you a lot of control without scaring or worrying the horse. Keep the hand pressure gentle but steady, and as soon as the horse gives to the pressure—even the tiniest little bit—reward him by releasing the rein. 12 Years. “Imagine your shoulder blades are like thumbtacks that will drop down into the horse as you ask for the halt,” says Kim. Once the bit is touching the corners of the horse’s mouth, the handler should adjust it upward until it is about one-sixteenth of an inch higher than the corners would be in a natural state. Especially the older horses that are being tuned up or re-trained. With that idea in mind, a green colt will usually be ridden with an o-ring snaffle that has a smooth 7/16” mouthpiece. So I’m forced to ride him in a stronger bit most of the time. The twisted wire snaffle bits should not be used for an extended time. “The rider must remember to always use the leg and seat first, and in some cases, voice commands, prior to the reins.”, Whenever working with a horse with a hard mouth, it’s important to resist the temptation to use a harsher bit. Omigosh, this is exactly what I needed! A day BEFORE the show or maybe even DURING the show, you want to ride the horse with your TUNING BIT. The purpose of having the port drive up and touch the roof of the mouth is to cue the trained horse for the desired response. Bernie demonstrates how to use this technique properly and effectively without hanging on the horse’s mouth. As you pull on the snaffle with your reins, the … Don’t worry if it takes a long time for the horse to stop at first—he needs to learn the new aids too. Horsemen have a term for this syndrome—hard mouth. Open the horse's mouth. A standard thickness for the mouthpiece is three-eights of an inch. That was 15 years ago and I haven’t ridden with one since. The colored tape markers with tell you at a glance what size mouthpiece your horse needs. This freedom from tension allows the muscles to work most efficiently. that the horse appears to be moving literally up a hill, with more of his weight on his hindquarters than on his forehand. This is why I emphasized solidifying your seat. “The first thing I’ll do when I get on a horse with a hard mouth is put him in a snaffle and find out if he knows what the word ‘whoa’ means. “Overuse of the hands, transferred to the bit, combined with the lack of training in teaching the horse to respond to the rider’s leg and seat, is where most of these problems usually start,” says Laurie Takoff, owner of Laurian Quarter Horses in Kelowna, B.C., Canada, and a member of the American Quarter Horse Association of Professional Horsemen. 1 cup per load. I stay with this until the horse is too heavy in it and I can’t get him to respond as lightly as he should. Laurie points out that the problem can even develop in well trained horses that are constantly exposed to riders who rely too much on their hands for control, instead of using their legs and seat. Then, you should go back to a regular or thin, … I left the photos up so you can see the type of bits I’m talking about. Horses also appear in various phrases or idioms like, “Straight from the Horse’s mouth,” associating Horse with accurate or unadulterated communication, and “Get off your high horse,” implying condescending behavior. Okay, now let’s get back to the bitting process. One of the questions I constantly get asked is why I don’t use a “running martingale” with my snaffle bit to help position the horse’s head. My barrel race horse is fine responding to bit during slow work (bending, stopping,) but when running flat out at a race he becomes unresponsive to cues, rating, words, and fights me the whole pattern. Side note: I should also mention, on some of the heavier horses, I’ll use a curb chain with this bit that has more bite to it than the usual one that I use. After reading this, I will improve my seat and flex my horse!I am glad I researched before making my horse and myself worse! How much bend is dependent on the individual horse. It’s a loose shank bit (Bob Loomis shanks) with what is called a “Billy Allen” mouthpiece. Many people go to a more severe bit to control the horse, and pretty soon that one is not strong enough, either. I recommend riding the horse with it for one or two days to lighten him up and then switch back to the smooth-wire snaffle. Even though I’m advancing the horse in the bitting process, I still want the curb bit to have “loose” shanks. I don't know if your horse is on hay, but that might be worth looking into. On the upper teeth, they are located on the side of the teeth nearest the cheek and on the lower teeth, they’re on the side of the teeth nearest the tongue. This is what to use when you’re riding a heavy-mouthed horse that refuses to lighten up. On contact means that you have a steady, even and elastic feeling between your hands and the horse's mouth that you try to maintain, keeping your elbows relaxed and just in front of your hips. There is a light contact and finger feel of the horses mouth. Now, this particular horse behaving this way disappoints me but I don’t hold it against the horse. When you first put it on it might look a bit blochey but if you just put it out in the sun it will even out considerably. In reality, most horses will slack off from time to time and not work up to their potential. Hope you figure it out, soon! I finally asked myself… why am I wasting time and money on a piece of equipment that doesn’t work? Savvy Tax Planning School for Financial Advisors. Back in the early 1970s, my father always put the 'mouthing gear' on every young horse straight away. “If you give a rider with hard hands a more severe bit, you only amplify the problem or cause other issues to develop as the horse tries to protect himself from pain.”. The horse and rider end up stuck in a vicious cycle.”. Aloesin , which is derived from aloe vera, can help lighten the skin around the mouth. To establish contact close the ring finger then the middle finger. I’ll eventually bring his nose around almost to his shoulder, but how long it takes to get to that point depends on the horse. Most horses will lose some of their sensitivity as they get older. The twisted wire tenders the tongue and corners of the horse's mouth. A stronger, more severe bit is only a quick fix, with very limited effectiveness because the horse becomes more and more resistant to it. Usually, a dog-chain curb works well. Ride your horse lively forward at the walk and on contact. Hard-mouthed horses also stiffen up when you try to bend or flex them, causing flat turns and jolting transitions. This nicely illustrates what the dressage judge is looking for, i.e. Most horses are going to need a snaffle with a thinner mouthpiece so I’ll go to my absolute favorite snaffle…. So to get the job done, I’ll go to a twisted-wire snaffle. If both these statements are true, why do horses yawn? It seems there is a lot of confusion about when to use a certain type of bit and when not to. “This can put quite a bit of pressure on the horse’s back and loins, which can develop into chronic pain if not corrected.”. Thank you for choosing this service. From there, it can get infected. The loose shanks and flexibility of the mouthpiece allows me to use a direct rein to position the horse’s head before I apply the neck rein. Fix horses that buck, rear, bite, kick, spook. Keep in mind, all through the training and bitting process, if I run into a problem, I’ll sometimes go back to an o-ring snaffle to iron out the trouble and regain the horse’s confidence. This will explain to him not to push into the bit. Read the above sentence again, its key. Taken in capsule form, it may also help women who have melasma. Then I will walk again and say ‘whoa’ again. Often, the very things that horses do to lessen the pain cause riders to stiffen up more and pull harder on the reins, creating a cycle of pull—brace—pull harder—brace harder—that only ends in frustration for rider and horse.”, “Hard mouthed horses are commonly known for ‘running through the bit or bridle,’ ” says Laurie Takoff. A pro trainer’s advice about the bitting process.What bits to use and when to use them. A lead rope. At first, the horse won’t be able to bend around that much, and it’s very important at this point that the rider stop pulling once the horse starts to give.”, Once the horse is giving easily to the bit at the standstill, the rider should work on gentle flexing from side to side at the walk. Oct 14, 2009 #4 patandchickens Flock Mistress. A two year old colt will have a much more sensitive mouth than a ten year old horse. The horse will be taught the majority of what he needs to know wearing this bit. It's a good idea to work with an experienced trainer who can provide feedback during your ride. My horse is off the track, so all he knows is “brace against the bit.” I am so going to try these tips! The correction mouthpiece really helps with the horse’s stop. Loose-Shanked Curb Bits. The result is a heavy hand prone to hitting the horse in the mouth, causing undue pain, pressure and miscommunication between horse and rider. Usually, a few rides in the snaffle fixes the horse up and I can go back to the curb bit. There is error while submitting your request. Snaffle bits often have a jointed mouthpiece. Use it in your laundry to whiten your whites. When a bit is used, even if you’re gentle with your hands, your horse will feel it immediately. From this point on, it’s just a matter of experimenting with different bits to see what the horse responds to best. Audrey Pavia is a freelance writer and the author of Horses for Dummies. Curb bits are for “refining” the training that you have accomplished with the snaffle. We’ve all experienced it: a horse that won’t give to the bit, pulls back when you ask for his head or just completely ignores your rein cues. When you notice your horse is exhibiting these symptoms, you need to take action to relieve his pain. The loose shanks allow for good direct-rein and neck-rein response. Either the regular or the thin twisted-wire. Ideally, the horse should be taught to do everything that you want him to while being ridden in the snaffle bit. This roller “limits” the movement of the mouthpiece. Some horses just won't lighten up the way they should in a snaffle bit. 1. To my way of thinking, a horse should be ridden in the mildest bit that he will respond to for the job which he is intended to do. A horse that is really resistant I may only ask to the point where I see about  three-quarters of his eye. We’ll discuss these types of injuries in detail here. Shelly . And the loose shanks allows you to easily flex the horse’s head laterally for correct circles and turns. The horse I ride refuses to open his mouth for the bit and then listen to the bit. I will be likely to find that this horse has contracted and dry muscles on that side of its body, maybe even strides shorter and finds it difficult to bend in the opposite direction. “Suppling exercises are a super way to start working to lighten up the mouth,” she says. A correct acceptance of the bit is integral to this, with a relaxed jaw not held clamped around the bit by a tight noseband used to disguise an open mouth. You can teach a horse a lot in the Billy Allen. With some really sensitive horses this is all the snaffle I’ll need. It is not the pain or the amount of pressure that you apply that makes the horse want to slow down, stop or turn to the right or left. When a horse is said to be, ‘on the forehand’ it means that the overall impression to the onlooker is that the majority of the weight is being carried on the horse’s shoulders and front half. I try to do most of the foundation training with an o-ring snaffle with a 7/16” diameter mouthpiece. She got behind the bit, over-flexing, and all she wanted to do was be a speed demon. You can’t rely on a one-ear or slit-ear headstall to keep your snaffle in place. Working on a longe line with an instructor can go a long way to developing a balanced seat for a rider, and thus less reliance on the reins for support. To get a good view, simply lift the top lip and gently push it upwards out of the way. Now, don’t confuse a mouth that is merely “sensitive” with a mouth that is “educated”. For those horses, you are going to have to go to the “next stage” of the bitting process sooner than you would the average horse. Ian demonstrates a very simple way to check your horse for mouth pain caused by sharp hooks on the molars. I never would have thought I was the one to cause the problem my horse is having. Most horses develop hard mouths as a result of poor riding and training, but on occasion physical problems can be the cause of poor response to the bit. The practice of using a stronger bit to lighten a horse up and then switching back to a milder bit for every day riding, works really well to preserve the horse’s mouth while keeping him working right. If you would like to see what the different types of bits look like, click on the links below. You can contact Larry via his website: HorseTrainingVideos.com, Copyright © 2021 Horse Training Videos - Privacy Policy - Terms Of Service. (You can see how I do this in my “Teach Your Horse to Neck Rein” video). Or I may find that a horse … Apply on the face, especially on the dark areas around your mouth. As horse and rider start gaining confidence in each other, try downward transitions from faster gaits.”. I want to preserve the sensitivity of the horse’s mouth as much as I can. To resolve the problem, consider each possible cause, starting with pain. The horse should be ridden with this bit for a few days or until he gets light. Should they go to a snaffle bit with more “bite” to it or should they go to a curb bit? Laurie also believes a bit seat can help—which involves rounding and smoothing the second premolars in your horse’s mouth. Obviously when the bit is suspended in the mouth, the pressure is reduced across the floor of the mouth, tongue etc. If you adjust it short enough to encourage the horse to flex at the poll for vertical flexion, it is too short and interferes with lateral flexion. “The remedy starts by going back to the beginning,” she says. Thinner mouthpieces, for example a one-quarter inch twisted wire bit, are simply too harsh and can damage the horse’s mouth. I was thinking of trying a hackamore without thinking I was the problem! Other Quick Tips To Get Rid Of Darkness Around The Mouth. “Once a rider is balanced and using the seat correctly, it’s time to work on softening the horse’s response to bit pressure,” says Kim. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Be aware, there are always exceptions to the rule. I like using the low port as the horse’s first solid mouthpiece becauseis relatively mild. The horse is vigorously active, yet the work has an obvious resting quality. Click here to subscribe. With the higher port, there is less tongue pressure and more bar pressure. I do this byasking him to follow his nose in a circle. The longer the shanks the more pressure is applied. On my horse’s that are normally ridden in a transition bit or curb bit, I’ll use a tuning bit that has a “correction” mouthpiece and seven (7″) inch, loose shanks. (Note: adjust your headstall so that the hose lies flat in your horse's mouth.) The correction mouthpiece will really get the horse responding well… especially for the stop. The Australian Cheeker is often seen on racehorses. And of course, this requires that you have taken the time to find the correct bit for the shape of your horse’s mouth – not always easy to do. Thanks a bunch! One of the best ways to lighten up a tense situation is to take a step back and look at things from a bird’s eye view. from the horse's mouth phrase. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. These twisted-wire bits have some “bite” to them and will convince even an older, hard mouthed horse to respond and lighten up. A: Horses develop a hard mouth for many reasons, including pain, stress, and learned behavior. “It may take awhile to achieve, but trust has to be earned before I can really ask him to be light in the mouth,” she says. And, throughout its life, it will have two different sets of teeth, ju… “A horse with back pain might learn to pull on the bit in an effort to lift the rider’s weight off his back, thus reliving his pain.”, Laurie also suggests looking over the horse’s tack for potential problems. These curb bits are designed for positive control and feel. But with lots of thought and input from friends, I think I’ve depended on my hands far too much to control my horse. I said, I want to use the mildest bit possible that WILL GET THE JOB DONE. Transition bits are the stepping stones between the green horse and the finished horse. You have entered an incorrect email address! Twisted wire snaffle bits are used on Western riding bits, barrel racing bits and English horse bits. Copyright © 2021 EG Media Investments LLC. I have also seen these horses overflexing at the poll and neck or not flexing enough.”, According to Laurie, overflexing can develop to the point where the horse uses his neck as well as his mouth to pull on the rider’s hands. A hor… By navigating the site, you agree to the use of cookies to collect information. I’ll use this bit to lighten a colt up for a few days and then I’ll switch back to the regular snaffle. “When this happens, the rider has a tendency to lean back in the saddle too far in an effort to move the horse’s center of gravity back and gain leverage by pulling back on the reins,” she says. Any performance horse needs to learn to give his head to the direct rein, move his shoulders off the indirect rein and position his ribcage and hindquarters from leg pressure. The other, I use on horses that are in a transition bit or a regular curb bit. When performing the exam, it is the incisors at the front of the mouth that you will look at. A horse’s mouth can be very sensitive but if its not also educated on how to respond to pressure, the sensitivity really doesn’t do you much good. The majority of horses will respond well to this. As soon as your horse yields to the pressure and bends the head and neck reward him. A tuning bit is any bit the horse will respect and REALLY listen to. Your ability to deliver proactive tax strategies will help clients avoid costly mistakes, minimize tax surprises, and boost their satisfaction with your services! If he doesn’t stop, I’ll repeat the above, but this time I’ll ask him to back a few steps. If you rub mor oil into your new cinch it should darken it but make sure to put it on in medium to light coats and give it lots of time to absorb and even out. Make a quick paste with turmeric powder and rose water. “This is a problem most often seen in beginner or novice riders,” she says. The horse should have a good “whoa” at the walk, jog and lope. Take a look in your horse's mouth and youll see a lot of teeth in there. LET ME CLARIFY: Be aware, there are always exceptions to the rule. Realizing the causes of a hard mouth is the first step to correcting this training problem. Use it if you have a toothache. Mouth injuries can happen in any horse, whether in elite competition or in our own stables and pastures. “Make sure the saddle and girth fit properly, and that the saddle pad is adequate,” she says. Practice this walk-halt transition using the seat aids first, reinforcing lightly with the reins after the seat aids are given. Ride these horses with a mild bit and they just take advantage of you. The upper thigh should squeeze gently to slow down the motion in the horse’s back. Transition bits are middle-of-the-road bits used to transition the horse from the snaffle to a regular curb bit. My favorite training snaffle has a thin, smooth mouthpiece that is 3/16” in diameter. I hope this information helps you with your horse training. The number is dependent on the gender of the horse, and whether or not the horse develops extra teeth along the bars of its mouththe empty space between the front teeth and rear teeth where the bit sits. You want him attentive and responding well but not afraid. of the mouth and causing the horse to chew or resist more on one side of its body. Eventually he’ll hear the word ‘whoa’ and know what is coming next, so he figures he may as well stop. in the snaffle bit. Repeat to this same exercise to the left. Also, be aware that some horses just can’t stand prosperity. It is used to lighten the response when horse hangs heavy on the bit. That is why I want to use as mild a bit on the horse as I can get away with. Something to illuminate the back of his mouth?a helper with a flashlight will do or you can wear an inexpensive headlamp such as I have, available through sporting goods stores or websites (type "headlamps" into your search engine). The practice of using a stronger bit to lighten a horse up and then switching back to a milder bit, works really well to preserve the horse's mouth while keeping him working right. He should be in a snaffle bit while he learns to stop, turn and rate the cow. And you stay with that mild bit until the colt doesn’t respond to it well enough anymore. switch back to a milder bit. Use a browband headstall. Horses are magnificent and intelligent animals, but grooming is entirely left up to the owner. They don’t know what bit to go to next. Please try again. Bend your knees as you ask for the halt to avoid pushing up from your stirrups. I don’t get angry with him for it. Poor training and poor riding skills are usually the culprits in the development of a hard mouth. The reason why is because the Billy Allen mouthpiece moves and is flexible similar to a snaffle. When he does it without the rein aid I praise him and let him stand for a while.” However, Courtney also makes sure the horse knows “whoa” on the ground. You should feel your seat bones ‘plug’ into the saddle like you would push an electrical plug into an outlet. And some horses work so well in it that you can keep them in it for years. You know, one of the most frequent questions I get from my Horse Training Tips “It never ceases to surprise me how much a comprehensive dental treatment can help.”. Now a four-day virtual workshop—watch from your home or office. He’ll be tentative and prone to make mistakes due to his nervousness. Ask your veterinarian if this is recommended for your particular situation. A bigger, tougher, more severe bit that induces more pain on the horse’s mouth or jaw is not the answer. Please let us know a convenient time to call you on, (*All time slots are available in CDT zone.). Every time I go back to a milder bit to reward the horse for good performance, he cheats me and won’t work right. Also, these bits are a “ NO PINCH ” design. I’ll ride a horse for a while with this low-port curb bit and see how he responds with it. Most horses, I’ll ride with the 8” shanks. 2. Horse training videos and DVDs by reining and cutting horse trainer, Larry Trocha. After the horse has a good idea of what is expected of him and is pretty far along, I’ll start riding the horse in a “transition bit”. Your horse also has a number of different types of teeth. Some horses just won’t lighten up the way they should in a snaffle bit. After the horse gets farther along in his training, then “solid” shanks can be used with good results. This subtle movement is enough to signal the horse and every time you go to the horses mouth it should begin with this soft feel. “Hard-mouthed horses are protecting themselves from pain caused by extreme bit pressure in their mouths, or the pressure of the hackamore or bosal on the nose and chin,” says Kim Hayes, riding instructor and trainer in both the English and western disciplines… I call it a “thin, smooth-wire snaffle”. If you adjust it long enough not to inhibit lateral flexion, it is too long to help with vertical flexion. To get the horse to lighten up and respond, I’ll try schooling him with a snaffle that has a mouthpiece that is smaller in diameter… usually a 3/8” mouthpiece. I also believe she may be having some pain issues as well, so I’ll have to look into that. Same goes for a cutting horse. Before a horse can be retrained to respond properly to the bit, the rider must have a good seat and balance. If he doesn’t, that’s the first thing he needs to learn. Hold it in your mouth for 10 minutes several times daily. Frequent dental care and potentially changes to the horse's diet are necessary to maintain the horse's nutritional health. Problems such as refusing to stop or slow down, the inability to flex or bend, and a tendency to brace the head and neck against the reins, are all issues with hard-mouthed horses. After a while though, this is the bit I’ll be using to do MOST of the training. Next comes the walk-to-halt transition. I’m going to try these tips to lighten her up and supple her so that I no longer have to fight her so much. The horse gets the feel of a mouthpiece that is almost “solid” like a regular curb bit yet still has some “flex” to it. The mouthpiece has enough “bite” to get the job done. ... His weight is currently pushing onto his horse’s shoulders and forehand, making it harder for Skip to lighten his shoulders and canter with more collection. Even though it works well, be aware that a “twisted” mouthpiece is abrasive and can sore a horse’s mouth if it’s used too many days in a row or too harshly. Problems such as refusing to stop or slow down, the inability to flex or bend, and a tendency to brace the head and neck against the reins, are all issues with hard-mouthed horses. Horses are magnificent and intelligent animals, but grooming is entirely left up to the owner. The more pressure or abrasiveness the horse’s mouth is subjected to, the quicker it will toughen and lose its sensitivity. I am told that yawning is a method of increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood. Side note: A browband headstall, with a properly adjusted throatlatch, keeps your horse’s headgear in place for proper use. So, if you want your horse to be a reining horse, you should teach him to stop, spin, change leads etc. However, sometime during the training process, a horse will need to be lightened up even more. A professional trainer can help the horse learn to give to the bit, and good instruction can teach a rider to have soft hands. It’s very easy and very effective. … In horses under three years old, wolf teeth can easily be completely removed. Do the reverse with the bottom lip, pushing it down so that you can clearly see the lower incisors. With patience, persistence and practice, the hard-mouthed horse truly can develop a softer outlook on life and become a more enjoyable ride. “Good regular dental attention is important for all horses,” says Laurie. Even though it works well, be aware that a “twisted” mouthpiece is abrasive and can sore a horse’s mouth if it’s used too many days in a row or too harshly. However, most horses will eventually need to be moved up into a regular, solid-mouthpiece, curb bit. If you horse is more hesitant one way or the other, make a note of this. In this newsletter, I want to try to clarify some of the misconceptions about bits and how to use different types of snaffle bits and curb bits to their best advantage. Sit on a straight-back chair and hold a bean bag in each hand, or a squishy ball. Wolf Teeth: Wolf teeth can often interfere with the bit and are often removed. “A more severe bit, or switching to a hackamore or bosal, is never the answer to correcting a horse with a hard mouth, since the underlying issue is the rider,” says Kim Hayes. There are two primary “tuning bits” that I use. “A horse’s natural reaction to pressure is to resist,” says Courtney Meitz, a reining and cutting horse trainer at Willow Glen Equestrian Centre in El Cajon, Calif. “A hard mouth usually develops when we fail to teach the horse to give to pressure, and he gets used to pulling against the bit.

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