Horse Resources

Disclaimer: I did not write this! It was posted in a blog under the handle of "Horsetails".  If this is your work please email me so I can ensure to give you proper credit or pull it on your request. 

The solution for many riders who have horses with "hard mouths" is to move up to a bigger bit. While this may provide a temporary fix, the problem will often resurface again. Here are a few tips to follow to be sure you are not accidentally training your horse to pull on the bit.

1. Only pick up on the reins if you want a response.

When you apply pressure to the bit in your horse's mouth by pulling on the reins, it causes some discomfort to the horse. "Pressure" in this regard, often means you are making the horse feel uncomfortable. Pressure is not always pleasant. We know that horses learn what the correct answer we are looking for is by the release of pressure. It's a reward. We apply pressure to motivate the horse to begin looking for the answer. He wants to find somewhere nicer to be. The pressure should be released when the horse finds the right answer.

With this is in mind, make sure you aren't putting unnecessary pressure on your horse's mouth. Only pick up on the reins if you want your horse to respond. People forget this, and keep their reins too short while they are riding or just siting on their horse during a break or while having a conversation with a friend. You are unknowingly applying pressure to the bit and the horse will eventually learn to ignore it because he's not getting a release. He may try to figure out the answer a few times, but will give up if you don't recognize it when he does. This is how horses develop "hard mouths".

2. Expect lightness through turns and when steering.

Another aspect that is commonly forgotten about is lightness during steering. For instance, let's say you ask your horse to change direction by picking up on your inside rein. You feel some resistance, but the horse makes a half circle and you're now going around the arena the opposite direction; so you release the rein. What you just taught your horse was to lean against pressure. Yes, his feet carried his body in the correct direction, but you rewarded the horse while he was pulling against the rein.

In this circumstance, I recommend keeping the horse on the circle until he softens to the pressure. You may have to go around several full circles before he feels soft. That's ok. It's better to wait and reward the right behavior. Use the leg on the inside of your circle in conjunction with your rein to encourage the horse to bend his ribs and engage his hindquarters. This will work to remove some resistance in the horse's body and help the horse soften his head and neck to your rein.

Anytime you steer or guide your horse, don't release the reins if he is pulling against you or leaning away. Stay in there until he feel nice and light. His feet can be going the right way and he can still be resisting the bit. He has to do both for it to be correct. He must turn or guide the way you want him to go while remaining soft on the bit in order to get a release.

3. Wait for softness before releasing the reins during downward transitions.

This is similar to the last point. If you ask your horse to halt and his feet stop moving, you must wait to relax your reins until the horse gives to the pressure. This is a common mistake riders make. As soon as the horse stops going forward they loosen the reins even if the horse is pulling hard against their hands. This is another way riders mistakenly teach their horses that they can fight the bit and get a reward.

Always make sure it feels like there is nothing in your hands before throwing the reins away. This is important to do during all downward transitions. From the canter to the trot, trot to the walk, etc. Just because the horse slows to the proper gait, does not mean it is the correct time to release your reins. You must maintain contact with the bit until the horse gives to your hands. Your timing is important. If you release too soon you teach the horse to pull on your hands, but on the other side, if you hold the pressure too long and miss when the horse responds correctly he will get frustrated and quit trying.

4. Reward effort during collection.

If you are asking for collection make sure you reward the horse when he gets off the bit. You don't want to constantly pull on the reins to keep his head where you want and ignore his efforts of softness. It needs to be a constant game of give and take. You pick up on the reins and if your horse feels nice, you instantly give back to him. Let him know that's what you want. You don't want him to stick his head down and lean against your hands. If you never release, he will eventually ignore the bit. The pressure never goes away; he can't escape it, so it starts to mean nothing to him.

Also remember to give a full release every once in a while while working on collection. If your horse carries himself well halfway around the arena and stays real light in your hands, it'd be a good idea to loosen your reins all the way and let him have a complete release of pressure. His reward for being so nice is allowing him to stretch his neck and carry himself where he feels comfortable. If he feels like he's winning, he will try harder for you the next time. If he can't win, he'll quit.

Keep these tips in mind to ensure that you are not accidentally training your horse to fight the bit and ignore pressure. With consistency, you will have a horse that is very soft on the bit and responsive to your reins. Nothing feels better than a horse that is light in your hands.

Disclaimer: I did not write this! It was posted in a blog under the handle of "Horsetails".  If this is your work please email me so I can ensure to give you proper credit or pull it on your request. 

This is a difficult topic, but it happens all too often. Someone buys a horse, and for whatever reason it's just not working out. Your emotions got in the way and you bought a horse that was too much for you or you're horse has developed some behavioral problems because you unknowingly let his level of respect for you slide. It happens. It's happened to me on more than one occasion.

It's like a bad relationship; everything was great in the beginning. You fell in love with this new horse. He was so cute and had such a good personality. You "clicked". But now after, living with his annoying, and sometimes dangerous habits that all surfaced after you were hooked, you're questioning whether or not it's time to call it quits.

Here's when you know it's time to break up with your equine partner. 

1. Say goodbye if you've lost your confidence.

Once lost, confidence as a rider can be very difficult to restore. If your horse has caused you to fear climbing in the saddle; it's time for him to go. A horse you don't trust will only cause you to become more afraid and wreck your confidence further. Riding scared also puts you at a greater risk of an accident happening. Horses have a sixth sense of picking up on the feelings or vibes from other animals around them; which includes other horses and humans. If you are afraid of your horse, because he has bolted on you several times, that fear will be telegraphed through every contact you have with the horse while astride his back; through the reins, your legs, your seat. It's been thought that horses can even detect the heartbeat of their riders. So, chances are that he will pick up on you nerves and it will only cause him to become fearful too or take advantage of your uneasiness and do the very thing you fear: bolt. It's time to start over. You need a horse that is reliable and will help you regain your nerve. It's nearly impossible to get your confidence back on the horse that ruined it in the first place.

2. Say goodbye if the relationship is beyond repair.

The relationship is beyond repair when you are out of your depth. This is when the things your horse does that you don't like or that scare you are beyond your expertise to fix. Lack of experience and now this fear factor can prevent you from being able to correct unwanted behavior. And you are once again in a dangerous position, at risk of an accident. If you know you can't handle this horse anymore, hire someone who can, to reform him. I don't believe most horses are hopeless cases or lost causes. Someone with the right level of experience and skill can fix the problems you are having. Unfortunately, some folks don't have the money or the desire to send a horse for training. That's understandable. Then try to sell him to someone who is capable of handling him. It's also important to be honest about your ability. If your horse has developed a bucking habit evaluate your skill set and determine if you are capable both physically and mentally to correct the problem. Denying that you are in over your head won't help your case. In fact, it will only get you hurt. There is no shame in admitting you can't fix the horse. Professional trainers devote their lives to learning and working with horses. If you're not a professional, you don't have the experience or knowledge, so why feel bad? That would be like me being reluctant to take my kid to the doctor after I tried to give him medicine for a sore throat, but it didn't get any better. There's no shame in admitting I need help from a doctor, because I am not one.

3. Say goodbye if you don't love him anymore.

People will hang on to a horse that's no good for them purely out of love. I understand if you don't want to give up on your horse even though he's destroyed your confidence and is more than you can handle because you love him too much. Take lessons from a professional or put the horse in training; if you are determined to make it work, you can find a solution. But if you really couldn't care a less anymore, it's time to send him packing. If you don't even like the horse now, it makes the situation worse. You won't be able to work with the horse properly because you're judgement is clouded by your dislike for the animal. You become too critical. He can't do anything right. You can't make yourself fall in love. Either it's there or it's not. The fear your horse has instilled in you and your frustration at being unable to solve the problem can easily force you to lose interest and emotional stock in the horse. In this instance, it's only fair for you both if you part ways. You deserve a horse you really love and the horse deserves someone who will love him.

4. Say goodbye if someone you respect tells you it's time.

It's just like in a relationship, if your best friend doesn't like your man, heed their advice. If your instructor or another respectable professional in the horse industry tells you the horse is no good for you, they are probably right. Good instructors look out for their clients. It's not easy for us to tell someone they need to get rid of their horse, but if we feel strongly that it's a bad deal, we'll do it. So, don't take it lightly. A professional can see where you're at and what the horse is like and can judge whether or not it will work. Trust their advice. They don't want you to get hurt and they don't want to see you regress because you have the wrong horse. Maybe they can step in and help, or maybe they don't think it will ever work. There is wisdom among counselors. Be open to their suggestions.

It's never an easy decision to make when it comes down to selling a horse that's giving you trouble. Hopefully, these tips can help you make a decision if you are on the boarder of a break up. Troubled couples go for therapy, and they make it work. So, don't just give up. Sometimes there's hope if you get the right help. But, don't feel like a monster if it doesn't. Sometimes it's for the best.