At 00:37:36 on 30.01.10, Em28 wrote:
I would say that there isn't a particular age that a horse can start working on the bit. Like us, horses learn at different paces and should begin the next stage once they are accomplished at the current one. To begin working the horse on the bit I would do lots of transitional work and circles, whilst having a good contact on the reins. Also, by flexing the neck, allowing the bend and opening the inside rein to allow the bend on circles. Exercises like leg yielding can help too.

At 19:40:52 on 13.03.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Horses should always work on the bit, no matter what age, it develops muscles. However be careful, the picture you show is a picture or slight hyperflexion/rollkur. This is bad, working on the bit means engaged hindquarters, a straight back and the head on the vertical with a slight arc. You don't need to use your hands at all to achieve this but your legs and seat. Work on it :)

At 20:07:05 on 17.03.10, ToriSilverson wrote:
if you havent done much work in an outline before she may not hav alot of neck muscle needed to hold the outline. you could try some lungine with side reins on to build up these muscles, and it will get her used to carrying her head this way. did wonders for my horse :)

At 20:17:12 on 17.03.10, zoelovesanimals wrote:
Yeh My Friend is going to to help me with it as i cant lunge myself coz of my wheelchair. :) Xx

At 22:25:20 on 17.03.10, farasi wrote:
The picture Zoe put on here is not slight hyperflextion / Rollkur at all, the horses head is slightly behind the verticle which does not mean it is not on a contact and does not for one second mean it is in rollkur, there is no strain what so ever put on the lumbar spines there is no hollowing of them. So all this so called hype about being overbent is mentioned without the theroretical knowledge to back it up and will cause a lot of unnecessary flapping worrying.

At 03:45:35 on 18.03.10, cavallogirl wrote:
Back to your original question Zoe :-) right from the beginning of learning to lead the horse should be taught to yield from the poll. Thus the beginning of rounding up. Then later if he has a bit the same needs to be taught though ground exercises to have a soft bit response - a yield to a light feel.. nothing more... then the rest is easy!!! the more they do on the ground the easier it is when you are on top... With some training your horse can learn to lunge for you from your wheelchair and you both could have so much fun with liberty work also. Have you seen the PP lady who has done a lot from her chair?... good luck.. Catz

At 21:28:42 on 18.03.10, ToriSilverson wrote:
hey i agree with cavallogirl, if your horse is used to your wheelchair im sure you could find a way to lunge with it. btw i reli admire how u are still riding even tho you hav a disability. :) good luck with your training.

At 21:31:41 on 18.03.10, zoelovesanimals wrote:
Thankyou :) :) Now its trying up im going to be tring to go in the school more to lunge and if that dnt work might take her out in the field to do so!! :) We have tried me sitting in the middle with someone lunging her around me and she 100% responds to my voice :) So its jst working out the lungin :) and @ToriSilverson Thankyou very much :) Xxxx

At 08:19:24 on 19.03.10, Flicka wrote:
Hi Zoe, you might get some inspiration from Silke Valentin who I think cavallogirl is talking about-see link below.
http://www.examiner.com/x-7431-Clicker-Training-Examiner~y2009m5d14-Inspiration-from-natural-horsewoman-Silke-Valentin

At 22:54:15 on 20.03.10, ToriSilverson wrote:
@ flicka, the videos on those links are amazing, and tht black horse of hers is absolutely stunning! @zoe your very welcome :) and from looking at the photos on your page you are a great horsewoman :)