At 21:24:33 on 28.06.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
i was wondering if anyone has any ideas for me because grenville is really hard to stop on hacks (only on grass on the road he is fine) and i ride in a loose ring snaffle in a flash with a running martingale or a hackamore (but this isn't used for hacking) and i don't like strong bits but he is pulling my arms out when we canter lol its like a tug of war and i win but my hands are red raw or my gloves end up ripped so i was wondering if anyone had any ideas what i could try? Do you think a grackle nose band would help? I really don't want to use a stronger bit so any ideas would be helpful :), someone suggested a market harborough but i don't like these either as they seem very harsh. Also would like to point out he doesn't try to get faster just canters at a steady speed but refuses to stop and locks his jaw -.- so yeah any ideas? thanks :)

At 21:26:13 on 28.06.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
sorry was meant to be a pic of a grackle

At 22:14:00 on 28.06.11, Angelalain wrote:
I use a grakle on my little mare, most of the time she's fine and it doesn't do anything much, but when she decides to launch I,ve got her! She gets very stroppy because she knows I can stop her (to the point where she will stop and not go forward) to be honest it is too strong for her, but the last 3 times she's had me off, she was in a snaffle and a drop to do dressage! The last time she put me in A&E and at my advanced age I don't bounce so well these days, hence I use it! If you can borrow one give it a try!

At 00:00:05 on 29.06.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Thanks :) i will give it a try lol if it doesn't work i can live with it. Just want to find something to make stopping more comfortable :)

At 08:16:08 on 29.06.11, Flicka wrote:
Mark Smith who teaches Hold Your Horses clinics says that it's not about stronger bits or equipment but technique and you should use your body weight rather than your hands. I would really like to do a clinic with him as I have a little mare who is very hard to hold whatever bit you put in, so I've become really nervous about really letting her go. However I have spent my time improving my riding to deal with it. When she locks and goes rigid, I need to be able to get her to flex and soften but not shorten my reins and get hold of her. Mark and anyone who has ridden a lot of racehorses will tell you that they are taught to go faster when you take a hold of them and it's up to us to be the one who stops pulling. You should see if Mark is doing any clinics near you Jess-with any luck my riding club should be sorting out a clinic/demo :)
http://www.msjump.co.uk

At 08:25:45 on 29.06.11, Flicka wrote:
In emergency situations, if a horse has locked this technique could be worth a try-has anyone used it?

At 09:42:28 on 29.06.11, Dazzle wrote:
I have used the video technique when I worked in a racing yard, yes it does work but its not anything like as quick as they seem to suggest and its only good if the horse does not run with a low head carriage. You don't say if you canter in the same place every time, could Grenville anticipating whats coming? For real hard pullers I have used a Kineton, which is deeply unfashionable. I would imagine if you turned up in your yard with it, people would throw their hands up in horror because it is so out of favour most riders don't understand its action. It does need to be fitted correctly and should always be used with a snaffle. Like everything, some horses love it some hate it, I think it would be worth your while to give this a little investigation.

At 11:05:44 on 29.06.11, Flicka wrote:
Actually a Kineton (plus a standing martingale as she was a head in the air type-another cause for people to throw their hands up in horror lol) was the only way my husband could stop his TB mare out hunting. I did try and ride her without it but did keep passing the master which wasn't very popular!

At 12:21:50 on 29.06.11, horsevid wrote:
Mark is very good, I am lucky to have my horse on the yard where he is based in Oxfordshire. Technique makes a huge difference. I think Horse magazine this month has an article covering one of his Hold your Horses clinics, which you might find interesting. Check msjump.co.uk or drop him an email, he does clinics all over the place. :-)
http://www.msjump.co.uk

At 12:27:58 on 29.06.11, horsevid wrote:
Until you can get to a Mark clinic, you could try anchoring your hands down on his neck when you canter, to make absolutely certain you aren't pulling, even slightly. At the same time, keep your weight back, don't collapse forward. I would practise flexing his neck and getting his jaw to release in halt and walk, making sure when you ask for the flexion (bend) that you move your hands sideways only, NEVER back, and when he releases his jaw, release the rein and let him stretch for a few strides - then pick up the rein and ask for the flexion again. Once you can do this in the school at trot and canter, you have a good chance of getting him to do it on a hack. Another good tip is to ride wavy lines instead of straight lines while hacking (if terrain allows) - if your horse feels like he is switching off to you, do some curves/flexions/transitions to get his attention back.
http://www.HorseVideoAnalysis.com