At 23:54:42 on 05.12.11, ArabianHeart wrote:
I have recently (6 months) bought a new gelding. He is an 11yo, Quarter Horse X gelding. I purchased this boy cheap, as I am an experienced rider and was looking for a 'project' All has been going well and he is taking to everything great! He was recently used as a pleasure horse (he had pretty much little to no proper education) and was ridden in a kimblewick bit. The way I see it, he was ridden in this bit as he was classed as having a 'hard mouth' although I think it was just because of his lack of education. He also has saddle sore scars from poorly fitting saddles (my saddle was fitten to him) and a horrible scar on his nose where I think he was badly ridden/broken in a bosal! OUCH! In the six months I have had him, I have transitioned him to a sweet mouth loose ring snaffle which he loves. We have established beautiful stops and he is yielding well, giving to my legs etc. He lifts his back well and engages his hind quarters and uses them very well, but he doesnt seem to want to give in the shoulders and 'go on the bit' as most people would call it. I prefer to explain it in the way that he is working from behind well, but not riding forward onto the bit correctly. I half halt him, he gives and straight away takes again. Half halt again and again, but he then begins to fight. He is beautifully naturally balanced too, and prefers to be ridden with a constant contact (although, I think he was 'hung off' alot as a youngster. We can work well in walk, trot and canter in both directions. Also, something to lighten the subject and give everyone a laugh lol NOW, the funny thing is, he is so so quiet, but I know him and always have to be on my toes. He doesn't tolerate lazy riders and I made the mistake the other day. He was working beautifully for me, and working in the arena as we came around the bend, I absent mindedly dropped my inside hand and shoulder maybe just an inch or so, he grabbed the opportunity and BUCKED, good and proper twisting, bucking and spinning! I thankfully stayed on! My fault, at least he is teaching me to keep alert! I have ridden/owned many horses that would lazily drop their shoulders etc. when their rider done this but have never known one to object so badly/take advantage so easy? Has anyone ever come across a quirky horse like this?

At 09:14:17 on 14.12.11, Reggyroo wrote:
I have come across horses like this before... I've had two. One had been horribly abused as a youngster and it took me about a year to get him to accept the bit. The other had a dislodged vertebra in her lumbar region which caused he to buck at the slightest movements and to not accept the bit. My best advice is that you get a chiropractor to have a look at his back.. Good Luck

At 05:32:41 on 10.01.12, noneotherthan01 wrote:
My advice? Good luck!! My horse has a hard mouth... and is currently being weaned onto a snaffle from a weymouth. She likes to hang on your hands too... It just takes a lot of work to get better! I've used a tie down on my horse to get her off my hands a bit, and she seems to realize all the pressure she's putting on her poll isn't fun!! Just be patient!