Going on the Bit?

Question

My 12 Thoroughbred gelding that was on the track for three years before being trained for lower level hunter/jumper work. I am trying to switch to eventing and we are having issues with dressage. He adamently refuses to go on the bit. We have worked with some of the best trainers in the state at clinics and they have not been able to solve the problem. I cant get a regular dressage trainer because the only ones close enough to trailer to on a regular basis are less than amazing so I am on my own. Anyway, whenever I try to work him onto the bit he gets really stiff at the poll and sticks his nose out. He will not step under himself or put it anywere near the vertical for more than a couple steps. I am asking him be pushing with my seat then legs and by giving half halts with one or both hands like I was taught. Am I doing something wrong? He is ridden in a loose ring snaffel with a flash (he use to open his mouth and brace). He is very healthy (no pain) and my tack fits him well. Thanks

Answer 1

It is very difficult for a horse to go onto the bit who doesnt actually have muscles in the correct places. I used to share an ex-racer thoroughbred and I had exactly the same problem with her.

As she hadnt been re-trained correctly after she had come off the race track, she needed a lot of work on her aids and understanding what I really wanted. You say that your gelding has been re-trained so all that is okay. However, when racing, the horse always works 'flat out' and doesnt use muscles for any kind of 'roundness' like what you are wanting to achieve. Therefore, the horse often ends up with an 'upside down' neck as all the muscle is built up on the underside of the neck rather than the top like you would need for that roundness and going onto the bit.

You arent doing anything wrong at all, its simply that as he is an ex-racer he has no idea what you are trying to tell him to do and is probably quite unable to do it, due to his muscle conformation and the fact that as he has never 'gone onto the bit' meaning that he doesnt have the muscle strength for that self-carriage.

For me, I found that as I was unable to make her understand under saddle, I went back to basics and lunged her for weeks if not months. When lungeing (a lot of people probably wont agree with me on this one...!!) I used a "pessoa" or a "training aid" which is designed by a man called Nelson Pessoa who is quite a famous showjumper.

The "pessoa training aid" is a sympathetic system of ropes and pulleys which improve muscle tone and balance by encouraging the horse to take the weight off the forehand and bring his hindquarters underneath him - ie go onto the bit.

I find that once the muscles are built up in the correct places, you will then find it easier to communicate to your horse what you want him to do.

The best way to use the training aid is not to over use it - just use for short periods of time and only maybe twice or three times a week as it can put too much strain on the horse and his muscles.

You should keep riding him too. When you do then ride him, I find the best way is just to ask for him to soften by sponging the reins (no pulling...!) and then when he does soften, reward by giving a little. The best way to get a horse onto the bit (I find) is on a circle, using the inside rein to soften and keeping the horse out on the circle with squeezing from your inside leg and then using half halts to collect.

A lot of people I know use them and if used properly and in line with correct riding they can help you a lot.

Maybe people will disagree with me and say that "equipment" is no substitute for correct riding but if you dont have expert trainers to help you (which in your case you dont) then I think using it alongside your riding can really help you to begin to improve your horses muscle tone.

Everyone is different but I find that this worked for me on an ex-racer!

Hope this helps you!!

ps! if you are interested here is a website with a little bit more information about the training aid:

http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/product...

Answer 2

Try moving his shoulders around. Like make squares at the walk. Go in a straight line and say your turning to the right make him place his left front leg over the right. Then ride a straight line and do the same thing until his pole comes down. Then take it to the trot. When you ask for the trot transition make him step his inside front leg over his outside front leg and trot on. If he comes off the bit in the trot then go back to the walk and make him move his shoulders around by placing one front leg over the other.

Answer 3

Don't despair -- even if he is only going on the bit for a few steps that is something to build off of!  Also, travelling on the bit requires balance and strength that horses do not normally use, so it is definitely something that you want to "build up" to for a continual basis.

I have always found that having

both independent seat and hand aids are crucially important in getting a horse to travel on the bit.  Your hands have to provide CONSTANT, ELASTIC and FOLLOWING supporting contact with his mouth.  He pushes his head out to escape that contact right now because he is trying to avoid it.  In his experience that contact is probably too harsh and unyeilding and he fears submitting to it because of pain experiences in the past.  Your legs and seat have to "push" him up onto the bit and keep him balanced there by providing impulsion.  So both of your aids have to be constant, consistent and able to operate independantly -- so you don't grab with your hands when you post, etc.

I would start building the muscle and flexion needed by working your horse on some elastic side reins -- you can also try elastic inserts for your reins.

You really do need a dressage professional to work with -- how about trying some videos and books?  Also, if there is no one nearby you may be able to find an instructor that will review videos of your riding and provide feedback from those.

Good luck!

Answer 4

If I were you I'd find a good equine massage therapist and start having bodywork done.  It sounds like you've had a lot of very experienced people working with you and him.  Massage will definitely not hurt, and in my experience, it has improved many horses' ways of going.

Answer 5

I have the same problem, it takes a while to correct it but I can give you a little advice.

1.) Drop the reins, only hold onto where the buckle of the reins is. Push your horse into a canter with your seat and legs only. Make sure you're in the arena alone, it can get a little crazy. Let him go as fast as he wants, but not out of control. Post the canter OR step firmly in your stirrups every other stride. Wait it out until his stride becomes longer and slower. He should l**k and chew. As soon as he begins to stretch through his neck (his nose should almost touch the ground) then go down to a trot only using seat and legs. Wait until he stretches down once more, then give him a break.

2.) Walk him for about 10 minutes, then repeat step one in the other direction. (This exercise takes a while, it took me about 20 minutes of straight cantering to get this done, in one direction! Don't give up though, or you will have to start over.)

3.) For about 10 minutes after this exercise walk and trot your horse. Try to get him on the bit, and sit the trot. Use your seat and legs to push him. It's okay if he goes fast, you need to keep him in front of your leg to be on the bit. Use as little rein as possible. You can't soften a horse through rein until they actually have contact. You may use the rein (NOT TOO MUCH) if he feels heavy. When he feels light, push him even more.

4.) Make sure your horse gets cooled out. Then do this exercise at least 10 more times. Then slow his trot down while keeping him on the bit.

5.) If this doesn't work, lounging can be another option. Stick some nice loose side reins on him at first. Never make them too tight. He may just be lacking the muscle in his back.

6.) Remember, that a horse isn't on the bit only because his head set is right. Being on the bit means the horse is through, and that he is stretching all the way down his spin. His inside hind leg will also be moving underneath his belly, rather than behind the front inside leg.

Good Luck! This is a hard thing to learn, and it will get frustrating. Just keep too it and you'll be rewarded.