Starting to get a hard mouth?

Question

I got my horse about 3 months ago. I recently found out that my friend has been riding him behind my back and shes not a very good rider and has started giving him a hard mouth.

Shes stop riding him now but I;m not the worlds best rider and don't know how to control my horse and fix his hard mouth issues.

How do I fix his hard mouth. Its not that bad at the moment but i don't want to make it worse.

Horse Info:

Thoroughbred

16.2 hh

19

Eventer

Thanks heaps,

Wonder

Answer 1

you need to learn how to flex him...ill brb..i was trying to find a vid on how to teach them,basically you take one rein and pull it (gently)next to your hip and let your horse spin till he stops and touches his side with this nose then do the other side repeat about 5-10 times each side and it will loosen his head...but you let up on his head as soon as he touches...you might need to start with jut trying to touch it but soon he will know :)

Answer 2

Once a horse has a hard mouth, it can not be reversed.

I presume when you mean starting to get a little hard, that he is resisting when you ask to slow down. How to fix this?

1. Your snaffle bit, probably isn't as gentle as you think. A snaffle works by pressing on the bars of the mouth and acts as a nut cracker on the sides of the mouth. So each time you ask him to respond, or slow with the rein, it is a very quick ask and give. Ask and give, ask and give. You don't want to pull for more than 3 seconds each time.

2. Now to slow him down without using your rein aid. From trot to walk, you need to prepare - sit trot, stretch up through your body and stop the movement with your hips. At the same time hold and give with your reins. The moment he slows you must reward him with a pat. It may take several weeks for him to understand your new aids. Just be very quick to reward - he will definately feel your body, and it is just a matter of associating this with slow down. (same process for walk halt, and canter trot etc.)

Gest of luck to you and tb :)

Answer 3

What kind of bit are you using?  If you are using anything stronger than a snaffle with a dropped noseband then you most certainly WILL harden the poor creatures mouth.

What was he been ridden in when you got him?

Sounds like you need to get some tuition, private if you can afford it and learn how to ride your horse without yanking his mouth all the time.  

I dont mean to sound bad but if his mouth is hardening then that is exactly what is happening.

Get some tuition and take the advice of people who have experience who are GOOD riders.

Answer 4

Hopefully you can try this and it may help: Once you get him to a gallop or even just a trot, remember to keep your hands low and back, then just gently alternate hands(check him), once his head is collected and low, you should be able to loosen the reins a bit and he should stretch out his neck without grabbing the bit too hard.

Answer 5

Yes it can be fixed.

You need to remember to use the pressure that you want, light and soft on the reins, then when the horse does not respond move to a firmer pressure.

Have you thought of riding him in a hackamore for a while as a change of pace?

I have to agree working on flexion of the neck will help.

The biggest thing is its going to take time and riding to fix the problem. If you are still having trouble I would consider taking some lessons. A good portion of the issue is probably your confidence level. The best way to get more comfortable riding is to do it more.

I have had a horse with a hard mouth and its no fun when you can barely get them to stop.

Answer 6

When we say that a horse has a "hard mouth" we really aren't talking about their mouth being ruined.  We are refering to their brains being ruined.  What happens is - the horse isn't corrected and then given relief promptly all the time, and soon it learns to start cheating by dragging on the bit or ignoring cues.  It can still feel you pull on the reins, but it has learned to ignore the cue because it hasn't been handled right.

So "yes" you can improve a hard mouth.

The first thing you need to do become very concious of how you are asking for something, and then do it properly yourself each and every time.

Example.  To ask your horse to bend his head, you apply direct pressure with one rein.  The moment your horse gives his head to you, you must totally give him relief for a second.  Then ask again.  If you become very quick at responding to his efforts, and if you don't give in when he doesn't respond, then he will improve.  For example, if you pull both reins back to stop him, and he throws his head in the air so you quit pulling, then you are teaching him to have a hard mouth.  By quitting pulling when he's bad you're teaching him to do that.  Instead, when he throws his head you must keep constant pressure with both reins, and not release until he stops moving his feet and softs his nose.

Changing bits probably isn't the answer right now.  Instead go buy the set of DVDs by Clinton Anderson called "Riding with Confidence".  Buy set number 1, on eBay you can get them for $60 or so.  After you've done all this work then you can consider trying a different bit.

Good luck.