I acquired a 15 year old Appaloosa gelding about 7 months ago as sort of a “bonus” horse when I got my Morgan (they both came from a family member who could no longer keep them). He had been ridden western previously (though had been off about a year). I put this in Dressage because that is the direction I’d like to go with him.
Anyway- I didn’t do much with him for a while except pleasure ride every so often because I was conditioning the Morgan and I didn’t have time to work both horses. He’s always been super resistant to the bit- gaping his mouth, raising his head, and just about every other evasive behavior. He HAS had his teeth floated, saddle fit checked, and he is sound. He does not do it as much when he is lunged with side reins or vienna reins, but he does not really seek out contact. I really think he just has never been asked to. No big deal, we’ll get there eventually. I’m open to the idea that I may be contributing to the problem somehow, and once the weather is a bit nicer I’ll enlist the help of a trainer (no indoor arena where he’s at, and no lights… gets dark pretty early here still)
Until then- all I want to do is get him a bit more in shape, moving forward without fussing. He’s quite fat! I want him to enjoy work- at least a little. He always seems quite happy to be saddled and bridled (seriously- after two months off he majorly perked up when I bridled him the other day), until the bit goes in his mouth.
After talking to a trainer, I switched his bit from a plain D-ring snaffle to a D-ring mullen mouth. We thought since he was used to a Western curb, perhaps he didn’t like the nutcracker effect of a snaffle. It seemed to help a little, but he still gapes his mouth/throws his head (even with little to no contact-- I’m not asking him to do anything other than walk and trot on a loose rein). When I started riding him again, he would pull quite a bit, especially when I’d ask him to halt (which, by the way, I do ask for with seat first, and very little rein pressure). When halted, he continues to pull. I just hold until he relaxes, then praise him once he does. We work a lot on nice, quiet transitions-halt-walk, walk-trot, etc.
I tried him in a loose-ring Waterford yesterday to see what he’d do. Really it’s too soon to tell because we’ve only had one ride in it. He pulled a little less, but still gapes his mouth, etc. He’s also tense and tends to pins his ears. I will reiterate: he is out of shape, all we are doing is a lot of walking and some trotting on a fairly loose rein. I expect him to need to keep his head up for balance and I don’t mind right now. Our goal is to relax, and move forward without fussing at the bit. I figure the rest will all come later.
I’d love suggestions. If the waterford doesn’t make a difference I was thinking of trying something like a Myler that offers tongue relief. Or, even going bitless for a little while and see how his attitude is then. He really is a good boy and tries - he’s very attentive when doing ground work/lunging… the problems start when the reins are touched. I do have pretty quiet hands so I’d like to think that’s not the problem- we’ll see what the trainer thinks in the near future.
