Hot, hot, HOT TB/Connemara - what bit/bridle?

[Graymaresrule]

If he’s anything like my old eventing pony, hardware isn’t going to help much. I forget who said it but “A stronger bit is only going to work until the horse gets over the shock of it”

As another poster mentioned you probably won’t be able to tire them out either. Mine could also go from zero to 60 in a single bound…I don’t think I ever got him to trot a fence. We did all our jumping in an old Passier dressage saddle, get forward on him and you were dead meat.

If the owner needs to feel like she’s got an emergency brake I would use a gag with 2 sets of reins, using the snaffle rein for regular riding and the gag ONLY in an emergency and also learn how to do a one rein stop.

[Foxtrot_s]

The OP has tried bits from mild to stronger, and the pony flips or curls under so a kineton might not be the answer. I had a strong standardbred who went beautifully in the kineton on the hunt, but she didn’t curl under.
Otherwise you are just replacing one problem for another.

With these horses, the slightest tweak of the glutes, the smallest straightening of the back transmits loud commands to them and if the saddle fits, there should be no discomfort.

I had a TB who could not work through pain, just got “angry” and ran through it, so it was all about doing tiny movements…and relaxing. When I put a kimberwick on her for the hunt, down went her head and she just charged - so it was back to a milder bit and martingale.

[LaraNSpeedy]

I have this horse or maybe his brother. Mine is a Connemara paint. He is an incredible jumper - he can compete with most big horses if he wants to. I guess I am glad I focused on eventing with him because it has forced us to stick with dressage. That has been the key.

I am certain most pros would have given up by now. It has taken me 4 years from when I started him as a 5-6 year old, with a mystery shoulder injury or something the massage therapist found and chiro agreed - but it was from being cast as a young horse - he was a stud and unstarted at the time. So I have taken him from this mess to where he is now.

Last weekend all our training level scores were around 70. I have never ever worked with a horse this long and only been at training level dressage. Admit that in my warmup I would half pass to the left and shoulder in - his WORK is higher level in the trot though in any extending trots he wants to get fast - the lateral work really is key for him. We have been stuck with his canter work needing LOTS of love.

First of all, I have trained a lot of horses but this is my first Connemara and I think part of it is the breed - lots of heart and power XC - but for me to try to explain to him to canter differently - ie, slow, use his back and in the moment - to wait and listen to me and not just assume its the pony express… this has been a challenge. Just getting it across to him to think WITH me.

Dressage work as been key - And its had massive huge frustrating I GIVE UP moments - even when I got decent scores, the test felt laborious for me. Ride every single stride. But I was going against his nature in a way and I think now that he is 9-10 years old - he is officially mature. He actually likes the work.

PRACTICALITIES - a lot of lateral work - transitions - teaching him to sit back and relax through the back - totally key. Canter loops, counter canter, canter leg yields, stretchy work.

I did switch from a French link eggbutt to a thinner reg snaffle D ring. For him, I think it would make it worse to go strong strong.

Just two weeks ago, we were doing some dressage canter work and he was listening to everything - he fell out of rhythm because canter leg yields are difficult and I balanced him slightly and he was totally mentally engaged, he sorted it out with a relaxed back - he thought through a back to front lead change - something I only got over fences on the fly, literally flying.

Last jumping clinic I went to - was SO great - the clinician is a rolex, international eventer and she said WOW, how much better you and your horse is after the first 20 minutes of the clinic! And I thought - its because I was riding the horse he was last year and he has slowed down so much that I need someone to fix me because I am riding defensively. Another sign that he has come so far.

That is my experience with a hony like your clients. Dressage work was key - a lot of lateral work. But it takes time.

[Foxtrot_s]

That is a good story. Well done for sticking with it, many people would give up and not take the small steps and be happy with the teeniest improvements.

[Ambitious_Kate]

[QUOTE=carolprudm;7778604]

We did dressage FIRST, EVERY ride. And we would do dressage for as long as it took. There were days when it was walk, halt, walk halt. When he behaved himself we would go out and play. One side benefit was that he usually scored well in dressage.

Irish Coffee, back in the very old days
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7GQTHrTZmp0/UWiRw6nTnEI/AAAAAAAAEkg/ojYL6H4qeDs/w259-h207-p-no/ic.jpg[/QUOTE]

I agree with horses like this, they need and thrive on work and more work.

If it were my horse, he would be instantly, and the owner too, in a dressage program, to learn to listen, quiet down, learn there is work to be done not jumping, learn to use himself correctly and install some listening and cues that don’t involve bit use, but add to it, and to get him to respond correctly to contact.

Then, like the quoted poster, he would get dressage every day, before jumping. There would also be a big program of not jumping until he was quiet, and getting him quiet around fences. Jumping would also only be a few days a week, for training correctly between the fences.

Believe me he will be able to turn it on when needed, you won’t be training the ‘jumper’ out of him, but you will be training some sanity and manageablity into him. I like the look of the shaped roller snaffle with the poll assistance, myself.

Remember when bitting to get that bit up off his bars, so it isn’t hanging down in his mouth. He can’t get his tongue over it, and can’t fool with it and it will be quieter, maybe that bit would do it. A baucher also will do it and might be good for his dressage/flat/in hand work.

[Ambitious_Kate]

Carol, love that photo and the description of that horse and how you handled him. Those horses are very special in our lives! Cool guy.

[Graymaresrule]

[QUOTE=Ambitious Kate;7780397]
Carol, love that photo and the description of that horse and how you handled him. Those horses are very special in our lives! Cool guy.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, I had him for 30 years. Oh the stories I could tell…

[OneGrayPony]

I was given a horse like this in my teens. He was mostly arab, could jump the moon, and when I first started riding him our gaits were jig, jig faster, sproing and gallop. Less was more in his face, and I learned actually to let go and breathe into his back to get him to slow down. His anxiety was increased by boxing him in and decreased by very very light hands on a simple french link. I wouldn’t bit him up.

Incidentally, he was given to me because was the only person who could get him to flat walk. Miss that pony!