[QUOTE=Ashemont;3899746]
Appreciate the post but it’s not that my ponies are not forward and I sure focus more on engagement than most coming from an FEI dressage background and having successfully bred performance warmbloods for over 20 years. [/QUOTE] I really do think that Ironbessflint’s posting is very very appropriate and is in total synergy with what I’m thinking. Warning: I’m going to be very frank here and post extensively only because I know you are eager to learn and get another perspective to sort this out. 
I still don’t know what this “war bonnet” is but I’m thinking if it’s to stop the evasion by putting pressure on the poll then it’s only going to lead ultimately to another problem. Likewise with the martingale. I’m really NOT a fan of using one thing to correct a problem caused by something else though. The horse is obviously expressing an opinion that there’s something she doesn’t like about what is being done. Get rid of the gadgets that prevent her from expressing her opinion!
Find out what it is she doesn’t like and stop or fix it .
And I sure do want to fix whatever the problem is not just try to cover the symptom This is why the bobbing is so puzzling. If I had been trying to just get a headset without getting the ponies through and working over the topline it would make sense; but since I’m all too aware of working from behind…
I’m still laying money on though that it’s the bitting and rein handling part of the equation.
I know I’ve not seen the problem but the whole description is just adding up to that being the root cause. The war bonnet and martingale response likewise just leads me to futher be certain it’s that.
It must’ve been something in the air because Maggie was wired and pulling 
I half-halted until my hands ached - could not get a walk from Maya at all.
mmmmmm… again I wasn’t there so didn’t see it but sounds wrong to me. Wrong in lots of ways. Also for sure it’s not confirming a focus on forward and relaxation.
Maya is a bit hotter than Maggie, who is very laid back most of the time. Saw Chester Weber today and he said he’s had luck with a Pennfield feed that’s specifically for nervous horses and ponies. Hubby bought a bag to give it a try
Waste of money!!! You can’t feed a horse so it’s not nervous!! I don’t care if the Lord Almighty tried to tell you that, I’d disagree!
If the horse is nervous then it needs further training and developing so it trusts you more and gains confidence in your ability never to put it to do anything outside its comfort zone or that will harm or hurt it.
I’m also presuming that this “majikal feed” is going to be something like Cool-n-lite. Which I know is marketed as being non heating and to help to ensure calm horses etc etc but its cooked barley and 12% protein!!
Now don’t get me wrong because I feed my horses barley for their winter feed when they need supplementing. Its a good hard feed with slow energy release and as such one I also totally endorse as being not directly contributing to making a horse hyper. BUT… If I had one that I thought was hot and flighty frighty like a kid on enumbers because of feed then I’d knock the feed down or off or up the exercise and work.
I don’t know her body condition or what work you’re doing BUT if you think she’s hot because of feed… and the problem you’re describing no way is that… then just significantly reduce the protein and high glycaemic index carbs. It may well be that you’ve been advised to feed this particular stuff because it’s less than what you’re currently feeding and in that case, it sounds sensible advice. IF though the advice was "Buy and feed this, it will make a nervous horse not nervous. Then… twaddle and a waste of money!
Note though that what you’re experiencing is a specific problem and it’s not going to be sorted by feeding her. So don’t anyone go thinking you can feeding a nervous horse to make it not nervous. I truly can’t begin to understand folks who think you can feed a horse till it behaves. (that’s my horse feed/training rant over for today! :winkgrin: Well until I go see a pony this afternoon!)
My neighbor said the horses she rode today behaved oddly and then tonight she found my favorite big black cat dead between our driveways; he was half eaten.
Sorry to hear that.
Thomas - You had advised me previously to put the greener pony’s rein on the bottom, which is how I have them. However, the greener pony (Maya) has the higher head carriage. So should I switch the rein placement?
Did I!!! :eek: NOT ME! No way … NEVER!!! NEVER IN A MONTH OF SUNDAYS!
Find that and I’ll eat my hat!!!
It’s head carriage and way of going that determines rein placement. Not whether a horse is green or not. You ensure the horse with the higher head carriage etc isn’t interfering with the other horse and putting on commands you don’t want.
I would never have said anything else! I’d lay money on that! Unless I must have been drunk and in a state of oblivion!!! Or it wasn’t me!!!
Seriously… I’m wondering if you’ve misunderstood me somewhere/somehow?
Bill didn’t want me to drive Maya singly because he was concerned for safety. She had been abused before I got her and she gets very nervous by herself. She adores Maggie and really makes an effort to stay with her all of the time. Bill wants me to drive her with her security blanket (Maggie) until she gains enough experience to be secure on her own. There are so many things she hasn’t been exposed to and she’s terrified - but next to Maggie she’s fine. Hope I’ve explained this OK.
mmmmmmm so you’re not sorting or really tackling the root cause of the problem then.
Again, don’t get me wrong, I can understand the advice and the logic. It is indeed safer in many ways to drive a pair. You’d be very unlucky to have both behaving like twits at the same instant! It’s also giving the pony the chance to get out and experience stuff and start to be less nervous… all good stuff.
But I’m thinking you really do need a different perspective on this: You are a novice pairs driver aren’t you? I’m also thinking more and more that there’s some steps missed here with this pony’s training and you’re pushing her on even though she’s telling you something isn’t right.
Whilst your trainer’s advice in context is good advice, you’re not just letting her develop confidence … which is the purpose and intent of the approach of putting her straight to a pair.
But you’re not doing that… You’re trying to get her in a right “head set” (HATE those words by the way ) You’re picking a fight with her with constant half halts to force her to walk. (What is that about!?) You’re using gadgets to try to stop her moving her head. You’re doing prelim tests with her. None of that is about developing trust and confidence and being attentive to her needs neither is it focusing merely on sending her forward and developing confidence in a pair and in readiness for her to go as a single.
I really do appreciate all of the input. It sure helps to gain different perspectives on the problem.
Have a long chat with your trainer and see what is in his mind and really take heed because whilst I can appreciate his point of view as you’re relaying it I seriously wonder if you’re just pushing to sort out a problem so you can move the pony on.
. Most of them are able to come off the Serenity within a couple of months and they are well balanced animals who are now comfortable in their heads and can work happily and be relaxed.
