There’s a VERY good chance I’ll be getting a new mare this weekend. She’s done just about everything western from barrels to trails and is good once you get her conditioned. The only thing I don’t like is she’s always been ridden in a tie down because she’s learned she can get away from the bit by raising her head and gets headstrong. She’s usually fine in the arena or a closed area, especially once she’s consistently getting worked. But any time you ride outside of the arena she needs a tie down because she gets so headstrong. Once I work out the kinks and get her into shape (and out of the moody phase) she will basically become my mothers. However, I’m not sure how to fix the tie down issue, if it can even be fixed. I’ve never dealt with tie down horses. Any ideas? They also said she works okay in a combination bit without a tie down . . . if that means anything? I’m thinking nose pressure. Any help is appreciated!
She gets headstrong because instead of teaching her that she must, at all times, yield to the bit, someone didn’t want to put in the effort to get this crystal clear for her and so put her into a tie down.
I know this is common in a lot of the western world - doesn’t change the fact that it’s a cheap fix in lieu of training.
I’d take this mare and start her in a plain snaffle and go back and re-train her as if she were being backed for the first time. Forget about the fact that she’s got a history of being ridden in a tie down: it doesn’t change the fact that the core issue is she doesn’t understand how to give to the rein, so you approach it from that perspective. Is this something you’re comfortable and/or capable of doing? Chances are it’s going to require excellent timing and consistency more than anything until she gives up the idea that there is any other avenue other than “give to this pressure.”
Lateral flexions are going to be your friend for a long time. I wouldn’t be riding this horse on a straight line until she demonstrates she can do so without throwing her head in the air if I pick up the reins.
That’s along the lines of what I was thinking. Take her back how far, as in when first teaching them about a bit and what it means? I am definitely comfortable with it, and if I run into any bumps in the road I can always ask my trainer. Thank you!
Sounds like she has some major holes in her training. Simple as that.
Take her back to square one (snaffle bit in a small enclosed area) and build from there.
If all she knows is how to raise her head, pull, and fight the bit, she needs to be retrained to give to pressure from the bit (not fight it). Which is why you start back at the basics. As the rider, you need to be very consistent and have good feel and good timing. Do you feel capable of doing this? Releasing pressure too soon teaches her nothing and releasing too late doesn’t allow her to make the connection of what she did right.
Totally agree with AbbieS. Also, you may have a bit of a struggle on your hands because her muscles on the underside of neck are going to be overdeveloped. She will be able to lean on you and escape what you are trying to teach her because of this. She’s learned she can get away with flinging her head in the air to get away from the rider. And instead of training her the correct way, someone just stuck a Band-Aid on the problem. I also suggest working her in an arena or round pen until she learns that she can’t buffalo you. Confined areas reduce the chance of her running off. Good luck!
Be careful.
Always pulling means that the incorrect muscles have developed. This could mean without the tie down that she will go higher than normal and can hit you in the head. You need to ride with your head turned to the side.
Yes it can be done. I did it with a tb who had been ridden in an incorrectly worn running martingale. I did feel like I was putting my life in his hands when I first took it off.
A correctly worn running martingale that the rings reach to the wither or at least 10 cm below it when pulled up would probably be a good safe thing to ride him in in the first place. It won’t do anything if he is learning. If he does go to throw his head up too far it will save you.
Please stay safe.
Almost all hunters go in standing martingales and running martingales for everything else. Plus they have their mouths tied shut (not hunters) because opening the mouth is also a form of evading the bit and instead of putting the effort in the English riders just tie the mouth shut.
Square one would be groundwork and that is what she needs. She gets headstrong because she is anxious or wants to do what she wants to do, and doesn’t listen to the rider. It begins on the ground - that is where you will find the holes.
Good point. I did forget to say that ground work is very important too.
