5May/115
How can I make my horse softer in the mouth?
I have a green broke 4 yr old QH. I'm using a D-ring snaffle bit on him, but lately I've been using just a halter and 2 lead ropes because he tends to get really pushy. He's still pretty pushy with the halter on when we go faster than a walk. As soon as I ask him to trot or canter, he will pull the reins and go wherever he wants to go.
Any tips for what I can do to make him softer in the mouth?
May 5th, 2011 - 05:59
First of all, you should be using your bit. The bit is your greatest tool at softening a horse’s mouth. How do you expect them to get softer in the mouth when there’s nothing IN the mouth? Also, bridles have more support and put more pressure on different parts of the head. Do lots of up and down transitions. If he decides to “go wherever he wants to go”, firmly use your leg and rein aids to MAKE him go where you want to go. Once you are in a comfortable gait, do lots of half halts. If he tries to speed up or pull the reins from your hands, make him halt, and verbally scold him.
May 5th, 2011 - 06:39
just be easy on his mouth but make sure u dont loose control… i let my ‘friend’ borrow my horse and i got her back and she had a very hard mouth! after i spent so much time trying to keep her mouth soft.. turns out wen my ‘friend’ rode her she wud just pull on the reins until my horse wud respond! anyway i was just really easy wit her mouth and she came out of it after awhile…
May 5th, 2011 - 06:49
I think this is the kind of question that would benefit from a lesson or 4. There’s more to it than I can type out, and without seeing first hand what his reaction is I can’t know if I’m pinpointing the problem or not. Try to find a good trainer and take a lesson or two. I think you’ll get better results faster.
May 5th, 2011 - 07:41
we start our horse of with a bosal and then move to a side pull- both of which work on pressure. using a halter and ropes do not work on the pressure points – we only move to a bit after the horse has learned to give us his head. What happens with a green broke horse that is started on a bit too soon he is more worried about the bit than learn to give his head.. Another trick you can use when he starts to act up and not response is to walk him in a circle a few times.
A question I have for you. Are you riding with lose reins or are you keeping pressure on them at all times. the reason I ask is if you are keeping pressure on the reins you are teaching him to pull ageist the reins.Think of it like this if some one had a hold of the back of you shirt and pulling on it you would try to get away
I hope that this has helped…
May 5th, 2011 - 07:41
He’s GREE BROKE. and he’s 4.
If you can’t get him to respond correctly with a plain d ring snaffle bit, you need a trainer or someone who knows how to train a horse, to teach you in person.
The horse’s mouth is already very soft. It’s very sensitive.
Only when a rider uses too much pressure and causes the horse to resent the pressure, does a horse learn to ignore the pressure…..your real problem.
You’re misusing the bit. And your frustrating your horse. It’s really that simple. He’s trying to tell you to lighten up and also to use the reins properly so that you are communicating with him, not just trying to force him to do your will.
Go back to the d ring snaffle bit and take some lessons.
If you can’t do that, then get some training material to learn how to use pressure properly.
It’s about timing and where’s the release?
You never pull on the reins, you only take out the slack
You always release the pressure completely when the horse responds correctly
You never hang on his face via the reins when you go faster….this is probably what’s happening….you’re pulling too hard, too much on the reins on his mouth….and he’s learned to ignore it, because there’s no release, so there’s no reward for him to listen.
What’s his motivation for listening? There isn’t any, so he doesn’t.
Do more lateral stuff,….one rein exercises like one rein stops and serpentines…..