Head Slinging on 14yo

calhoun county girl · 06-25-2007, 05:56 PM

I have a 14 yrs buckskin and he needs to be corrected for slinging his head, want respect the bit, will not stop when my 9 yrs is on him. I know this is a discipline problem but what kind of bit will get his attention...

Please help, if we can not get him to correct this my daughter will be heart broken.

***Title edited for clarity.***

SunnyKS · 06-25-2007, 06:01 PM

This is just my opinion but I wouldn't look to a bit to fix the problem. I would go back to some ground work. And having your daughter do the ground work will help him to see her as someone who he has to listen to.

Also if he's swinging his head are you certain the current bit is not hurting ie him needing teeth floated or some other medical thing?

What bit are you using now?

**divinemisselle** · 06-25-2007, 06:05 PM

Increasing the severity of the bit will likely only create more problems. Being a behavioural issue, back to the drawing board with him.

Get him paying more attention to what is being asked of him. If this is a short attention span issue, work on exercises to keep him thinking, then rethinking.

Don't let him anticipate or make decisions on his own. He needs to understand the rider is the one in charge.

Figure eights, serpentines, transitions, obstacle courses are all tools to get him back in the zone.

Carri · 06-25-2007, 06:06 PM

I agree! I would tend to go more to a lighter bit as opposed to a harsher one, it may be botherin him, but it sounds like more of a discipline issue. A martingale may also help him get out of the habit.

calhoun county girl · 06-25-2007, 06:07 PM

twisted mouth piece

SunnyKS · 06-25-2007, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calhoun county girl

twisted mouth piece

as in snaffle? Do you have shanks?

Oh and by the way wecome to HT!!!

calhoun county girl · 06-25-2007, 06:23 PM

Well it's more like a butterfly with twisted iron...We got it with the horse.

Here's the story.....

I bought him for me and then my daughter got into horses and now she is taking lessens for barrels and poles...he has not been ridden much I am focusing all my attention on my daughter (living my dream through her!) She took him to riding lessons last week and he showed his natural born tail. She cried the whole time, the trainer then tied him up and used one of her horses.

I'm not sure if this is the right horse for her...She only weighs 65 pounds and that is socking wet. (haha) he does'nt know that she's even on him.

Please help!~ I will post a pic in just a few

Carri · 06-25-2007, 06:29 PM

Does the trainer she is taking lessons from feel like this is a match that will work? Can she ride him for you some and try to determine what is going on with him, or if he is just being difficult?

calhoun county girl · 06-25-2007, 06:37 PM

she tried, but he was not doing any better with her.

SunnyKS · 06-25-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calhoun county girl

Well it's more like a butterfly with twisted iron...We got it with the horse.

Here's the story.....

I bought him for me and then my daughter got into horses and now she is taking lessens for barrels and poles...he has not been ridden much I am focusing all my attention on my daughter (living my dream through her!) She took him to riding lessons last week and he showed his natural born tail. She cried the whole time, the trainer then tied him up and used one of her horses.

I'm not sure if this is the right horse for her...She only weighs 65 pounds and that is socking wet. (haha) he does'nt know that she's even on him.

Please help!~ I will post a pic in just a few

Well if it's the bit I'm picturing in my head it wouldn't be my first choice for a beginner rider. You have to be pretty good with your hands.

But I think you have a better question with if it's a good match. Beginning riders need a calm horse that allows them to make mistakes and learn while feeling calm and safe.

Could she continue to take lessons on the lesson horses for awhile?
Could you send your horse out for a tune-up from a trainer?
How would you feel about selling the current horse to buy a kid broke horse?

calhoun county girl · 06-25-2007, 06:51 PM

I think this horse is to much for her. The horse that she rides is a very calm and she does wonderful, she rides with out a problem.

If I could figure out to send a picture of her and him I would....but I'm new and its taking me some time.

calhoun county girl · 06-25-2007, 07:01 PM

the pic's

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...l/P5190111.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...l/PB040020.jpg

calhoun county girl · 06-25-2007, 07:03 PM

well maybe this will work

Carri · 06-25-2007, 07:04 PM

He is really gorgeous, you shouldn't have trouble finding someone to take him if you decide to, or you could keep him as your horse and find her something else. Horses are dirt cheap right now if you can afford to feed one!
Or, try to get a trainer to work with him for 30 days, you might get back a changed horse, or you might discover he will never be what you want, but it is worth a try.

ToveroMom · 06-25-2007, 07:07 PM

How much training has she had? That is not a bit I would put in the hands of a beginner.
If she is overhorsed and new to riding-I would consider getting her a new horse that is stone gentle and then you can ride the buckskin-live your own dream-it is fun.
Overmounted kids end up being kids who oftentimes turn away from riding.
Plenty of horses out there that would suit her.

CJ Horsecrazy Lady · 06-25-2007, 08:36 PM

I'm new to this forum, so Hi y'all! I've done a little training and it sounds like your horse definitely needs some more groundwork, especially on softening his neck & poll. I would try a O-ring or D-ring snaffle bit on him before putting any tie downs on him, they are only a temporary fix and if he is going to run barrels, tie downs would restrict him. If you can afford it, I agree with the reply about you keeping him (he is gorgeous) and finding a good solid starter horse for your daughter. Have her trainer help you find the right one. Horses are herd animals, I didn't see if you had any others, and if he has a companion maybe he will settle down some,too.

snickers · 06-25-2007, 09:39 PM

I am going off the bit and asking when was the last time his teeth was checked? Does he still have his wolf teeth?

As Tmom stated, if your daughter is green, she can have a reversed affect on him. She may need to take lessons on a older horse thats been there and done that and get her hands were they need to be.

I would not go with anything with a twist, but after he has his teeth checked, if they have not been, back to the round pen, from the gorund and get him back to respecting the bit. Ground driving and voice commands.

You can also go off a bit totally and use a hack.

No matter how you try, some horses just dont ride with a bit.

Tie downs are not for holding a horses head down like this, they are used for stability when running and working. You have to find the problem and fix it correctly, not in a hurry with quick fix's.

ricoman · 06-25-2007, 10:04 PM

I'm with Snickers, please have his teeth checked pronto, it can cause all sorts of behavioral problems. A nice full cheek snaffle would be great after his teeth are done. Maybe you can get help working with this horse, ground work to saddling and riding again. You and your daughter should help in this process, learn together with your horse.

It's my guess previous hands have jerked on his mouth plenty and his only defense is to swing his head to avoid contact. A twisted bit is pretty harsh.

06-25-2007, 05:56 PM
calhoun county girl Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 12	Head Slinging on 14yo I have a 14 yrs buckskin and he needs to be corrected for slinging his head, want respect the bit, will not stop when my 9 yrs is on him. I know this is a discipline problem but what kind of bit will get his attention... Please help, if we can not get him to correct this my daughter will be heart broken. *Title edited for clarity.* Last edited by divinemisselle : 06-25-2007 at 06:01 PM.

06-25-2007, 06:01 PM
SunnyKS Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,516	This is just my opinion but I wouldn't look to a bit to fix the problem. I would go back to some ground work. And having your daughter do the ground work will help him to see her as someone who he has to listen to. Also if he's swinging his head are you certain the current bit is not hurting ie him needing teeth floated or some other medical thing? What bit are you using now?

06-25-2007, 06:05 PM
divinemisselle Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 6,657	Increasing the severity of the bit will likely only create more problems. Being a behavioural issue, back to the drawing board with him. Get him paying more attention to what is being asked of him. If this is a short attention span issue, work on exercises to keep him thinking, then rethinking. Don't let him anticipate or make decisions on his own. He needs to understand the rider is the one in charge. Figure eights, serpentines, transitions, obstacle courses are all tools to get him back in the zone. __________________ . If Everything Seems to Be Going Right... You Have Obviously Overlooked Something. ~Steven Wright

06-25-2007, 06:06 PM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,610	I agree! I would tend to go more to a lighter bit as opposed to a harsher one, it may be botherin him, but it sounds like more of a discipline issue. A martingale may also help him get out of the habit.

06-25-2007, 06:07 PM
calhoun county girl Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 12	twisted mouth piece

06-25-2007, 06:23 PM
calhoun county girl Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 12	Well it's more like a butterfly with twisted iron...We got it with the horse. Here's the story..... I bought him for me and then my daughter got into horses and now she is taking lessens for barrels and poles...he has not been ridden much I am focusing all my attention on my daughter (living my dream through her!) She took him to riding lessons last week and he showed his natural born tail. She cried the whole time, the trainer then tied him up and used one of her horses. I'm not sure if this is the right horse for her...She only weighs 65 pounds and that is socking wet. (haha) he does'nt know that she's even on him. Please help!~ I will post a pic in just a few

06-25-2007, 06:29 PM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,610	Does the trainer she is taking lessons from feel like this is a match that will work? Can she ride him for you some and try to determine what is going on with him, or if he is just being difficult?

06-25-2007, 06:37 PM
calhoun county girl Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 12	she tried, but he was not doing any better with her.

06-25-2007, 06:51 PM
calhoun county girl Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 12	I think this horse is to much for her. The horse that she rides is a very calm and she does wonderful, she rides with out a problem. If I could figure out to send a picture of her and him I would....but I'm new and its taking me some time.

06-25-2007, 07:01 PM
calhoun county girl Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 12	the pic's http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...l/P5190111.jpg http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...l/PB040020.jpg

06-25-2007, 07:03 PM
calhoun county girl Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 12	well maybe this will work

06-25-2007, 07:04 PM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,610	He is really gorgeous, you shouldn't have trouble finding someone to take him if you decide to, or you could keep him as your horse and find her something else. Horses are dirt cheap right now if you can afford to feed one! Or, try to get a trainer to work with him for 30 days, you might get back a changed horse, or you might discover he will never be what you want, but it is worth a try.

06-25-2007, 07:07 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 15,770	How much training has she had? That is not a bit I would put in the hands of a beginner. If she is overhorsed and new to riding-I would consider getting her a new horse that is stone gentle and then you can ride the buckskin-live your own dream-it is fun. Overmounted kids end up being kids who oftentimes turn away from riding. Plenty of horses out there that would suit her.

06-25-2007, 08:36 PM
CJ Horsecrazy Lady Newborn Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 1	I'm new to this forum, so Hi y'all! I've done a little training and it sounds like your horse definitely needs some more groundwork, especially on softening his neck & poll. I would try a O-ring or D-ring snaffle bit on him before putting any tie downs on him, they are only a temporary fix and if he is going to run barrels, tie downs would restrict him. If you can afford it, I agree with the reply about you keeping him (he is gorgeous) and finding a good solid starter horse for your daughter. Have her trainer help you find the right one. Horses are herd animals, I didn't see if you had any others, and if he has a companion maybe he will settle down some,too.

06-25-2007, 09:39 PM
snickers Bombproof Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Twilight Zone Posts: 8,989	I am going off the bit and asking when was the last time his teeth was checked? Does he still have his wolf teeth? As Tmom stated, if your daughter is green, she can have a reversed affect on him. She may need to take lessons on a older horse thats been there and done that and get her hands were they need to be. I would not go with anything with a twist, but after he has his teeth checked, if they have not been, back to the round pen, from the gorund and get him back to respecting the bit. Ground driving and voice commands. You can also go off a bit totally and use a hack. No matter how you try, some horses just dont ride with a bit. Tie downs are not for holding a horses head down like this, they are used for stability when running and working. You have to find the problem and fix it correctly, not in a hurry with quick fix's. __________________ " You cant fix stupid " Ron White Life is to short to argue with ignorant people.

06-25-2007, 10:04 PM
ricoman Weanling Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 440	I'm with Snickers, please have his teeth checked pronto, it can cause all sorts of behavioral problems. A nice full cheek snaffle would be great after his teeth are done. Maybe you can get help working with this horse, ground work to saddling and riding again. You and your daughter should help in this process, learn together with your horse. It's my guess previous hands have jerked on his mouth plenty and his only defense is to swing his head to avoid contact. A twisted bit is pretty harsh. __________________ Resistance is Futile