How to soften a hard mouth?

Crookedblaze · 08-31-2008, 03:13 PM

I was wondering if anyone had any tricks for softening a hard mouth?

Rocket's mouth is rock hard. He's been in a hack for years because I just didn't want to put a high port curb in his mouth. When we first got him, he was being worked in a high port curb bit, and NOT listening. I have tried hundreds of bits on him and him, and I just havn't been able to find a bit that he liked until I put a full cheek slow twist on him, and he likes the bit but his mouth is still rock hard. What can I do to soften it?

Bandit · 08-31-2008, 03:35 PM

Is it really a hard mouth or rather a hard neck/body. Usually its the later and its a mater of going back to the basics and doing bending, circling, serpentine, and figure 8 excersizes. Get the body soft and the mouth will soften.

But the big key is to always ask softly first. Even if you don't think he will respond, ask him softly like you expect him to respond. Only after you have asked him softly, if you don't get the response you want, then ask more firmly.

CowhorseGal · 08-31-2008, 03:40 PM

your problem is not his mouth it is his whole body. you need to go back to a snaffle and teach him lateral and vertical flexion then, as bandit stated, work on the exercises she mentioned.. Horses learn to be soft from release of pressure not the pressure it self. So remember toash for a little at a time and always release the pressure ina ig way.. Work in a round pen or small enclosure of you are worried about him taking off..

Crookedblaze · 08-31-2008, 04:40 PM

LOL Rocket is 17, his fastest gait is a jog. I'm not too worried about him taking off.

Thanks guys! I'll start doing a lot more bending exercises with him.

PaintsQH · 08-31-2008, 05:14 PM

Something about that cracked me up. I guess he could take off with you at a jog 90mph

Crookedblaze · 08-31-2008, 05:18 PM

LOL Paints. When I ask for it, he'll lope...and then if I kick, kiss, kick, kiss for about 2 minutes he'll begrudgingly gallop.

If we are going up a hill however, all I have to do is ask and he takes off.

He's a selective galloper. It doesn't help that he is getting bad arthritis in his back end, so he can't go as fast as he used to. 6 years ago he ran 2D barrel patterns.

EquineAlberta · 08-31-2008, 06:45 PM

What does he do that makes you feel he has a hard mouth?

I agree with Bandit and others. Ride with a soft hand, and focus more on leg aids.

If he has learned to lock his jaw against the bit, it may take a lot for him to unlearn, but it would be easier to regain his trust in the bit by going to the mildest bit possible, and going back to basics. Massage may help too.

Some people have success going to a MILD pelham, and using the leverage rein to encourage the horse to give with its jaw, and the snaffle rein for actual control. Remember though, as Bandit said, if you want him to be soft, you have to be soft.

Karen

Crookedblaze · 08-31-2008, 06:59 PM

When I got him the guy said that all that they could use on him was a curb bit or a bit with leverage. I think that it has been all that he has been taught.

Equinealberta, he doesn't lock his jaw against the bit, but when I ask him to bend gently, he'll pull against the pressure the opposite direction. That is his major thing. But if I ask him to collect and bend in the hack, he'll collect and kind of bend.

He was going really well until he got a year off, ever since he took his back out he hasn't been the same horse. My chiropractor said that he has a lot of scar tissue in his back, most of which was probably there when I bought him. I think that has affected his performance. Doing some little bending and flexing exercises will hopefully help a little bit of everything.

Today I was at Barns and Nobles and found 101 Arena Exercises, I might go back and pick that up. They had some really great ideas for bending work, figure 8s, etc.

reiningfan · 08-31-2008, 08:48 PM

I have 101 Arena Exercises. It's great.
I agree with everyone who's said that it isn't likely his mouth. His whole body is likely stiff. My favorite trainer likes to say you can have a horse who's hard in the mouth and stiff on the sides, but if your horse is soft in the ribs, he'll be soft in the face. He's talking about being soft laterally. Once you get that, his face will come.
Clear as mud?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Parrot Mouth?	HorseDork	Health & Nutrition	7	04-17-2008 06:08 PM
Soften Leather?	Frankie	Tack, Apparel and Equipment	16	12-10-2006 11:50 AM
Parrot Mouth	Anjil	Health & Nutrition	6	01-05-2005 02:27 PM

08-31-2008, 03:13 PM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,447	How to soften a hard mouth? I was wondering if anyone had any tricks for softening a hard mouth? Rocket's mouth is rock hard. He's been in a hack for years because I just didn't want to put a high port curb in his mouth. When we first got him, he was being worked in a high port curb bit, and NOT listening. I have tried hundreds of bits on him and him, and I just havn't been able to find a bit that he liked until I put a full cheek slow twist on him, and he likes the bit but his mouth is still rock hard. What can I do to soften it? __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab

08-31-2008, 03:35 PM
Bandit Coming two Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,790	Is it really a hard mouth or rather a hard neck/body. Usually its the later and its a mater of going back to the basics and doing bending, circling, serpentine, and figure 8 excersizes. Get the body soft and the mouth will soften. But the big key is to always ask softly first. Even if you don't think he will respond, ask him softly like you expect him to respond. Only after you have asked him softly, if you don't get the response you want, then ask more firmly. __________________

08-31-2008, 03:40 PM
CowhorseGal Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 345	your problem is not his mouth it is his whole body. you need to go back to a snaffle and teach him lateral and vertical flexion then, as bandit stated, work on the exercises she mentioned.. Horses learn to be soft from release of pressure not the pressure it self. So remember toash for a little at a time and always release the pressure ina ig way.. Work in a round pen or small enclosure of you are worried about him taking off.. __________________ The more I know men the more I like my dog

08-31-2008, 04:40 PM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,447	LOL Rocket is 17, his fastest gait is a jog. I'm not too worried about him taking off. Thanks guys! I'll start doing a lot more bending exercises with him. __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab

08-31-2008, 05:14 PM
PaintsQH Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,442	Something about that cracked me up. I guess he could take off with you at a jog 90mph __________________ My treasures do not clink, they gleam in the sunlight and neigh in the night

08-31-2008, 05:18 PM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,447	LOL Paints. When I ask for it, he'll lope...and then if I kick, kiss, kick, kiss for about 2 minutes he'll begrudgingly gallop. If we are going up a hill however, all I have to do is ask and he takes off. He's a selective galloper. It doesn't help that he is getting bad arthritis in his back end, so he can't go as fast as he used to. 6 years ago he ran 2D barrel patterns. __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab

08-31-2008, 06:45 PM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,470	What does he do that makes you feel he has a hard mouth? I agree with Bandit and others. Ride with a soft hand, and focus more on leg aids. If he has learned to lock his jaw against the bit, it may take a lot for him to unlearn, but it would be easier to regain his trust in the bit by going to the mildest bit possible, and going back to basics. Massage may help too. Some people have success going to a MILD pelham, and using the leverage rein to encourage the horse to give with its jaw, and the snaffle rein for actual control. Remember though, as Bandit said, if you want him to be soft, you have to be soft. Karen __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...is it really that hard?

08-31-2008, 06:59 PM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,447	When I got him the guy said that all that they could use on him was a curb bit or a bit with leverage. I think that it has been all that he has been taught. Equinealberta, he doesn't lock his jaw against the bit, but when I ask him to bend gently, he'll pull against the pressure the opposite direction. That is his major thing. But if I ask him to collect and bend in the hack, he'll collect and kind of bend. He was going really well until he got a year off, ever since he took his back out he hasn't been the same horse. My chiropractor said that he has a lot of scar tissue in his back, most of which was probably there when I bought him. I think that has affected his performance. Doing some little bending and flexing exercises will hopefully help a little bit of everything. Today I was at Barns and Nobles and found 101 Arena Exercises, I might go back and pick that up. They had some really great ideas for bending work, figure 8s, etc. __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab Last edited by Crookedblaze : 08-31-2008 at 07:03 PM.

08-31-2008, 08:48 PM
reiningfan Yearling Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western Manitoba, Canada Posts: 516	I have 101 Arena Exercises. It's great. I agree with everyone who's said that it isn't likely his mouth. His whole body is likely stiff. My favorite trainer likes to say you can have a horse who's hard in the mouth and stiff on the sides, but if your horse is soft in the ribs, he'll be soft in the face. He's talking about being soft laterally. Once you get that, his face will come. Clear as mud?