pulling

[blitzen_]

my mare pulls like a freight train when we're trail riding, especially if we do anything faster than a walk. i have been riding her for the past two years in a loose ring, double jointed snaffle & although i'm very happy with how she goes in the arena, she just gets a bit excited when we're out in the bush & hauls on me. i know it comes down to

Comments

[lantairvlea]

If you want to change bits be sure you use it in the arena first and see how she responds before heading out with it.

On the baucher you might try one with the same mouthpiece so you have a similar feel in her mouth, but a little leverage to back it up. The waterford appears to be a mouthpiece style so you may or may not be adding leverage depending on the cheeks you get, but looking at it I'd think it looks like it might end up being a little "noisy" with all of those joints and not very stable, but that depends on your horse and what she likes.

You might also consider a kimberwick that gives you "options." You can attach directly to the D for minimal leverage, go for the middle hole for moderate leverage, or hit the bottom one for maximum leverage. I would either stick with your three-piece mouth or go for some type of straight bar. Just with the straight bar be aware that you don't want to overweigh one side of the rein too much as you can wedge it uncomfortably in the horse's mouth.

Driving-type bits also give you options minimal to maximum leverage. The butterfly is the "softest" as the rein can slide along the ring before engaging. Then the liverpool and the buxton which both have a snaffle option and then other fixed positions further down.

Now on the training: when she starts hauling do you keep steady pressure back at her? This can give her the perfect thing to lean on and no incentive to become light. My Fjord will lean into it given the chance and while she can work nicely on contact it is a fine line and you have to be very aware of when she is neutral and when she starts to test to see if you will hold her head up for her. When she starts leaning I give her an extra "bump" off of it. You don't want to release and jerk. Have pressure and then exert an extra, quick bump if she doesn't give and then a release so she has nothing to lean on and needs to balance herself. Repeat as necessary. The important part is always taking up slow and being quick to release. If you don't give her the chance to respond to the light cue she can't become light. If you are slow to give she doesn't feel the release and you end up with a series of mushy increases and decreases of pressure that feel like "noise" rather than an aid.

Transitions are also good to keep her mind focused (even if you just start walk-halt) and playing with lateral and bending work to prevent her from getting stiff and leaning on the forehand.

Good luck with her.

[buymeaclue]

On the baucher you might try one with the same mouthpiece so you have a similar feel in her mouth, but a little leverage to back it up.

A baucher is not a leverage bit.

[lantairvlea]

Apparently there is some debate on the matter. I admit to not being terribly familiar with the baucher and understand that if it does have any leverage it is the vaguest kind and nothing compared to the true leverage bits.

[buymeaclue]

It's just physics -- there is no lever.

[miladyelizabeth]

http://bitbankaustralia.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/the-truth-about-the-baucher-snaffle-bit-rattling-the-cage/

Interesting info there!

[lantairvlea]

That's one of the articles I read after buymeaclue made his/her comment. Interesting stuff.