How do I sort this?

[cadmus]

Jack has started snatching at the reins...never did it before but has started doing it every time I gather the reins to get on.

Then he doesnt do it when going outbound on a hack cos hes too busy tramming on, but when he gets tired he starts again...what is he doing and why?

This is my first youngster so need to know now to nip it in bud or to make sure Im doing the right thing by him.....help

[paddysmum]

It might be time for his teeth doing, are they due??

[cadmus]

Maybe so, dont think hes ever had them done...Ill look into it.

Is there any other reason why?

[paddysmum]

I would do his teeth first, as you said when hes tramming on he is fine.
It could be when you gather the reins, its catching some where, movie was a little like that, turned out he needed his wolf teeth out and had a few sharp bits.

[Alliecat]

Another possibility is that he is just building up muscle in his neck & back, so snatches a wee bit to have a stretch & a rest.

Once you've had his teeth checked, I'd think about alternating riding with short lunging sessions, giving him the chance to build up muscle without also having to balance for a rider on his back.

[cadmus]

Good idea Alliecat...thanks

I was a bit worried about riding him too much with him being so young so have started riding him every other day instead.

Will do some lunging with him....and of course get his teeth checked. ;D

[bingbong]

i agree with a bove but he could be taking the monkeys out of you as well lol youngsters are very good at trying you out to see what they can get a way with - when he does this try brace your hands on his neck so he is infact pulling agenst him self and not your arms he is obviously wanting to stretch his neck but he must wait untill you tell him he is aloud to otherwise it is utter bad manners, let him stretch at regular intervals but only when YOU say so
coisty has a nack of oh oh mum i have to scratch my nose, and then grabs a mouth full of grass !!!! ehhhh nooo coisty!!!

[lisah]

Hi honey

It can be many things - and remember youngsters are not used to the bit so it may just be he is snatching because it's new and annoying him LOL

Have you git a but with the 'keys' inside, maybe just to give him something to play with in his mouth to get him softer and more used to the bit.

Alternate lungeing and riding to build him up is good but as he is a youngster don't be tempted to overdo the lungeing - 10 mins max and don't 'strap him down' with anything !!!

All the best with him and keep us posted on his progress.

LisaH xxxxx

[cadmus]

This is why Ive not done much lunging as I was under the impression that lunging and blasting round in circles was no good for a 3 yr old (and he just blasts round on the lunge at the moment).....ideally he would have been broken later as it is.

Ive just been hacking him out for about 20 - 25 mins with a trot and an occasionally canter when he has wanted to.

Ive got him in a happy mouth snaffle but was going to ask about the bit as my next question..I think I know what bit you mean Lisa so will get one, Jack was mouthed and broken to drive at a young age and I reckon they did a p1ss poor job of it....so wanted to be careful about that too.

Im just full of questions at the moment, Ill be full of knowlegde in no time at this rate.

[lisah]

We are here to help honey

I am glad you are keeping the lungeing to a minimum - it does have its place but not a very big one in the life of a 3 yr old. Try long reining him too as that will help him get used to the bit as if he were being ridden, but when he snatches he won't be pulling you out of the saddle :-)

Lisa xxxx

[bingbong]

yup i know a young horse that the owners were scared of and all they ever did was lunge lunge lunge, they poor horses legs couldnt cope and it ended up getting bone spavin vet said it was caused buy goin gin circles !!! weakend the hock!!!

yup good luck as long as yous are having fun that the main thing

[bingbong]

actually i was gonna say, is it a straight bar happy mouth? iv found a lot of youngster start to bear down and lean on this bit, its good for starting them off but i change it as soon as they start this