need your help and expertise please...

[kestrel]

milo, is just a bit of a handful, to say the least..now that he has settled
we have started doing some groundwork with him, and he is very good in a dually, but not so in an ordinary headcollar..

we have also started bridling him,( as we want to start working him now the weather is better ) and he seems to hate every bit we have tried so far, and we cant lead him in the bridle( rears spins bucks etc...

he is 12 and we have had his teeth done...back checked etc., all before we attempted anything with him...

also i had a saddler out yesterday and he says that he needs a 161/2 " saddle which i am not going to fit my bum in or my legs ..

all i know about his history is that he has apparently ridden and driven...

he doesnt object to a saddle at all, but does object to bit and bridle

just hoping that someone can come up with some advice and suggestions please..

[SuzieP]

Have you tried the Happy Mouth type bits? Just a stab in the dark because I don't have loads of experience.

He must be close coupled is he, if a 161/2" saddle is all he can take? Linda might be able to help here because D is very close coupled indeed!

[kestrel]

thanks .
i was wondering about happy mouthbits, also wondered if he would prefer a straight bar, cos i dont know but assume driving bits are straight..

yes he is close coupled, but we did nt realise how much so.. poor saddler was tearing his hair out, and is gonna look round for possibles ...

[greydales]

There is a very soft bit called a Nathe bit, which is often used for youngsters or horses with mouth problems and is usually tolerated very well. One drawback is that it can be chewed through if your horse/pony has a tendency to chew the bit, but it might help with acceptance.

What size is Milo? 16.5 does seem very small, you also need a saddle to fit you!

[kestrel]

he is 14.2, but saddler says 17" is too far on his last rib, and we tried loads... i usually need a min of 171/2, cos im long legged as well....

worried he would chew thro that bit, cos he chews everything ( like a baby)

may have to find a small competant rider for him..

[Debbie]

Two stray thoughts.... is the bit seated too high in the mouth?

And is the browband large enough? Sometimes if the browband is pinching, the pony won't concentrate at all, as it hurts and is pinching several nerves.

Best of luck sorting your new boy

[caspersfolly]

Just a suggestion...Why not try riding in the dually if he is good in it and its the only thing he accepts?? Obviously this wouldn't help if you wanted to show/ compete him but has solved many peoples problems in the past for everyday riding.

[kestrel]

thanks..
will check bit, and maybe get my daughter on bareback and with the dually.. ( she bounces better than i do !!) ..

[dalesponyrider]

D was incredibly short coupled and a dressage saddle was the only saddle that would fit her. We tried every sort of saddle and even had a made to measure saddle but none were any good. In the end the Heather Moffett treeless saddles were the only ones to suit her.

As for the bit question, have you tried a hackamore?

[harleydales]

You can get jointed driving bits too, I have one.

Can you put the headcollar/dually on easily? If so I would say it's a mouth issue. AsLinda says, can you try a hackamore or a bitless bridle such as the Dr Cook?

[kestrel]

um no, its not easy even to get a headcollar/dually on..

will borrow a hackamore to try , thanks...

starting to think its a " sod off im not doing anything anymore " type of problem "just leave me alone in the field to eat with my friends please "

hopefully weathe rwill stay nice all weekend and can do some more ..

[valerie n scout]

where are you based, I have a couple of bits you could try 5 n half x gosh sounds a handful hope he isnt just being naughty cause it does tend to be frustrating when you trying so hard x

[kestrel]

thank you all... will keep you posted..

[harleydales]

Hmm.........it sounds like a head issue then doesn't it? I wonder if he's been walloped or is tight round his poll? Maybe he's had the bit bashed on his teeth (all this before you got him, I'm not saying you have beaten and bashed him!!).

[harveydales]

As you have covered most things, perhaps clicker training could be the answer to the bridling/head collar problem? A mare I bred was exceptionally sensitive to having a head collar or bridle put over her ears - the bit itself didn't bother her. We sorted her phobia very quickly and easily with a form of clicker training. Just a suggestion.