Motormouth mare

[glenatron]

Iris has always been quite busy in her mouth, tending to chomp at the bit, especially when she is anxious. I noticed it particularly when we were working on riding out the last few times and I realised that it wasn't just a manifestation of anxiety, there seemed to be a stereotypical element to it as well. So I set down and asked her not to. Just doing some gentle work on the ground, holding the bit rings and asking her to follow a feel without releasing until she had quit munching at the bit and was just holding it.

Two sessions later she seems to be able to just carry the bit most of the time. I'm ever so pleased with her but I can't help but feel a bit of a chump for not spotting it sooner.

Comments

[re-vised.livejournal.com]

Interesting! Madrid does this when I first put the bridle on... Makes me wonder if he's anxious about our rides. Thanks for this!

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

Doing work where you just hold the bit rings and use them to gently but consistently direct the horse - through basic bending to moving their feet and following a feel - is actually a pretty good exercise to go back to from time to time just as a reminder. I have no idea why I haven't worked on it more previously, though.

[re-vised.livejournal.com]

There is always so much to work on, and it gets pushed around and forgotten, I think. :)