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

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

That's why some old-timers like to bit the horse up (tie the reins to the saddle like side reins). Enough for the horse to get a feel but not be restrictive. I've watched young horses wander and fiddle with the bit as part of this technique. Eventually they get over it and learn to carry the bit. The other thing is that this can be an indication that they don't care for the type of mouthpiece they're carrying.

Also a good idea to do this when introducing a solid bit, no reins, without the typing of reins to the saddle--and obviously all this is supervised!

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

Martin would bit them up with just a bit on a piece of elastic while he did everything else. I think the horse would often have so much going on that they didn't really have time to worry about the bit.

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't revisit that concept off and on during the first year or so when working long-term with a horse. Done right, it is a nice tool for letting the horse teach itself about bits and mouth pressure without human interference. Maybe it's just my experience with Quarter Horse and Arab temperaments, but it seems like things like that, where you set the horse up to study and think about human equipment and make its own accommodations with it without direct human involvement appear to be some of the deepest learned lessons. It gives them time to relax into it.

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

I agree on that- it's one reason I would quite like to work Iris with a high tie- she ties up well enough by British standards but I would like her to learn how to tie up properly like a working horse and a fair number of people I respect seem to suggest that is a useful tool in that direction.

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

What are you meaning by a "high tie"--a picket line?

The best way to tie up a horse like a working horse is to get a stout post or tree, tie about five feet up, then park the horse while working other horses. I'm a firm fan of the patience post. You can also work on it in cross ties if you're doing things around the barn (no twine! Twine is right out! If she only ties with twine, then patience post first).

Basically, tieing her to something solid and then letting her fret, then self-soothe and learn to relax can be done while you're working on chores, schooling another horse, or something like that. You just want to be around in case, but don't rescue her if she's just being fretful and fidgety.

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

The advantage of a picket line type set up ( or traditionally tying up to a high branch ) is that you can set it up so there is nothing for the horse to collide with and whatever direction they take away from the tie point increases pressure so they find that the most comfortable place to be is right at the point they were tied.

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't do it for this sort of lesson. A solid post tied high is better. It's not like she's fresh off the range and you have to worry about her going nuts, and if she ties already, what you're teaching is to stand patiently and calmly. Tying to a solid post with a quick-release knot is more effective--a picket line type of arrangement is only as solid as the ends of the rope that it's tied to.