Sunday, May 06, 2007

sudden brainwave

after the ride out ... which was not too bad in teh scale of things, save that i made the mistake of asking her to move a touch before everyone else was ready and ended up being hauled into the arena... she only consented to come out when person on horse came to get us! a nd refused to turn right...

anyway, just a walk out, for most of which molly was in the lead, and did very well on the way back as there was a horse eating lamb onthe other side of the fence (it had got out of the field we were in and couldn't work it's way back, mother on our side!) and she was actually listening to me down there!

anyway, we'd been discussing why there is such a problem with bits/mouth etc and had talked about her openeing her mouth etc.

the brainwave... why on earth don't I put a flash on? i've never used the flash attachment that came with the wintec bridle (and don't have a leather flast strap for the leather bridle...) so the plan is in the morning to put the flash on and see what happens. also, must by some bit guards (those round plastic things that stop the bit being pulled through the mouth....)

who knows, it may be that that sorts it!

2 comments:

Jean said...

The flash may do it. If she is opening her mouth to avoid the bit, it will certainly minimize that. I would still prefer a full cheek bit to the bit guards, but if the mullen mouth bit works, then that's fine.

Ah yes, the martingale? Remember?

The trick with all the tack is not to force Molly to behave, but just to prevent her from succeeding with all her evasions.

You may be getting a handle on some of her behavior issues about going out. Glad the other riders are helping out. Sometimes another pair of eyes can notice things you don't. As well, a good horse in front or alongside can make a naughty one so much better.

Claire said...

Hope it does do it.... and may need bit guards as well, but didn't get to saddler today.

It was suggested that she may have a really really sensitive mouth... which is entirely possible, but in that case my hands are not good enough! but then in the past (over the last year until recently) she's been fine ... and bearing in mind we were long lining from the bit over the winter....