I managed to get my 3rd ride in today on Chilly. We kept her and her pasture buddy in while we did stalls, and then I took her out, got her brushed and put her to work. I lunged her in the sidepull again today, left the bit off.to keep her happy. Shes really starting to grow and develop and now that she's level again its making 'slow' and correct so much easier for her.
As much as I don't like her pushing and slightly stressing about the bit in her mouth she carries her head very low, and keeps her back up when she does it. Its also helping her develop her back muscles. We just have to find one she doesn't fuss with as much. As for bits, we've tried a plain medium mouthed snaffle, a french link,
and a ported barrel bit (no chains or shanks or anything, just hooked to the bridle, but I wanted
to see if the port with more room for her tongue would make her happier,
it didn't) Anyone have any ideas of what else to try? We're going to try a mullen mouth next as well.
So after she got lunged I got my mounting block out, D held her for me (although its not really needed, we want to make each situation easy, and to avoid issues when every possible. I need the block, having someone make sure she doesn't move away, means that we never give the opening for an issue to arise). We walked for about 5 minutes, doing small and large circles each direction, stopping, backing and turning her sharply into the wall. We then jogged about a circle each direction before going on a walk in figure 8's all around the arena.
Shes such a good little mare. We just need time, and I need to stop eating Christmas chocolate!
2 comments:
A mullen may be good choice....perhaps try something a little thinner? Maybe her mouth is too small or palate too shallow for a fat bit?
The other thing that's worked in the past for me is working them in a halfbreed, which works off the sidepull nosepiece and the snaffle sits fairly still in the mouth, and sometimes when they go in that a while, transitioning a regular bit wrapped with latex tape to make it a little less "Wiggly" in their mouth works. Bitting is a trial and error process...I'm going through it now too.
Ill be interested to hear how the mullen goes. I feel silly I have never tried one. Mine is just a simple thin one. It has made all the difference!!!
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