Immy is doing very well under saddle. With a good few more rides under her belt, I can safely say that she steers well, stops well, and responds to quiet, gentle aids well... her only real issue is that she really would rather be trotting at 9000000 miles an hour instead of walking. She does try to break to the trot a few times when she first starts out, which is the exact same thing she does when lunging or grounddriving, but that isn't surprising or concerning - when you tell her to slow it down, she does.
The big problem here? The bridle. While everything else has improved massively, bridling has only gotten worse. Once the headstall is on, she is fine, and she takes the bit no problem. But getting the headstall over her ears? She outright wiped out and got stuck upside down against a stall in the barn aisle the other day in an effort to get away from it when I was removing it. She is thankfully unhurt, and so am I, but it didn't help her fear. The dentist was supposed to come Monday for her teeth, but he was a no-show and is not returning our calls. The other dentist I wanted to use just left to go to Houston for 3 months, and won't be back until spring. Everybody else in the area does a hack job and will only make any problems sh has even worse. The craniosacral therapist is also going to come out as soon as she can, but she is in California for at least another week. There isn't a chiropractor in this area that I like or trust. I am feeling very stuck here.
I'm backing off the bridle for now... what we're doing isn't working, and we need to take a serious step back in order to work on her headshy issues. She is reluctantly letting me touch her poll and ears with my hand, but she does not like it and if I do so much as sneeze while I am working up there, she is gone. I worry that this is going to affect her work under saddle - if she starts to worry about saddling because she knows bridling is also going to take place, or if she goes into her riding work all freaked out because we've just been workin on bridling, that is going to be a disaster. It is time to shake things up a bit, and try something new while we separate the bridle/ears/headshy issue into its own exclusive category.
I had a crazy idea, after thinking about it for awhile. I want to continue to work with her under saddle and get her out into the world (on the trail, in other arenas, etc.), and I want to make it all a very positive experience for her. I want her to NOT ever see me coming and think, "oh crap here coms that lady who touches my ears every day!" and stop being catchable or stop enjoying her time with me. Yes, we have issues to work on with the bridle and her head, but I don't want that to be this huge hurdle we are fighting to get over while we wait around for saddle time, because that will just frustrate the both of us. And then it hit me - why don't I ride her in a rope halter?
English folks will think I am crazy, and I understand that because I used to have the same mindset (how can you control that horse without a bit?). Having seen lots of trainers down here starting their babies in rope halters, I have a new appreciation for it - it saves their mouths should they do any stupid baby antics like buck or run off, and it has plenty of whoa in it should you need to stop. You can't really do dressage in it (in the legal way, anyway - you need a bit to show), but you can teach them to be soft, responsive, and solid citizens. I do all my groundwork in a rope halter now, so she is very familiar with the idea of it. Why not? I will be able to get her out experiencing new things and enjoying her saddle time, and can work on her head and bridling and whatnot as a totally separate issue. That is assuredly going to take a long time... I had no idea how extensive it was until now. The girl is an emotional trainwreck about it, and it will be a long process until she isn't anymore.
I joked with Jen yesterday that with her love of trotting as fast as she can for as long as she can, I should make her into an endurance horse. That way, I could ride her in a rope halter, never have to clip her, and let her mane grow wild and free (she is not amused with my constant pulling, braiding, and taming).
It was meant as a joke, and obviously we can't just skip around issues like clippers and bridles. But the more I thought about it, the more I started to like the idea. Why not start her out as an endurance-type horse? And once she is through her other issues, then progress into the sport of our choosing? She'll have saddle time, experiencing on the trail, experiences with strangers and new places, and it will give us time to sort through her other fears and problems. And we'll both be doing something we love, which is the best part.
Why not? The more I think about it, the more I like the idea.
When my friend backs horses for the track, they use western reins with clips and clip the bit and reins to the halter. Works great.
ReplyDeleteDo it! My guy is getting started in a Dr Cook bitless, and my mare got a softer mouth after riding her in a halter or the Dr. Cook for awhile. As far as starting her endurance? Go for it!!! My guy is going to eventually event, but he is starting on trail and I would bet money we will compete in combined driving and/or orientering long before we show in a dressage show or event! I think endurance is a WONDERFUL start. Oh, another idea, over at Sunset Halters (and other places have them too) they have rope halters that have clips so it turns into a bridle (http://www.sunsethalters.com/halterbridle.php) so if you still wanted a bit but don't want the hassle of bridling...
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I can ride my horse with a rope halter and I know many NH trainers who start out this way. It really is all about "look, leg, lead". T Myers has an interesting suggestion... I just worry if she bolts on the trail, but in the ring, I think it is a great idea. Start teaching her to give her head and bend with the slightest suggestion, and she will probably be fine on the trial. I ride currently with a dressage saddle, western bridle and often I ride only in my barn boots. If you aren't showing, what does keeping her clipped really matter? I don't pull my horses mane, but I do clip his bridle path and ears with scissors - but not too close. I also let his whiskers grow to a certain length as it helps them "feel". I know a number of horses lately that have hurt their eyes... and I notice they have close clipped whiskers... She's looking great!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, as I started reading this entry, I was thinking, "I wonder why she doesn't just start riding her in a rope halter?" -- HA! I think it's a terrific idea... and riding her out and about with endurance in mind will only help her become braver and more fit. You're doing right by her:)
ReplyDeleteOoh, that'd be fun. I've always wanted to try endurance and sounds like she might have fun with it :) I always start all my babies in a rope halter so I see no problem with it!
ReplyDeleteI'm on board too. Pia still gets ridden in her rope halter on a regular basis. Helps her not feel to "confined" but I'd say it's easier to shut down her antics in a rope halter than in a traditional bridle... Whatever builds confidence and trust is good with me. I think you're right to keep your interactions as happy and positive as possible for the moment. Well worth the investment.
ReplyDeleteI did ride an obscenely ear shy horse in college (he lived out on a cattle ranch and was only ever caught to be ear twitched and given shots for the first 8 years of his life..) but he ended up very comfortable with me bridling him *over* his poll like a halter. I just pulled his browband and noseband off and rebuckled the cheek piece every day... He became very happy with his bit that way and we worked up to the "over the ear" method slowly but successfully.
I support it 100%. Both rope halter, and endurance. Like you said, why pick the fight if you don't need to right now? Chip away at it, but maybe once or twice a week instead of daily. =]
ReplyDeleteabsolutely go for it!! i have had so much success working with horses with various issues by backing way down to the basics - and so many of them are happier this way. you are obviously well past qualified, educated, kind, and considerate of your mare's needs - as well as confident enough to handle any bumps in the road should they occur in the rope halter. can't wait to hear how it turns out!!
ReplyDeleteYou already know what I think about the whole thing... YOU GO GIRL! And let me know when/where your first ride is. Red and I will meet up and ride with you if you want company!
ReplyDeleteI am continually impressed at how you read your horses and respond to their needs. I am so so happy Immy found a home with you. As an endurance runner, I love reading about endurance riding ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat's crazy about that? I ride Solo in his rope halter and just use it as a sidepull or neckrein him.
ReplyDeleteAlternatively, just take off the browband and put on the bridle by unbuckling one cheekpiece and putting it on like your rope halter. Nothing horrible is going to happen with no browband, lots of western horses go without one.
I think it's a great idea. Even though Isar and I are eventers, I hack around on the trails and fields with him in a bosal. I think it's nice to change things up and also give both horse and rider a new way to communicate. Go for it....you're doing a great job!
ReplyDeleteHa. When I was reading this post, I was like, "So why doesn't she just ride in a halter for now?" ;) Go with it. Sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great idea, too.
ReplyDeleteThey also make halter bridles (I think that's the technical term). I used to ride a head shy thoroughbred that acted a lot like you've described Immy -- my instructor finally got so tired of him breaking cross-ties she bought him something to this effect: http://www.americantrailgear.com/halter.html
Bits don't control horses, training controls horses. You could start her in a neck rope if you really wanted to. You would just go about it differently.
ReplyDeleteI started a horse who was severely ear/poll phobic. Would rip cross-ties and boards out of a stall wall in his panic. I found that disassembling the headstall and tossing it over his poll, then buckling it back together on the other side was the easiest way. He couldn't handle having things slid over his ears, but things going right over his poll were fine (e.g. the crownpiece of his halter). He's one who I started riding in a lunging cavesson, then moved on to a bridle with no browband, and eventually moved on to just a plain one-ear headstall. He REALLY liked the bit, just couldn't stand the bridling process.
ReplyDeleteI worked around it, and he was pretty happy!
First ride -- https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/248211_1881830960649_803921_n.jpg
Seventh ride -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBIgoAXqwvI
I think both sound like a great idea...not crazy at all!
ReplyDeleteI've started horses in halters, even the rescued Percheron with little handling and a shady history, with no issues. Just start in a small space to make sure she listens then go out in a larger area once you trust her to listen.
ReplyDeleteI also at one point rode a really ear shy horse. Like others have mentioned we just used a western style bridle and put it on like a halter, unbuckling the cheek piece. She was older and had her reasons so that was the compromise and we didn't push it. I'll bet Immy will come around soon enough though :) I've started a couple in well fitting rope halters too and they work just fine - no one here would think it's a crazy idea:)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing as alot of others "halter?"
ReplyDeleteWhen you talked about how she wanted to trot instead of walk it reminded me of a few of the fillies I'm training. They don't want to walk nicely or stand still just move! I think it has something to do with them being nervous about a rider. It is very good that you can get her to slow down.
Go for the endurance riding! What better way to get a horse broke?
Have you considered a Western headstall? It's just 1 strap of leather with a buckle-slip it on like a halter, unbuckled, then undo the buckle when removing the headstall. No throatlatch, no noseband, no crown piece to mess with-just 1 strap of leather holding the bit in her mouth. :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE the endurance idea! And the rope halter idea, too, if she'll respond to it.
Don't know if you follow Denny Emerson on Facebook but he's a huge proponent of endurance and competitive trail for event riders. Good way to learn about and work on conditioning both yourself and your horse :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I ride all my horses in their rope halters (They can be ridden in bits too) and they do just fine. I even trail ride in just a rope halter too. I had to do the same thing with my girl Pixie, to this day we have to unbuckle the bridle to put it on a modified way because she can not handle it going over her ears!
ReplyDeleteSounds like the reasonable and responsible thing to do and i bet it will be a blast. If it were me I would lean more toward a head stall option but I also trust your judgement on that a halter would work for you.
ReplyDeleteNot a crazy idea at all.
ReplyDeleteI grew up hunters, then eventing, then dressage, then highschool/classical dressage: I don't ride with a bit anymore. My boy was previously wearing a ported Kimberwicke at his worst and now wears nothing. He's a calmer horse over all, especially with bolts & spooks knowing he won't get caught in the mouth.
I like rope halters in the ring, where I work on lightness and teeny tiny aids... but their tendancy to twist annoys me and my boy. - so I use a flat nylon halter or a bitless bridle for the great outoors/cantering/jumping.
Goodluck!
Sounds like a good plan. There are so many things a horse will figure out in those long conditioning trail miles, before you even get to an actual endurance ride! I think a rope halter is a good start, I like the kind you can clip a bit to if needed. I know for me the start of an endurance ride requires a little more control, but others are very successful in just a halter. Immy is looking great!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't seem crazy to me at all! I started my mare in a rope halter and rode her in it for the first 6months under saddle. Obviously the bit will have to come in for more fine tuned riding, such as dressage, but for a horse that just needs miles and to get used to the idea, especially with bridle-phobia, it seems like a great way to get started!!!
ReplyDeleteShe's looking really good. I wholeheartedly agree with the notion to use a rope halter. It's a good decision for the horse.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of doing endurance... better yet look into Competitive Trail Riding. That's what I want to do. :D
ReplyDeleteSubliminal message.... clicker training.... doesn't work for every horse, but from what I've read about Immy I think she will do great. :)