Heavy in the bridle

[Ecks Marx The Spot]

So my boy is built more flat then uphill. Things are going well, though he hangs on the bridle like a Mac truck. It starts out he is fairly light ( for him LOL) and as he gets tired, he is heavier. He drops his poll as well. My trainer wants me to get him to not hang on me, and keep his head above his withers.

Question is, how in the heck do I do this? My trainer has made recommendations which I will try my next ride. I laughed saying he needs one of those anti grazing things ponies wear!

[deltawave]

It's not the sort of thing that one ride or one suggestion are likely to solve. :)

If you don't pull, he can't pull either. It takes two. Now theoretically this makes a great deal of sense to me (I have one that pulls, too) but the trick is in the implementation!

When he pulls, he has to find out that he doesn't get rewarded by your agreeing to hold up his head. A sharp kick and soften. Over and over and over and OVER. Repeat many, many times and he'll begin to get the idea. :)

[Ecks Marx The Spot]

oh yeah we are definately a work in progress! I know that its going to take time, like months! ugh, well my trainer PROMISES me we will get there.... eventually.
One thing I need to do is work on my timing.... right now he will pull and I am so busy thinking about everything else its half way around the circle before I think Crap he is REALLY hanging on me.

[eponacowgirl]

Softest bit you can find and give and take. And it does take a LONG time... good luck!

[Hilary]

My mare went through a "hmm, you want contact lady? Here, try THIS" and was SO heavy as she sorted out how to carry herself.

She had been too light in the bridle and not actually connected. As I asked more of her it seemed to be as much a stage as anything else as she bore down in to the bridle with most of her weight, so I just kind of kept on doing the traditional training things that are supposed to help (and took advil for my sore arms).

A zillion and three transitions for one. And even now, that exercise of being on a 20m cirlce and going from trot to walk and right back to trot (as in she barely takes a walk step before I'm asking for trot again, and then as soon as I"ve coordinated my aids asking for walk etc) really has helped her. It's boring, but it worked.

To change things up you can try trot/halt/back/trot (or canter/walk/canter). Let it get messy and dont' worry about his head - these are just exercises to help him start carrying himself. The head will come back to the right place when he's "through".

Strengthen your core so when he wants to lug, he doesn't pull you out of the saddle. Keep you leg on so he's always coming forward.

Lunge in sidereins so if he wants to pull he's pulling on himself and not wearing you out.

So, no, no magic words, but a lot of sympathy!

[EiRide]

Well, kick on and soften your hands is the first thing you can do, lather rinse repeat.

Go immediately into a transition, turn, schooling figure, over trot poles, etc, anything which makes him mind his feet and pay attention. And don't give in by letting him hang there, add leg and soften as soon as he starts to drag you down.

Lots of trails and fitness work on hills is a wonderful help--nothing like trotting up and down rolling terrain on a loose rein to make a horse carry himself.

Strong transitions is another--halt, rein back, and then canter or hand gallop straight out of the rein back. This gets them on their butts in no time.

[Ritazza]

My mare went through a "hmm, you want contact lady? Here, try THIS" and was SO heavy as she sorted out how to carry herself.

She had been too light in the bridle and not actually connected. As I asked more of her it seemed to be as much a stage as anything else as she bore down in to the bridle with most of her weight, so I just kind of kept on doing the traditional training things that are supposed to help (and took advil for my sore arms).

A zillion and three transitions for one. And even now, that exercise of being on a 20m cirlce and going from trot to walk and right back to trot (as in she barely takes a walk step before I'm asking for trot again, and then as soon as I"ve coordinated my aids asking for walk etc) really has helped her. It's boring, but it worked.


I second this. We're also going through a "you want contact? I'll GIVE you some contact!" phase. Transitions, transitions, transitions, and always doing something else. Don't travel on straight lines - always bending, always circling, always doing SOMETHING to engage the hind end and keep them thinking forward.