Re: little horse TOUGH MOUTH

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/23/99 8:36:42 AM Pacific Standard Time, Katnmaj@aol.com
writes:

<<  but I realllllly have to pull back to get her to stop and
 I don't like this!!!
 
 Any suggestions for training methods or even perhaps a bit that may also help
 (I have always ridden her with a D ring snaffle and so did the lady before me
 - I really know nothing about bits) >>

Tough mouths are developed when people try to stop horses simply by pulling
back.  To get a horse to stop properly, he needs to shift his weight onto his
rear legs.  To accomplish this, the rider needs to sit firmly down, use the
legs to cause the horse to drive the rear legs up underneath himself, and use
the bit only as a barrier to forward progress, not as something to cause the
stop in the first place.  Imagine that the bit is remaining in one place as
you drive the horse onto it from the rear.  This may take some practice, and
if you have difficulty visualizing it, you may need some help from someone who
understands how this is done.  Someone correct me if I am wrong--I have not
been to a Donna Snyder-Smith clinic, but I understand that she is very good at
explaining this.  If so, you might want to consider attending next time she is
in your area....

Heidi