So, anyone here ride horses???

[IKeepPacu]

ok, this may be stupid and a long shot, but i don feel like joining an equine forum to ask one question right now. dident think this belonged in the exotic pets forum, since most everything else their are reptiles it seems. but i could be wrong

i bought a horse a few weeks ago, and the set of reins i was given dont seem very comfortable for the horse at all. he's constantly throwing his head down with it in, biting hard on it, and seeming to try to get it out. he'll slow down or stop in the middle of a trot to start biting on the bit at times

is this normal?? the trainer says so, but she also isnt the most helpful of girls, and pays more attention to her phone at times than my horse and me

hopefully i get atleast ONE response, so i dont feel like a total idiot

 

[Onion01]

i know reddevil and (though she's rarely on) cszachury are riders.

 

[beblondie]

its pretty normal hes testing you to see whos really in charge you or him.How old is he?

 

[Lou Lou]

Nice looking horse! What kind? I had a thoroughbred when I was in high school and then moved him out to a friend's ranch out west while I was in college 4 years ago. Haven't seen him in a long time and your post gives me the itch to get back to the barn!

Anyway, I would say that it's pretty normal, and you have to be patient going through training with him. You are both new to each other, and he's probably trying to learn your ques, as you are trying to learn his behavior (and test you to see what he can get by with). My horse was trained for pleasure riding with western tack (not too common for thoroughbreds). I started him in English dressage training and as you probably know, the tack is completely different that western style. In English, the bridle is more restrictive, and some horses may not be used to it. My horse used to throw his head and bite at the bit until he was used to it. He also tested me to see if I would actually follow through with commands. I bet he throws his head and tries to back up at the same time?

One more thing to keep in mind, horses need their teeth floated (filed). If they don't have proper dental care, they can develop hooks on their teeth that pinch their cheeks and can interfere with the bridle. Just something to maybe check.

Hope things turn out. Horses are a lot of work but a lot of fun!

 

[IKeepPacu]

glad i got a couple responses he's an 8yr old welsh cross. still a young boy. 14.3h i believe. he was supposedly broken english, can ride western as well, and is starting jumping, and can go 2'6.

and yes, while he's throwing his head, he starts going back, and wont listen to my stop command until i give him a slight kick. now that you mention the english tack being more restrictive loulou, the 1st two times i rode him western he was much calmer and listened to me much better.

ill definatly have his teeth checked as well, i havent had them checked yet since i got him, so it wont hurt either way.