Rubber bit?

My TB is an ex-racehorse, and manic. Generally our rides start off with 20 minutes of running each direction. He's tired, but he'll still fight me to go faster. Someone told me that I should try a rubber bit on him? Now, my rubber bit is used on a horse that gives pony rides, and on my other horse that's just a dream all around, and has no need for anything more than that.

So am I right, or will a rubber bit on him magically make him listen to me, and get him to stop pulling on me?

I doubt it would work, but anything is possible. Personally, I used a rubber bit on my Hunter Under Saddle horse that I was encouraging to stretch down and low into the bit, almost pulling it some. However, every horse responds differently to different bits - you might go ahead and try it if you feel that you will be safe.

I used to have a horse like that :) I had to do endless circles to keep her slowed down. Every time she would speed up without a cue I would circle and do lateral flexing. She finally got the message. I'm not sure if a rubber bit would make a difference. I think I would just stick with a simple snaffle.

Ok, great. My first reaction to the rubber bit comment was, "do you want me to DIE?" And he's not good with circles, I don't know how to really explain it, but when we go in circles to slow down, he doesn't really bend, just tilts. And sometimes he tilts to the point where I'm afraid if we're going to fall down.

Sounds like you need to go back to basics. He obviously can't do a one rein stop if he can't do a circle. That's a basic safety lesson all horses should learn in my opinion. Do you know how to teach it? I don't want to offend you but have to ask.

I've herd of it, and done it on some well-behaved horses. So I think I would need your help with teaching it.

What you are talking about when he does circles is called 'dropping the shoulder'. It means instead of flexing himself around the circle he is dipping his inside shoulder in and doing like a 'straight line' circle if that makes any sense lol

If he an ottb then chances are he hasnt been taught any flexion. Some basic ground work may help you and you need to get him to be responsive to your leg so you can get him flexing away from leg pressure allowing him to do a decent circle.

Usually with ottb's they are taught to pull against pressure on the reins. The more pressure you apply, the faster they will go.

Whichever way, you have a lot of groundwork to do before you will get him going without this rushing. Good luck :)

I am really bad at writing out directions :( Let me see if I can find something...This one explains it pretty well and has photos http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips94.html

I think if your really work on this on the ground and then in the saddle it will help a bunch and keep you safer. I have started doing the ground yielding with Vida before every ride. Just getting her nose into her side then I scratch under her tail at the same time. Then when I get in the saddle I do the same flexing for the first few minuites before we head out just to make sure she is paying attention. If she gets goofy on the trail we stop and do some flexing. It seems to calm her down and bring her attention back to me. I hope this helps you :)

Heres one of me doing the ground flex with Vida sorry I don't have one in saddle


Another better one

Just wondering, Vida...why do you rub under her tail while you are flexing her?