[paul333]

I have a 10 year old TWH gelding that I got about 4-5 monthes ago, I work with him 1-2 times a week for about 3 hours each time, and he is a very good horse, well trained and bomproof. So far he is more curious about me skeet shooting about 20 feet away outside the pasture, has walked up to several bonfires to investigate and loves to follow the tractor. BUT...lately he has started getting into it with the other horse(a 11 yo QH gelding) over the feed, and although I know they need to work their own issues out, I have gotten into the habit of stepping between them when he charges to scare the QH off, and he stops and goes away. My question is this, my wife says that I am getting set up to get hurt, but if he listens when I say NO loudly and cut him off, and he never "argues" with me, is my way wrong? Also, he is in a snaffle right now, and doesn't always listen to the bit, so I'm thinking of switching him to this and maybe a curb strap/chain to get more responsiveness out of him:

Tyler Magnus 3 Piece Thumb Port Roller Bit | NRS - National Roper Supply - Western Wear, tack, team ropes, horse tack, team roping ropes, bits...

I definetly don't want to hurt him, or get anything that is more of a "torture device", but I have read that curb-like bits get more collection and response out of a horse. Also, the previous owner said he is very opposed to curb bits, but is ok with jointed, could this new bit bother him?

 

[paul333]

While I agree breed specific bits are good, I was warned by the previous owner that curb bits, or any non-jointed bit, will make him rear and throw a fit, just not something he is into. She said he has been trained on jointed bits and doesn't like the hard bar on other types of bits. His issue I am having is that he wants to go where he wants to, and when I walk him in a circle to get his attention, he pulls "thru" the bit, and continues to go where he wants. So, I have a feeling he may need something with more "correction" to it, with my goal being to work with him and keep his mouth soft, and be able to get an instant response from him and do more of his neck reining and not need as much direct reining. Now that it is warm again I can get out and work him more than twice a week.

And as far as feeding goes, we feed in two spots about 20-30 foot apart, and they do bounce back and forth. Just annoys me that he is a bit of a bully, but I guess that I can't train herd instinct out of him, just gotta let him be the alpha. Although I do like him instantly responding to my voice for those instances when it's me he is annoyed at and not his pasture mate :mrgreen:

 

[paul333]

Mercedes, I appreciate the info in your post, so if I read right you are saying that he WOULD do good in this bit, was kinda confused. Also, it's more of a habit of holding his head VERY low when riding, and he does stop without issue, it's that when he doesn't want to stop he will keep going and ignore the bit. As I said earlier, I don't want to hurt him, I have read posts on other threads about triangle bits, but I think this bit combined with a curb chain or strap will get him yeilding to a pressure he can't ignore, and focus on my leg and neck cues. I want him to be a good trail horse, and to respond to light pressure and non-bit cues, just need something for those stubborn-as-a-mule days, and he has alot. Also, he does gait without any issue, just VERY hard headed, and I think needs more pressure to respond to. And as others have posted, a bit is only as harsh as the user, and I am not a fan of using a bit as a club :lol:

 

[paul333]

iridehorses, I understand what Mercedes was saying, I was confused as to whether she agreed with the bit or not. Also, my point was, it has nothing to do with HOW he stops nor his confirmation, it is his hard headedness and being unwilling to pay attention to the bit, when he wants to stop he will, as with the direction changes, if he wants to go there he will, otherwise he will go where he wants to. And as far as my wife and FIL just "knowing" horses, that is not the case. My FIL owned a ranch for 10 years and trained horses of all ages, and has been training horses for over 30 years. The reason I came here for advice, is that he thinks he is just hard headed and that if the bit he has works part of the time, work with him more and don't change the bit. My point is, if he is not listening due to training that is one thing, but he does, when he wants to, but the bit may be too easy for him to ignore.

I know a bit, or any tack for that matter, is not a crutch for bad training. But in my case training and confirmation and movement and other problems mentioned are not the issue, he simply does not care sometimes about the bit, as if he doesn't even have it on. Just looking for something he will respect more, and so far everyone keeps showing me bits that are solid bars, and it's frustrating when I have said several times that my horse WILL NOT tolerate this kind of bit, gaited bit or not. Guess I will stick to my snaffle, didn't mean to ruffle feathers or get a bunch of sarcasm about how only a trainer knows horses and everyone else is an idiot.