Many of us who own gaited horses share the same problems. Our horses won't stand still for us to mount. When we ride, our horses are stiff and tense. They get excited and may rear. They can't relax and walk calmly down the trail on a loose rein.
For years, John Lyons has been showing people how to solve these problems. But many think that John's techniques won't work on gaited horses, partly because he advocates the use of snaffle bits.
Traditionally, most gaited breeds are ridden in long-shanked curb bits. The long-held belief is that leverage bits provide greater control of the horse while encouraging an upright head carriage. But John has shown during numerous clinics and symposiums that gaited horses can perform wonderfully in snaffle bits without sacrificing either control or proper head position.
Many gaited-horse riders also feel that they need to use a curb bit so that the horse can lean on the bit while "gaiting." But in fact, many gaited horses lean on the bit because they are out of balance, and their riders provide support to these unbalanced horses by allowing them to lean on the bit.
It's an endless cycle. If you support a horse by putting constant, light pressure on a curb bit, the horse's natural response is to lean on it. Over time, the horse will get heavier in the bridle and begin to be unresponsive to the rider. In order to control the horse, the rider will get a stronger bit, and the cycle will start again.
When riding in a snaffle bit, a rider can still provide an unbalanced horse with the support he needs, but the technique is a bit different.
To support the horse's balance with a snaffle bit, the rider begins by asking the horse to give to the outside rein and then asks the horse to bring his nose slightly to the inside. This positions the horse so that he can rebalance himself, removing the need for the horse to "lean" on the bit.
In the early stages of this exercise, it may be necessary to rebalance the horse frequently. Gradually, with consistent repetition, the horse will learn to carry himself in balance without the rider's assistance.
Relaxation Techniques
- Improve your horse's balance by asking him to give to the outside rein first and then bring his nose to the inside with direct rein pressure.
- Pull on only one rein at a time to encourage your horse to bend and give in that direction, softening the muscles in his jaw, neck and back.
- If your horse won't stand still, put his feet in purposeful motion; eventually he will realize that standing still is less work.
- Use the "head down" and "go forward" cues to counter rearing tendencies.
- Use circles and serpentines to help teach your gaited horse to slow down.
Curb Bit Mechanics
Curb bits utilize principles of leverage. When the rider pulls on the reins, pressure is applied to multiple points simultaneously, including the tongue, the bars, the poll, and the chin. If you pull hard enough, you can cause pain because the shank multiplies the force of the pull. The severity of that force depends upon the length of the bit's shanks, the type and tightness of the curb chain, and the amount of pull applied by the rider. The longer the lower shank is from mouthpiece to rein ring, particularly in comparison to the length of the upper shank from mouthpiece to headstall ring, the more the bit amplifies the pressure.
The mechanical advantage is gauged in terms of ratios. For instance, if the rider applies five pounds of pressure to a curb bit, he could be putting 25 pounds of pressure on the horse's mouth. If used harshly, a curb bit - or any bit for that matter - functions as a punishment device, not a training tool.
When a horse is in pain, he is not worrying about you or what you want him to do. He concentrates on the pain and how to escape it.
Some horses can become very determined in their efforts to escape. Head tossing, rearing and bucking can all be caused by a sensitive horse's reaction to pain from the bit. Other horses may exhibit less dramatic but equally undesirable responses to undue pressure on their mouths and heads. They may resist the restraint by increasing their energy, or becoming excitable and nervous. When ridden, these horses are often covered in sweat.
Another disadvantage of a curb bit for training purposes is the fundamental way in which it operates. It is designed so that both reins are pulled simultaneously. Whenever you pull on both sides of a horse's mouth at the same time, an untrained horse often responds by stiffening his spine and jaw and pressing forward into the pressure. This is why you often see gaited horses turn by pivoting on their hind feet instead of calmly bending through a turn. Over time, this sort of muscle tension can cause horses to have back and neck problems, resulting in lameness that is often difficult to diagnose.
