5 things to consider
The holy grail amongst many horse owners is getting the horse ‘on the bit.’ Well, here are 5 things that you need to consider (and conquer) before getting that fantastic feeling.
1. Make sure you have ticked the health checks box…
It may seem obvious, but sometimes we do have to look a bit deeper than what we see at face value. Is your horse pain free? Have you had their saddle checked lately, do they have regular visits from the osteopath and dentist etc? If we are expecting our horses to work hard for us it’s important we ensure they are comfortable and happy.
2. Is the engine switched on?
Is your horse really using their body, or are you having to work for every single stride? If it’s the latter it may be time to do some work with getting that engine going! Mix up your schooling and encourage your horse to travel forward and carry you, instead of you working harder than them!
3. Have you considered help?
A good trainer will help with the preparation and signals/aids to encourage your horse to a secure and consistent contact. It really helps to have a set of knowledgeable eyes on the ground making sure you’re asking the horse with the right signals and aids, and have all of the prerequisites down!
4. Is your horse strong enough?
Take into consideration the horse’s training level and experience, age and natural outline. It’s important to go slowly. The horse has to build the correct muscle build to support the body, head and neck working toward ‘self-carriage’.
5. Have you checked your bit and bridle?
Looking at, and assessing your horses facial conformation is something you can learn to do yourself, and being able to then select the correct bit can make the world of difference to your horses way of going and quite literally be a ‘game changer’
When it comes to your bridle, it may not mean an entire new bridle is needed, sometimes just a small adjustment can save the day.
