Bryan Hooper

Columbus, GA, United States

Richard Boatwright I do take him out on trails and am getting him introduced to cattle slowly. Based on yesterday I made an appointment for a vet check.  He's dragging that foot a bit more and has a pretty good chip in his hoof from doing that.  Think there's something going on with right rear leg. The bit chewing/ constant mouth action is back without me even touching the reins. 

I’ve been working with him for over six months. I essentially restarted him because he had so many holes in his training. I used the snaffle bit basics series to help with this. Lately, we’ve been working on roll-backs and smoothing out setting up the lope and transitions. I don’t see any changes in his demeanor until I am mounted. I did notice lunging yesterday that for the first time he was dragging his right rear toe a little at a trot to the left. No resistance to trotting, but a slight drag. He did have a little protest when trotting right but got over that quickly and no toe dragging. Thanks much.

Didn’t video it yet…need to charge the Pivo. I did try a basal yesterday. No more constant mouth action (not really a surprise), no resistance to moving in a particular direction but still heavy resistance to trotting. 

Posted

24 Sep 19:52

Looking for a little advice. My 6 yo has become a little fractious lately. Great attitude from the ground, including at liberty. No issue saddling and he takes the bit without any prompting.  We’ve had a few changes at the barn and between that and weather I have not been riding/ training as often as usual (2-3 times per week vs 5). He has started resisting right turns (head down and pulling, tail twisting a bit). I’ll make going to the left more work and he’ll return back to the right for a bit and then the struggle begins again (slight rearing and protesting). He’ll also trot a few circles when asked but after a few will start to tighten up a bit and lope. I’ll bring him down before he gets too tight and things get a little interesting. Throughout this, I’ve noticed he is constantly working his mouth and I mean constantly.  He doesn’t have a foamy mouth, and I like to think I’m giving gentle cues, but his mouth doesn’t stop. The bit is a D-Ring snaffle with a full bridle. I’ve made a dental appointment and well-check but looking to see if anyone has any  other advice. I am going to take a video of the next ride to see where it starts to shift.

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Richard Boatwright Thanks for the advice.  Quick turnaround with no drama.  

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Richard Boatwright Thank you very much.  Will follow up on how it goes.  

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Thanks for the quick reply, sir. I think I have a drape in the reins and am using less hands and more legs and seat but maybe I need to record myself and see what leads up to the protest. The only time I’m consciously pulling on the reins is when he goes for a snack (there’s grass in the small arena where we work).

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Posted

21 Apr 15:55

Could use a little help. I have a five year-old gelding that I have been working with for a few months. Great attitude, relatively quick learner (and a good teacher). Just had annual check up and no issues. Recently, he has started pawing after riding a few circles (either direction) at a slow trot. No protest when starting and none ever with ground work (both lunge line and liberty). I am a little concerned about the sweat at his whithers and him being sore there. I tried shimming the saddle a little and that helped some but still same pawing after a few circles. He’d go if I force him, but I suspect he is uncomfortable because he becomes a bit hot (nothing major) when I push. I have tried a smaller, lighter saddle and he did better with that - although I struggled.  

Other factors:

  1. No change to riding location.

  2. Is grazing more due to available grass (not enough to see weight change).

  3. Temperature is ~20 degrees warmer when riding now.

Any recommendations? I have ordered a saddle pad with shims to adjust and am thinking a week of rest, even though I don’t see any signs of lameness/ soreness.

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Posted

21 Mar 07:52

Has anyone tried a Missing Link Snaffle? I'm thinking back on the quote about "Why are there so many bits - because none of them work." Seems like this one has clear benefits but looking for anyone's experience with it. 

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