Have a great 7 year old gelding part Hancock QH.  Smart, curious, all the things you'd want except one.  He already has arthritis in right hock. Nothing in a PPE and no real issue for nearly a year but now it's a clear issue.  He can walk all day up and down small hills but with a rider anything more is painful...he'll do it if I push after extended warm up but it doesn't go far.  

I'm asking for some recommendations.  

1. He is protective of that side(his right) so I've been doing more from that side to help him get more comfortable with it. On his left he is great with sidepass...but his right is just sticky.  Any recommendations with that?

2. Since he has arthritis, I've focused on making him the best at what he can do and that's led to obstacles. I don't have access to much land and we're usually riding alone. Would love recommendations beyond the standard obstacles and any other activities to engage his feet and mind.  

Thanks very much. 

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.

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.

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.