jogging horse

[jac]

Hi . I have a gelding I use in my team. He has gradualy started to hang his head to the nearside. Also he jogs everywhere. This upsets his team mate who behaves perfect. I am loath to strengthen his bit but end up having to drop him into the 1st slot in a military elbow bit, by 1st slot I mean the next down from the plain ring. Could teeth cause this behaviour? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers
John

[mitchmaine]

hi jac, greetings. i had a mare once sounds just like your horse. she pinned her chin to her chest and did her dance for half an hour out of the barn, and resumed it the minute we headed back no matter how tired she might be. just her nature. it bothered me too, but she was the best horse to work (especially single). she would go all day. she did her dance till the day she died, and i forgave her that small sin because she was so good otherwise. i don’t know. we all have our quirks. how does he work?
my family name was michel way back from scotland somewhere, but that was almost 400 years ago. sure would like to see it someday. thanks for joining up.

[Vand]

Hi Jac–It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get his teeth checked.

If there’s nothing wrong with his mouth, he might just be one of those big-necked strong horses who likes to tuck his chin and go. If his teeth aren’t the problem, you might consider adding an overcheck bit. By tucking his head down and to the side, he’s basically getting behind the bit and doing what ever he wants (ie: jogging). You don’t need to have it super-tight, just enough to tip his chin back up and keep his head centered and in-contact with the bit. It may not solve the jogging problem completely; but it will keep him from tucking that chin and ignoring the bit.

We have one horse who kind of jogs in place when we’re working. The only thing that solves this issue is a wet collar (eventually, she gets tired enough to stop goofing off). She’s a good horse otherwise and her momma was the same way.

Good luck.

[Donn Hewes]

Good Advice above, one more thing. Don’t feel bad about bit him down, as that is what that is there for. Just train your self to send signals that he can use to figure out what you want. Avoid providing him with resistance when he wants something to pull against. If you can do that, it is not a harsh bit.

[jac]

Hi Mitchmaine, Vand and Donn. Thank you all once again. Sound advice one and all. We have an equine dentist comming out on Thursday so I’ll keep you posted.. Just one question.. whats an overcheck bit. It might be known as something else this side of the pond. I’ll keep you posted on that as well. Cheers
John

[CharlyBonifaz]

whats an overcheck bit.

regularly used in harness racing; best picture I could find in www:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1341/1054450464_789ef8be11.jpg
it comes up from behind, runs over the top of the head, divides into two straps that run down to the left and right corner of the mouth and usually end in a straight bit, like this one:
http://www.herronstables.com/BIT16.JPG

[Jean]

Here is a head shot of some draft horses with overchecks being used. The one on the right did not have one on when we started to day, but as soon as we switched bridles he was very good. The overcheck on the left horse, is attached with the chain.

[jac]

Hi everyone.. Charly and Jean thank you both for the pictures of the overcheck bit . I have never came across one before. . Donn I tried him down on the shank this morning and hey presto !! a new horse.. still hangs his head to the left but not so bad and not so joggy either. I lightened up my hand and got him going nicely on a fairly loose line.I had always thought of the bottom slot as a sign of failure.. silly realy I know. My daughter Caitlyn and me are going out again after she gets in after school. We only got the internet in 3 weeks ago but already the benefits are showing. This web site is a great example of how people can help each other . Thanks again
John

[grey]

An overcheck bit is a second bit that is added to one’s regular bit. You communicate and control with your regular bit. The overcheck bit is a narrow bar bit (often mullen mouth) with tiny loose rings on the end. Its sole purpose is to keep the head from being dropped past a certain point for whatever reason. The overcheck bit is attached to an overcheck strap.

Dropping a slot on your shanks for a time isn’t a failure. Think of it as going in for tutoring after school. You can always go back up the shank.

[J-L]

What Grey says is true on the overcheck bit. We used them (and still do sometimes) with the Weymouth set up. Top bit was the bar bit Grey describes, bottom bit was the snaffle. We used it to get elevation with the bar bit and collection with the snaffle. Never though of using it driving, but it’d work well.

[jac]

Latest update on the jogging gelding.. Dentist was out yesterday and what a lesson I learned.. The boy had pretty bad hooks caused by.. haynets !!!. I really should stop using equine dentists as a fire brigade service. Got them all on a 6 month check from now on. Every day a school day as they say . Cheers
John

[grey]

Yeah, haynets are okay once in a while, but horses need far less dentistry (sometimes none at all) if they eat off the ground, where their jaw aligns the teeth properly. Eating off the ground also helps keep the eyes and sinuses clear of particles, resulting in less coughing and fewer respiratory problems.

EDITED TO ADD: WHOOPS! That was not clear at all. I meant “eat off the ground” as in “this floor is clean enough to eat off”. I did NOT mean “eat off the ground” as in “eat up off the ground”.

Horses should be eating at ground level, not above ground level. Their teeth only align properly (and thus wear evenly) when eating in the grazing position.

[Jean]

Thanks for the lesson Jac. I feed on the ground because of a heavy horse, but now I know 2 good reasons to feed off the ground. Never heard of the tooth problem from eating with their head up.

[Author]

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