Pony round, but did I cheat, and will I be punished?

[oldernowiser]

Thanks for all your advice on my previous thread (pony on bit). He's lovely and round now, (and looks beautiful, and definitely tracking up well,and better brakes so all good)

BUT!!

I changed his loose ring french link snaffle for hanging cheek french link.

Grand daughter has also made huge progress in her understanding and confidence, but the new bit has made an almost magical difference.

So, the question really is am I relying on 'gadgets' which will stop her making more progress, and am I being unkind to pony? Before we carry on, I'd really value some views.

(By the way, have been told tonight another grand child is on the way and am soooooo thrilled!) More ponies needed! Can Mitchy knit me one too?

If pony and GD are both happy then it sounds like you've made a good choice. Let's face it, any bit can be severe in the wrong hands can't it.

Congratulations on new GC btw!

I would have said the aim in selecting tack is to have a horse that works correctly and comfortably. If the 'gadget' is producing movement that almost looks the part but is not correct, then it is cheating and will not ultimately acheive the end result you want. (Eg my horse looks lovely with an arched neck in a pelham, and you might think I would have better brakes than with a loose ring snaffle. But in fact he is over-bent and ducking behind the contact of the bit, and when you are riding him in it, it feels as though there is nothing at all there at the end of the reins. Not good if you are hoping to stop him if he ever figures out how to go!) But if the pony IS working correctly, is happy and your graqddaughter is progressing, then it sounds as if you have found the right bit. And it is hardly as if a hanging cheek is 'a gadget too far!' It's just the same mouthpiece as you have been using already but with a little bit of poll leverage, which if you granddaughter is dinky she will probably need. I wouldn't be beating yourself up over it - stick with the new bit and let your granddaughter enjoy the feeling of having her pony easier to ride!

is that the same bit as a half cheek french snaffle ?

As long as GD has good hands I would rather bit a pony so the rider has some control than have the pony pull their arms out as it is unsafe and teaches bad habits. A lot of small ponies are far too strong for small children as they may have been poorly ridden in the past. I wouldnt tolerate a 16hand horse I couldnt stop so why allow a pony to tank off. Just make sure you are not teaching the pony to drop behind the bit thus swapping one problem for the next one! good luck

Mummydoc, I think it's the same as the half cheek, but I'm not sure.

Thanks for the comments, it does seem to have done the trick and he's working much more nicely which has made GD more confident and her hands are better. She still has to 'sponge' the reins to tell him to put his head down, but he responds straight away.

Maybe the bit, maybe her hands, maybe a combination; who knows!

hanging cheek is just a form of snaffle, it is not harsh, in fact some people believe it is milder than a regular snaffle as the hanging cheek 'lifts' the bit in the horse's mouth taking pressure off the tongue. It doesn't have poll pressure (lots of people think it does but if you research the bit, actually because it lacks leverage it doesn't).

So IMHO you are not cheating AT ALL... well done!! I thought I was going to read some horrific story about leaving pony in sidereins over night in the stable or something like that!

Thanks Southwestwhippet, maybe he's going well in it because it's mild so he doesn't feel the need to be so evasive?

I do use side reins when I lunge, just to be consistent about what's expected of him (and also get GD to ride on the lunge with a beaker of water in each hand to entertain myselfimprove her hands)

The thread title was a bit over dramatic as I posted after going to the pub, when celebrating news of new GC.

Nothing wrong with lunging in sidereins LOL... I was only joking about expecting a horror story.

There are some really really AWFUL stories about how people teach show ponies how to 'go on the bridle' though which involve tying their heads into the 'correct' positing for so long that their muscles are damaged to the point they can't do anything else. But it is the same all over the horse world, some people will do anything to achieve success.

congrats on new GC btw... does this mean you need to start saving for another pony though?

Have to save for 2 new ponies as Grandson is riding again, and then new baby will need one, and I need a horse so I can take them out. I will have to work until I'm at least 90

Perhaps you should take up carriage driving. Then you'd only need one horse!

Congratulations on you new GC.

we had noddy in hanging cheek for while but swopped back to ordinary snaffle, we have been concentrating on confidnece for noddy and me so not too worried about shape and outline, today dd2 hacked him out and i led him !!!!! for first time since sept and he was an absolute poppet. dd2 was crying when we got back - i htoguht it was becasue she was cold but no " i cwying cause i love noddy so much mummy, can he stay with us for ever and ever " awwww yard manager and i nearly in tears too .

Aww, how sweet; I guess Noddy has to stay for ever and ever then!

oh yes for ever and ever, i am officially now complete saddo who goes up for kisses from pony and often takes kids to give him his "bedtime carrot" just because we can