Nose band Q's.. Pics included..

[PASOFAN]

I am currently using this medium size nose band..:
http://www.trpasos.com/trainequip/images/115F_flatleathenose.jpg

I am wondering if I use this will I have a little more pursueding power? More pressure maybe?
http://www.trpasos.com/trainequip/images/115W_wovenoseband.JPG

Chico has been pulling thru my bosal, I plan on doing some more presure and release training so I prabably wont need a nose band w/more pressure, but I was curious on the 2nd band....

I think w/it being winter and not riding him much he is just antzy and not wanting to listen, flexing is on the schedual too..

Thanks guys! :D

[Jasfino]

I dont know about the nosebands but Jasper was doing the same thing with me last fall. I have been working with him since then on seat cues and he is doing much better. I've been doing alot of transitions from walk to the halt and if I sense him starting to pick up the tinest bit of speed (usually what he did before he would start ignoring me)... I will sit back on my seat and cue him that way before I use any pressure on the bosal. Good luck with Chico. I think they enjoy giving us something to think about.. ;-)

[halfmoonfino]

Heck yeah the second noseband has a lot of bite...but I'd never use it. You have to have very skilled hands to use it effectively. Some horses would balk at going from such a mild bosal to a thinner, harsher one. That would result in even more pulling. My advice would be to work in a roundpen on bending and flexing for a few days, and also giving to pressure from the ground. Most horses need a tune-up, not new tack. I speak from experience, here. Pitty gets very strong after not being ridden much (just dealt with it last week), but I don't change a thing about my tack. I work with him on the ground, use a lot of seat aids and half halts, and eventually he settles back in. Training tune-ups take longer, but achieve better results. Using harsher means or more force is only a short term fix; good training will last a lifetime. :D

[PASOFAN]

Thanks u guys. yeah I was leaning towards more training anyway, but when I was looking at tack I wasnt sure which one had more bite..

Hard to work in the winters, I cant wait for spring!! :D

[Trail Rider]

My wife's horse if very pushy at times. What she has started doing when he is trying to get in the lead or go faster than she wants is to serpentine with him. Nothing drastic, just small movements to the left then back to the right. It gives his mind something to focus on and also makes him work more. After a little while he seems to settle down and goes the speed she ask.

Ground work is good but I think it is better to relate the work to the actual problem you are having if possible.

[Abejita]

the second one..Rope covered with leather?

[GeorgeGuns]

The only time tack changes is the answer is if you know for sure a piece of tack is not fitting or is causing pain. Elsewise (is that a word?) its a training issue.
One rein stop. Not only is this great for speed control, and better turning, it will get them to stop pushing on the nose or on the bit. Plainold flexing will work here too - they get heavy, flex them (properly, which in essence is the one rein stop, lol)

[CarolU]

I agree with Coreen here. I imagine you have trained him to flex to both sides lightly. I would flex him until he relaxes, and then release the pressure. Do this several times until he gets the idea that you want him to relax. Then start at a walk around the arena (or round coral) and flex him to stop - again until he stops AND relaxes. Train this on both sides, then kick it up to higher speeds.

Then teach him to go on little to no rein pressure. When he speeds up faster then you've asked, one-rein stop him to relax and start again. He'll soon learn to maintain gait on a loose rein AND to do the one-rein stop in a very small area.

Then gradually enlarge the area you ride him and be consistent about 1) riding on a loose rein and 2) stopping him when he goes faster then asked.

You'll eventually get off his nose and he won't push through your bosal. Any horse will push into pressure if constant pressure is applied. I would go to knobs or knots before I'd go narrow...but I wouldn't do either if I am the problem. By that I mean if I'm applying constant pressure without the release. He needs to learn to maintain gait with no nose pressure on your part.

[PASOFAN]

Thanks u guys. I do plan on training more w/flexing.. That is the spring plan.. Thanks CarolU & Coreen for the suggestions. I have been practicing light hands, but I need to more and plan to when the warmer weather comes...

:D

[Lynn L.]

I am going to recommend something slightly different. I have two horses that are pretty forward and long. I worked forever on the one rein stops and the horses didn't really get the idea of going slower. They can do one rein stops, but they can also go forward at full speed from a one rein stop!

Lately, I switched to if the horse goes faster than the speed I am asking for, I stop her, back her up, make her pause, then I ask her to go forward again. The idea is for the horse to kind of "think backwards". It has seemed to help alot. I keep a little contact on the rein at all times, then if she speeds up I switch my weight backwards, ask her to stop and back and then wait. My mare has been kind of funny with this. If she breaks into a corto, she already knows that I am going to stop her. She immediately starts to back for me. Hee, hee. After I let her stop for a second or until she is relaxed, then I ask her forward again. I have found that this is working a lot faster than the one rein stop (which I still practice at times.) I did the one rein stop for over a year, so I think that I gave it time to work. It is just on some really forward horses, it is useful to try a different tact.

[GeorgeGuns]

Lynn that's a good one too. Its a variation on the theme - make the right thing easy and the hard thing difficult! Years ago when I could still ride trot (arrgh!) Mouse used to need a refresher frequently on rating speed. (she is an arab, what is slow?) Back then the usual advice was to circle, or as Lynn described. Neither worked for Mouse, just mad her mad. What fixed her cookie was sidepassing, lol. A couple of those and she was quite mellow!
Clinton Anderson still has that very good video set available through is website on this very problem - with a gaited mare. I still recommend it.