Slow twist d ring snaffle?

Question

My horse has been going in a Dee-ring French link smooth snaffle but is not turning, and I don't have any control. I now have a dee slow twisted single joint, and I haven't ridden her in it yet. I just wanted to know, how exactly does a slow twist work? (I don't want to here it destroys the mouth) I would never use any faster twist Than a slow twist and I think it could be good for her. So basically what effect does a slow twist have and how does it work in the long run?

Answer 1

Don't say you have "soft hands" if you use a bit.A bit is designed to cause pain for the horse so he will respond to you. He responds only out of the fear of the pain. Bit less is better. It teaches him to respond to your control without the fear. :)

Answer 2

Throw the twisted bit in the trash. I hang toilet paper on mine in the outhouse at he barn.



Get her yielding.

Sit on her. Best place would be a round pen or arena.

Run your hand down one rein to your knee or the fork or pommel of the saddle.

Totally drop the other side rein, you do not want to hinder the horse in any way from the indirect side.

*Without jerking* pull back to your hip and anchor that hand.

WAIT

When the horse gives you drop the rein like it burned your hand but not UNTIL the horse gives.

Then you R&R (rest and rub) for a minute.



Your release must be instant and completely remove the pressure from the mouth.

You must not release until the horse gives.

*gives* means head is around and there is zero tension in your hand.

Walk the horse off a few steps and do the other side.

Do this 50 times on each side.

Then do it at a walk...and a trot.

Use your leg first (count to 3, as in 1-2-3) THEN the rein.



Watch the magic!



I swear this works!

Answer 3

It will work out in the long run by your horse developing a harder mouth. (more ignoring your hand to bit cues -- and yeah I know that isn't what you want to hear, but do you want to solve the issue long term or just put an band aid on it?) So the real problem won't have been solved. The real problem is that she is not following other cues from your body. The bit is just one part of the communication system. Yeah sure, a slow twist might get more attention for now, but it isn't going to solve the issue in the long run. Once she gets used to it, well you will be right back where you are now. And you don't want that do you?



Sometimes it is really good to just go back to the basics. Pretend she is a just broke 4 year old. Might be a good idea to have a fellow horseperson help you out with this, giving you ques and being able to see things like "hey, move your inner leg forward towards her shoulder" etc. An extra set of eyes is always helpful!



Instead of doing whatever it is you have been doing with her...go back to doing simple exercises like going around cones, circling around barrels. Start at a walk. Keep at it for hours (with her in a very gentle bit). Keep her going until she finally does what you want her to do! Once she finally makes that nice round turn around a barrel....then praise her and lesson done for the day.



Repeat and repeat and repeat. Horses are lazy just like any other creature is. Once they figure out that if they do it the way you want them to that they don't have to keep going in boring circle after boring circle, well they are going to take the easy way out....as in do it the way you want them to.



Baby steps! And you just gotta be patient. You can do it! I know it is easy to get frustrated. So make sure to be kind to yourself too. Remind yourself it is just a horse and it is just a problem that will be eventually solved if you keep at it.

Answer 4

more leg... less rein and reward the response with release.



If you want a "hard mouthed" horse ignore my words

Answer 5

It has a tad more bite than a smooth mouthpeice. You can always use a a soft hand with a harsher bit, or bump up the pressure if they don't respond. Be sure to release pressure when the horse tries to do the right thing.

Answer 6

The texture of the twist is basically more irritating. Because of this, a horse is more likely to respond to applied pressure. This isn't necessarily a good thing though.



If you grab a smooth snaffle with one hand, and a twist with the other hand, you can imagine what each bit must feel like in the horse's mouth. A smooth snaffle is more comfortable to hold, but you could still feel it if someone pulled on it. The edges of a slow twist may bite into your hand a bit, and will create pressure points if pulled hard, so you may feel obligated to give in to the pressure if someone pulled on it. This is why horses are more likely to respond to a twist, and may seem more sensitive in one...



But this creates a false sense of responsiveness. The horse is still resistant to the rider's direction. They are just forced to give their head due to discomfort in their mouth. In time, a horse can get used to the feel of the twist, and can learn to tune out this discomfort. If this happens, then you'll be back to square one, and on the hunt for a harsher bit. It can become an endless cycle of changing bits, and it can become a struggle to find a bit that the horse hasn't learned to evade.



If your horse is unresponsive, or resistant to your aids, you need to find and resolve the root of the issue. Generally, a horse that won't bend or turn is tense or in pain somewhere. If it hasn't been done within the last six months, have a veterinarian or equine dentist check your horse's teeth, and have a professional saddle fitter check the fit of your saddle. If those two things don't pan out, a visit from an equine chiropracter and/or massage therapist might help. Then you need to take some riding lessons from an instructor who can teach you to ride more with your leg and core and less with your hands. There are ways that you, as a rider, can help your horse relax, loosen up, lift their back, bend, and turn, without even touching their mouth. There are methods of training that can lighten a horse that his heavy on the hands or resistant to aids. You just need an instructor that can help you figure it out on your own horse. French classical dressage is great for this. It doesn't matter what discipline you normally ride, every rider can benefit from basic dressage skills.

Answer 7

if the horse has stopped turning all of a sudden a new bit is not necessarily the answer. whens the last time the dentist floated her mouth and checked for hooks? whens the last time you had your saddle fitted?

Answer 8

Have you tried retraining her at a walk doing exercises to regain control of her rather than trying a harsher bit, then when this doesn't work use a double, then when this doesn't work use another then finally what we called the chsinsaw bit which if the horse thinks of refusing cuts or pinches the tongue and mouth? Then their is trying the mouth shut and other things people think will help control their horse better.



Don't mean to sound cruel but so many people are quick to switch bits to think it will cure the problem where ground work and slow hand riding, training like you would on starting a horse to 'remind' and refreshing the horse would cure the problem. It possibly may be the way your moving that is unclear to the horse, or she has been so used to getting her way because she has not been corcted and has learned that she can disobey you without correction.



Just an outsider looking in at the problem. I had a horse once that refused to turn at all and would grab the bit, they had tied his mouth shut, tied the bit in place and finally had him on a horrible bit that made his mouth bleed before I got him. I switched to s hack - something thet had never been tried and sfter about -5 minutes of him trying to find the bit in his mouth he settled and exited for my siginal. He rode like a dream, he not only turned but bent into the turn beautifully, went into a canter without having to work at it and keep after him, no crop, no harsh bits, no harsh anything, simply back to the basics.



I'm not suggesting you go to hackmore, just an example of a horse that someone lost patience with and took shortcuts by using harsher and harsher methods to control him.