Fixing a HARD Mouthed Horse

In this video Ryan helps Caira soften her mustang Adaira.
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[@ryanrosehorsemanship]

Thanks for Watching! If you would like to see more in depth training videos and ask me specific questions about your horse, join my patreon page go to www.patreon.com/ryanrosehorsemanship Only $10!

[@sherryw-ponyluv-er2394]

It’s an interesting thing how a certain horse enters our life and challenges us to step up our own skills. Horses are great teachers.

[@GrainneDhu]

Great lesson! When I started riding hunter/jumpers in the late 1960s, we rode off track Thoroughbreds but we didn't think we were doing anything special. We needed reasonably priced horses and OTTBs that retired sound at 6+ years old were guaranteed to have legs like iron, so that was a good source. Those horses could have been described as hard mouthed but they really weren't--our trainer explained to us teenaged girls that what they had was UNeducated mouths. All their lives, they'd been ridden with the pressure dial turned up to 12 on a scale of 1 to 10, so of course they didn't know that anything below, say, a 9 on the dial meant anything. Our first job was to teach them that 1 to 3 was now where the communication was going to take place. It didn't take that long to do--horses that had only been stopped or turned by a 110 jockey hauling with all his weight on the reins learned how to respond appropriately to a soft rein took less than a month. Took longer than that for them to build the muscle to carry them while they rounded up, softened, bent, etc, of course, but they had the new knowledge of bit, legs and seat to help them learn how to use all those muscles differently. Most of those horses were sold on as green hunters; the stable had a justly earned reputation for turning out horses that had silk mouths and that maximised the conformation genetics gave them.

[@tracyjohnson5023]

Lol I've had many OTTB beginning in the '80s and galloped at track 9 years. People that haven't ridden them right off track haven't a clue that they barely plow rein turn and need to lean on bit. They can really pull and you're not gonna stop one by pulling harder lol.

[@GrainneDhu]

@@tracyjohnson5023 yeah. That need to lean for balance can only be fixed by changing the way they move which can only be fixed by changing their muscle structure--takes time and patience, like any fitness program. But it doesn't take long to teach them not to pull--if you refuse to use your hands like a wall. Teach them that soft pressure means something and then patiently do what amounts to physical therapy to change the way they use their bodies.

[@samgould9930]

Beautifully put

[@embriettehyde8048]

This is probably the most helpful training video I've seen. I have been training my gelding and ran into a wall with hi rooting and leaning on the bit. I switched from a snaffle to a low port futurity bit which helped s lot but some of the resistance was coming back, especially in highly emotional situations (at speed on trail with his pasture mate). At my wits end, I happened upon your video and saw my horse in so many ways - the rooting and chewing, speeding up with leg, etc. I often fall into the trap of comparing our journey to others and I've heard so often that the rooting and chewing eventually resolves as you get the horse more supple, less green, etc. He was getting worse, not better, which made me convinced I was doing something wrong. To see someone with a horse with years of riding experience have the same struggles really helped me feel like less of a failure. I tried these exercises today and he was really soft and do good. I started using barely perceptible rein squeezes and I realized our issue was I was relying too much on the reins. He was telling me that all along! We even got nice vertical flexion at the trot with calf pressure. I'm shocked and feeling so positive. Thank you SO much for putting this out here, you've helped me and my horse to be happier and work better together!

[@horsingwithhugo]

This is wonderful to hear! How is he going now?

[@embriettehyde8048]

@@horsingwithhugo really well! It seems our rooting issues are a thing of the past. He's even learning ultra fine tuned control of speed through my seat: he can tiptoe, go from western pleasure speed trot to extended trot and back again, stop off my seat (MOST of the time). Now we are working on more advanced lateral movements.

[@barbaramarsh3704]

Wow, the GPS analogy was spot on! I will remember that!

[@HoldingMoneyRansom]

this is literally what I needed to tell me I was the problem, I've been holding my horse back at the lope and she isn't going off my leg. I was 12 and a nervous rider and did all the training myself and now that I'm looking at her, she needs to be tuned to my skill and wants NOW. 3 years ago I just wanted a horse to have a bond with but I'd like to be competitive with her in something, probably barrels or ranch riding but she really needs worked on and this told me what I needed. I used to be a western pleasure rider but hating riding, I have 0 bond with any horse and didn't want to get on for myself, I wanted to get on for the attention it brought from my family. She taught me what loving a sport is but out of everyone I've watched, they only show horses that they've worked hours before the videos so I never learnt what I was looking for or how to ask when they're not certain.

[@DARKhorses73]

Very interesting. Ryan knows his stuff. I learned this in portugal with classical dressage riders. It wasn't easy but on school masters I could "feel" what the softness was.

[@donnac.1609]

I believe a well trained western horse should be able to transition to 1st level Dressage. Important basics are some what universal. Just my opinion....

[@ryanrosehorsemanship]

Definitely 👍

[@terrifrye2803]

Yes ma’am.

[@PNWCagey-Dub]

I always did both with all mine and it never harmed or ruined any of them, or me. I completely agree

[@lisawilson3360]

I took Dressage to level 3 so that I could be a better barrel Racer and you know what it worked It made me a much better Rider and it Taught me much better communication with my horse. I think everybody that rides any discipline should explore dressage

[@lisawilson3360]

I agree Made me a better barrel racer and horsewoman

[@SandraOrtmann1976]

Well, that is some very classical dressage training right there. I did that with my horse, and he became supersoft. We got up to Piaffe, which he was able do with reins on the pommel on the saddle, no reins required, heels down, lower legs just a tad pushed bag and with a very centered and upright seat. Other people really had some difficulties riding him at that level, because he got so very fine-tuned. It was a long way to that point, he did that at age 13. I was lucky enough to get to know how a perfectly trained horse feels (he was a big PRE stallion, also about that age, trained to be able to carry out a perfect Levade. I was allowed on him after three months of training and told to be super careful. Which I did, it was one of the greatest moments in my life. Felt like I had been knighted at that point, it was a great honour to ride this horse.) That helped a lot, too.

[@bethje30]

So interesting, this will work for classic Dressage as well. Will try this. I have a mare that does the same thing, she becomes very strong in the reigns and when things get complicated she wants to run. She can't gallop calmly as she finds it hard I think.

[@Frecklesunkissed]

This was amazing. I love that you demonstrated this with a mustang. I wasn’t getting it until the end. You really showed we need more training to understand the our horse so we can work better together.

[@comesahorseman]

I clicked right away; this is a common issue with Standardbreds. Harsher bits are very common.

[@ryanrosehorsemanship]

💯👌👍

[@comesahorseman]

@@ryanrosehorsemanship now, the challenge for me is to translate the mounted technique to a driven horse! I think, start at a walk... 😉

[@RanchMamaFox]

Thank you Ryan! 😃 This is great to know, especially the leg pressure. I instinctively did something similar with my Quarter Horse, Partner, who was a dude string horse until I bought him at age 12... he was so hard mouthed, my poor sweet boy had been yanked on in a Tom Thumb by every newbie wanna-be cowboy his whole life. A gentler bit (Myler bits rock!) and some retraining for soft connection and body/ verbal cues, and he's a different horse. Now I've got to try your technique so I feel good about my 8 year old daughter showing him next 4-H season. Haha

[@freyasturm4279]

I love that your first question is :"What is she good at?" This says a lot

[@joanarmstrong6552]

Great lesson 😊

[@ryanrosehorsemanship]

Thanks!

[@jmwhorsemanship]

I have been riding pleasure horses a little bit who "spur stop" so squeeze with no rhythm means stop. So instead of squeezing to achieve softness I peddle, meaning each stride I bump their sides either with heel or spur. But the holding part with the reins is exactly the same. I pick up a feel and go from maintaining rhythm with my legs to making a bigger movement first and then start bumping, every bump is just a little bit harder until the horse chooses to be soft. Then I go back to maintaining rhythm with my legs and smoothly give rein back for the horse to follow down. When I'm riding my training horses and my lesson skips a week the horse typically will find my feel just from lifting my hand and starting to make a bigger movement with my legs. This is great because I can get the horse to do transitions collected simply because legs mean collect and I use my legs for downward transitions. It also means I can ride on a very collected rein, or a looser rein and achieve different head heights, which you need when switching from a pleasure or HUS class to a horsemanship or equitation class. I used to ride reining horses so the transition from reining to pleasure was hard! But the use of hands was pretty similar... When done correctly.

[@janwoelffer7940]

Great topic with a very good explanation and demonstration.

[@sidilicious11]

Another great lesson!

[@annieponies3462]

So much explained at the walk, I really enjoy your videos !!!

[@anndiederich1991]

This is a really great lesson, perfect for where I am with my horse.

[@mozartrn1]

Sage spends the majority of this video, at least up to 18 min, tuned in to Ryan. Really like that.

[@sshepard5222]

You're amazing. Your explanation, your level headed insight. I'm in a rural part of Australia and there's very little to choose from with trainers that align with what I want my horse to achieve. We are also in a recession and a drought so a bit too poor at the moment for subscriptions. So I'm so incredibly grateful for your free content you provide. Truly, thankyou from the bottom of my heart, you have no idea how valuable your content is.

[@nicolea8288]

Thanks Kera

[@davidsonbenson9830]

Hello how are you doing

[@donnac.1609]

Basics need to be introduced right along from the beginning. Seat....legs and hands.

[@FluxyMiniscus]

Another quality video lesson! Thanks Ryan- I don’t currently have a horse, but I’m always interested in learning from thoughtful connected trainers….and even though I’m a lifelong English rider, I find that your lessons are excellent no matter what discipline. (Do I remember correctly that your wife is a Dressage rider??) I wonder if you know of similarly thoughtful trainers in Tucson? I’m searching for a new barn… and at 56, I’m open to finally trying Western again (haven’t sat in a Western saddle since going to camp in the 70’s!) Thanks again- Maureen

[@modocroughstock5700]

I want to come horse camping in Tucson for the winter.. couple saddle horses and a four horse gooseneck

[@franceslouis3652]

I enjoy these videos i am going to get a horse in the next year

[@nakiamiller8322]

Thank you Ryan for this video. This helped me with my horse. I noticed that after I taught her this, I could tell that we were actually communicating, instead of me just pulling on the reins.

[@gisellehutchings3588]

Best video yet Ryan 👏 love it!

[@torialexander2011]

On of the best softening explanation I have seen! Thank you !

[@davidsonbenson9830]

Hello how are are doing

[@malikathecreative]

Thanks Ryan! Have just been struggling with this so this is awesome.

[@chrisbeck5688]

Really enjoyed this! You have wonderful, calm, positive energy. Scout and his owner are fortunate to have found you!!!

[@meretefrandsen9340]

I had a 10 min. training session on my horse doing This on cirkels and it went great 🤗. At stand still she went sidepassing or backing so we went back on The cirkel work😂. Thank again for sharing🙏

[@flowzerr4550]

Words do not express my appreciation of your insight, empathy (both for horse & rider) & clarity in your communication of technique. Thank you, Ryan. You're the best!!!

[@gaylemcmurdy2615]

Circle

[@pokenscratchranch8902]

My favorite video on your channel so far! Thank you for explaining with so much clarity.

[@hopekibo9044]

Thank you so much for sharing your insights!

[@kimberlynads]

Thank you Ryan for breaking this down! This is where I am going with one ☝️ of mine, after I get strength built in the hind and stamina in maintaining gate 👍🏼👍🏼

[@mitzisantana3666]

Thank you so much for this video! I knew it was me and this video has helped so much!

[@cindysiekierke3541]

Love your videos! You explain things so thoroughly. I just started watching your videos a couple of weeks ago and have learned so much. The depth of training and understanding both to the horse and person is amazing. Thank you

[@KingsMom831]

Great video!!

[@jenniferlehman326]

Every horse is an individual, and you have to keep that in mind when training a horse. And always work with the horse you have today not the one you had yesterday. When training a horse, you have Plan A, but you must have a Plan B, C, D and E. Because each horse learns differently. Best Regards from a Retired Paramedic, a S&R Dog and Handler Team Trainer and Horse Trainer in Ontario, Canada, Jenn. 💖 🇨🇦🇺🇲

[@valeriehudson7276]

Great Video, thanks for the Icons helps with the learning curve and you explaining while Cara was riding.

[@Trapezius8oblique]

Terrific explanation thanks

[@BroussardCollection]

Awesome Video Thanks

[@meretefrandsen9340]

Thanks for posting / very good leasson / I’l add that into my training with my brazy horse.

[@wajdiamayreh930]

Nice informative videos thank you very much

[@C-Rocks]

Great topic!

[@lisawilliams9457]

Sage is napping in the sun while you talk....she looks very content

[@groussac]

Total respect for you riders. I'd love to get your take on dealing with a harness horse puller. All you've got is voice and lines. My solution: let them pull til they got tired--usually a 3 mile jog. (Not very creative training, but all I could come up with at the time.) They'd slow down, ears up, voice telling them 'good horse' (the tone is more important than the words), and then a gentle pull back with the lines. Six horses, not enough time, but I was making progress...

[@metalkingtohorses]

I don't obey my idiot GPS SO IT always nags to go left or right and I'm like no! then it says," your route is being recalculated" great video by the way!

[@elisabethnassensvanberg9005]

Thanks for a good lesson and now of to the stable for practice on my youngster :)

[@corimorel2834]

The way to fix a horse with a hard mouth is to stop using a bit. I switched my horse to halter and never had any problems.

[@vivrenate3310]

Thanks for your clear advice at around 12:00: be a post, set a boundary; don't take it stronger, but add more leg. I enjoy your teaching. Unrelated question: do US concrete mixer trucks drive backwards? At amazing speed??? (Behind you)

[@paulinafranchini9089]

I just went back and looked to see what you were talking about (the concrete mixer truck) and saw it zoom past at like 12:05. That is sooooo weird!!! Idk how you spotted that! Also I totally agree with your comment. Ryan explains it so well! I definitely need to work on not pulling harder.

[@vivrenate3310]

@@paulinafranchini9089 Thanks for your response Paulina, I saw it in a flash and had to look again 😀 I learn so much from Ryan and Emily, every single video. Their understanding of horses is profound

[@paulinafranchini9089]

@@vivrenate3310 Yes! 100%!

[@Diesel_Shelby]

I love your training style!! You should start to do lessons on zoom! That would be great I wish I could come there but I live in Texas 😂

[@Inca1122]

I’ll give this a try w my mustang. He is very bracy as of late bc i threw him in a curb prob too soon.

[@86estranged07]

Great video! Could you describe the action of the legs to get a soft feel and eventually collection? If I understood correctly you apply steady pressure with your legs and release when he get soft. Or it can be rithmic pressure as well?

[@marthawade5297]

My horse is similar to Cara's mustang. Please do some more lessons with Cara and her mustang. 😉 Thanks. Live your channel.

[@lennyrat4ever447]

What do you mean when you say "Ask to round through her ribcage"? Do you mean 'lift the back/engage the core' type thing?

[@sseeback6754]

Would you have an example of how to do the same exercise using a bitless system???

[@jeanlukens9017]

Thank you, Ryan. Is it better for the horse to teach softening from the standstill, then at the walk, then at the trot? My trailhorse gets anxious and speedy on the trail. Any ideas for how to work on this when the woodland trail doesn't allow for circling? Many thanks.

[@kimboote6035]

Hi Ryan , such a huge fan of all the work you do and all of your videos, can I ask I have a mare very similar , she’s very bracey due to me being nervous when I first got her and having hard hands , I’ve since built a lot of confidence on her and now I want to reteach her she can trust Me now , I feel aweful for unknowingly being rough On her mouth , I’ve learnt a lot since about soft hands and trying really hard to be mindful of that, my question is with me teaching her to accept / take contact , is it 1 take soft contact 2 put on legs , 3 release legs once she gives then 4 do I lower back to a neutral position or do I keep soft contact with my hands , I’m just trying to figure out how to keep her soft , I plan to do those steps at a walk and really establish that first but just want to make Sure I’m doing it right , is the idea that she will eventually learn to take contact from my hands and her reward / release will be not squeezing ? Could you possibly clarify that if I’m on the right track , thankyou kindly Kim

[@lydiagould3090]

When in a young horses development would you add this? I ride in a halter ,and been working on maintaining gait in walk ,and incorporating turns. She is not bracy in walk,and has good lateral flexion . She is more on the lazy side(currently)

[@ptitdragon007]

Don't worry about the comments

[@tracyjohnson5023]

Question: how would you rehab a horse in its teens that's always been ridden with long shank stout bits, tucks his head in and pulls you out of saddle when he doesn't want to stop or rate speed? So that the horse would reliably stop and rate outside of an arena? I mean this horse has a dead mouth! I'm currently riding him in a snaffle with a gag headstall as poll pressure seems to work.

[@jelnamacklin8487]

When you say hold are you stll using legs or just the reins?

[@teresagavin2003]

I recently purchased a gaming horse because he was gate issues. I don't game so the first thing I want to work on is teaching him to neck rein (will team rope on him). If you pick up his reins, he will drop his nose but does not understand what you are teaching above. (other than dropping his nose, he is what I would consider a "hard mouthed" horse for lack of a better term. (Also VERY dead sided) My question to you is should I begin with your exercises in this video before trying to focus on neck reining or begin working on neck reining and THEN transition to these exercises?

[@nativanoff6099]

I have young for yr old quarter horse and he’s hard in the mount h and I am being honest it is my fault but I am trying to work with that no and I am going to try this and any tips will really help

[@katiekayla1]

Would love to see a video on the overly sensitive/horse chomping on the bit and curling to avoid. Or the opposite of a “hard mouthed horse” when changing bits doesnt help.

[@RanchMamaFox]

Curious what you mean by changing the bit... going from a gentler bit to a harsher one, or vice versa? My Quarter Horse was a dude string horse before I got him, VERY hard mouthed and stubborn... I went to a gentler bit and did some retraining for connection and soft feel, and he's like a different horse. My Mustang is real mouthy and sensitive, a gentler bit and the same retraining worked wonders for him too.

[@FOCHS5]

It appears that she has the horse “short reined” so each post and fall she’s pulling on the mouth. You did the same exercise but your reins were longer and softer and not pulling on the mouth. Is there a reason she is using a shorter rein loop and keeping tight on the mouth?

[@laurenhumphrey809]

So is the idea to loosen the rein you are asking them to turn towards as they soften? I’m confused

[@debbieboston2377]

how do you stop them over bending, but keep the softness?

[@ryanrosehorsemanship]

Transitions

[@craigwalker9197]

Ryan, I have a 2 year old I just started that is very bracie giving his head and neck in turns. I only have 12 rides on him but he is unusually stiff. He is afraid to give me his face. I can walk, trot, and canter large patterns but when I try to tighten the pattern he is as stiff as a board. How do I help him relax and give?

[@mimirosenkrance8526]

Thank you so much. I needed this. I have a thoroughbred. The person that had him first. Rode him with the "gas" and " break" on at the same time. I use him to sort cows. When I ask him to move he goes in high speed and "U"'s his neck. Gets very hard on the bit He has improved a lot. Would this method be correct for him, also? And I have heard term, quit riding " could you explain what that feels like. And opposite of. Thank you

[@tracyjohnson5023]

I'm not Ryan for sure, but usually the term "quit riding" means no leg, no hand, no seat. Just stop your body.

[@mimirosenkrance8526]

@@tracyjohnson5023 thank you.

[@Inca1122]

Can someone that’s experience comment? What should I do if my horse decides to go another direction when I’m trying to get him to go in the circle because I’m having that problem now that’s how brassy he is.

[@Shanngella]

in your opinion would a 20 year old horse be too old to try and make him softer?

[@staceykrahn]

Can this exercise work with gaited horses?

[@tracyjohnson5023]

Absolutely! It would be a big blessing for the horse. SO MANY gaited horses just know leg is go and many are ridden with a lot of bit, pulling all the time without any true collection or softness. I restart lots of horses, many gaited. It makes me mad and sad both that they've never been taught something as simple as backing up, giving to bit or any lateral movements.

[@Areyousayingidontknowmyname]

See if this helps with my mare. I get a friend to ride her while i can't. She will snag the bit on one side. Believe its the left.

[@michael-zl1dt]

Zz