Why Can't I control my horse in a SNAFFLE?! LIVE

[@MegF142857]

Loved this discussion.

[@janetoconnell8295]

Ignore those people Ivy. There are thousand of us that appreciate your training tips

[@dianeyates8524]

The piece between the bit & the bridle attachment is called the purchase. The longer the purchase & shank, the more leverage there is. A longer purchase puts more poll pressure on than a shorter purchase.

[@epona9166]

Thank you for pointing this out, about poll pressure. People talk about long shanks = more leverage, and I still have a hard time understanding exactly how that works. Certainly the "pound of pressure" multiplier eludes me and I've never totally bought into it. But in any event, the ratio of the shank to the purchase 2:1 or 3:1 or even 4:1 determines how much pressure is put on the horse's poll. And the higher the ratio, the LESS pressure is put on the horse's poll relative to the pull on the bit. I find most people, this trainer included, don't give solid explanations for how bits work. They just kind of dabble in an explanation.

[@DDakotaCharm]

I am so glad I listened to this video. How do I get on your lives?

[@IvyS]

I do my live videos on Facebook. Ivy's glide gait

[@wiggwigg12]

I tried to transition my walker from a western shanked bit to a snaffle. At first he was a lot more comfortable or seemed it. we spent months trying to train and it seems to have gotten worse and worse. He wont stop, go, turn, back up, or listen AT ALL. I work with a trainer who has done wonders in other aspects with this horse, but it has been just a non stop fight with him. He's clever, smart, and picks up on things really quickly. but he seems to HATE the snaffle. we would spend the entire lesson fighting each other. he'd drag me around the arena, try to run out the arena door, crow hop and throw the occasional small buck. it was incredibly frustrating and disheartening. I couldn't trust him outside, couldn't trust him on the trails, and that was what I bought him to do, trail ride and explore outside together. Its his preferred activity as well. I coudln't take him out however because when he gets his mind on somethign that isn't me, he gets trippy. He'd constantly fight me in the snaffle, try to pull the reins out of my hand, head bob like crazy any time we stopped, mouth hanging open every time I asked him to stop, head arching back every time I told him he needed to stop. We were out on the trail near the barn and he was being his usual fussy self and tripped hard enough that we both went down. He fell to his knees and I tumbled face first into the dirt. We were both fine, He was eating grass before I finished falling and he didn't abandon me in the dirt. This was in the fall of last year and we spent all winter inside training in the snaffle, trying to get him comfortable in it and it just never worked. My trainer recently reccomended switching back to his old western shanked bit, and honestly he seems so much happier. We go outside all the time now, he listens when I tell him to turn away from danger. (I.e. the stallion, the road, oncoming cars, the giant tripping hole in the ground,) and its been night and day. I now ride one handed, extremely loose rein when we are out and about and during lessons, its still very loose, he's gaiting again without as much fuss, and aside from his usual naughty streak, he seems to be a happier horse. I need to get a new western bit that wont break the bank. Ive seen some of your other videos, but do you have a general all around all purpose western shank bit that you recommend? He seems more comfortable in one with short shanks and a small port for tongue room. I love this horse and want him to be comfortable and I can just tell he prefers the western bar bit. He opens his mouth to take the bit, doesn't try to pull his head away, doesn't resist the bridle like he does with my snaffle and is generally less fussy all around. I don't know anything about his history, only that the people I bought him from were amatuer and didn't ride very often, so we had to iron out some bad habits, but those have all gone away. Like I said, he's incredibly clever, no longer spins away from the mounting block, moves laterally off of leg pressure, the whole nine yards, none of which he did before, So he is picking up on the training we are doing. This is a long way of asking if you have any specific western bits you recommend for a horse doing archery and trail riding, who just seems to despise a snaffle. Thank you for your videos!

[@sseeback6754]

Totally agree with not needing a big, shanked bit to control the animal!

[@dkc8882]

Thank you, Ivy, for recommending the Rockin S Raised snaffle. My horse absolutely loves it and moves beautifully in it! He was fine in his Imus Comfort shanked bit but thought it was time to move him to a snaffle. So glad I took your advice and Caddy thanks you too! :)

[@nicoleross4160]

Thanks Ivy - appreciated this advice for my non-gaited pony too!

[@mingram008]

Excellent explanation on the bits! I appreciate your work!!!

[@clegg334]

I love your training and knowledge

[@susedolamroth]

I an just wondering, does that mean when I start a young kid riding, would a slightly shanked bridle make sense? I ride in a VERY soft wide sidepull, will the horse be able to adapt to a small say 40 lbs rider. I am not using a lot of pressure but I am larger than the kid.

[@appylover5283]

The importance of teaching the one rain stop and disengage the hindquarters once a horse learns this and should be taught in halter and bit

[@IvyS]

Not everyone believes in teaching the one rein stop, but I totally agree it should be done only in snaffle or bitless bridle.

[@sseeback6754]

I am experiencing that when I give contact to my walker, he perks up and wants to move forward so maybe he was trained to go forward with that cue. I don't know his training before I bought him...I have only had him 9 months. He is also one of those ones who doesn't want to be last!!!

[@doncobb9451]

There are no bad bits, only bad heavy hands.

[@lareemcra347]

I have never seen a race horse run in anything other than a snaffle bit. I have no idea why. I also wonder why the jockeys use such short stirrups. Do you know the answers?

[@doncobb9451]

Arrow dynamics. Lol

[@lr5425]

Saludos desde Peru.

[@Conny226]

There are so many snuffle bit witch one do you recommend? I don’t like the nut cracker on .

[@IvyS]

Have you tried the Rockin s raised snaffle?

[@Conny226]

@@IvyS i am going to look it up to see how it looks like . Thank u for the reply

[@Conny226]

@@IvyS i am going to look it up to see how it looks like . Thank u for the reply