retraining my race horse (hunter/jumpers)

Question
HI, I recently purchased "Turk" who is a 6 (7 in a few months)and now an ex racer. I purchased him on the track as he had decided enough was enough, lol. He has not raced since last May and had been stall bound at his owners stable. I have had him for 2 weeks now and have just sat on him this past week. I have trained many warmblood babies, but this is a whole new experience.
I notice two things that are bazaar. First, he tries to get under the bit and constantly plays w/the bit and jakes his head (or cocks his head) to one side. I am trying to bend him and keep him busy, but he won't stop w/the mouth and head. I have a rubber D snaffle in his mouth, which I though would be a great training bit.
The other thing that the little prince does is "skip-up" w/this hind end as we are trotting. It's like a baby buck.... but it's only w/his hind legs and it is very very weird (it doesn't seem like a buck).
He was vetted out and passed w/flying colors. So I am assuming it is not a soreness (I check his back and he has never shown signs of sore or cold back issues).
He is a little pokey most of the time, lol, believe it or not, but throws bucking tempers when spooked, lol. He is gorgeous and learning to love.
Could you please help me w/this mouth issue, I just can't bend him or even touch his mouth w/the reins b/c he has the bit basically.

Thank you so much!
Best Regards,
Abbie


Answer
Hi Abbie, thanks for asking about Turk.  Seems to me  you are going about a lot of things in a good way, slowly and without rushing him.  I don't think Turk's behavior is a warmblood vs. TB thing, but more the result of Turk being handled and ridden by many different people in an environment that is less carefully controlled than dressage training, for instance.   What type of groundwork have you dont with him prior to riding?  

I believe that the answer to both of Turk's challenges, the head shaking/under the bit and the little hops with the hind lie in the same direction, asking him to go forwards relaxed, with rhythm and life.  Easier said than done, but that is the first goal.

>>He is a little pokey most of the time, lol, believe it or not, but throws bucking tempers when spooked, lol. >>
Yup, that actually makes sense.  I tell folks is not the "hot" Arabian who prances all the time and won't stand still that'll buck you off, because they just move their feet all the time and if they spook, why they just move theri feet some more.  I tell folks that the horse who'll buck us off is the pokey one, the one that appears to move slowly, is not responsive to our legs, and doesn't move his feet .. untill he does big time.
Again, this tells me you need to get Turk to actually move forwards willingly *and* relaxed.  (Can you take him trailriding?)

>He is gorgeous and learning to love. >
Good, you are helping him along :)

(1) ----------------------------
About the bit, going under the bit, and the head shaking:
*How does he carry the bit when you either let the reins completely loose, or when you let him just wear the bit (take the reins off and ask him to move at liberty, saddled and bridled.)

* Have you checked how the bit fits in his mouth?  Some rubber or fat snaffles appear to fit well, but can be too big if the horse has a low palate.  It's a good choice of bit, just see if that particular snaffle fits him.

*Have you tried adjusting the bit a hole lower (if you adjusted the  bridle so there are two creases in his liP).  I generally adjust the bit so it hangs without causing any creases, just snug against the corner of his mouth

* how is your and his stop, together?  Can  you safely ride him in a small arena, roundpen, or the like on a long rein?  Can you walk forwards, with life and rhytm, on a long rein? (try it, if not yet.)  Does he still shake his head if you ride with a very loose rein?

*Going under the bit can mean a lot of things, but I would primarily focus on forwards, with rhythm and relaxation.  To do that, I'd use my legs and seat, and always reward when he does well.  If he still goes under on a fairly loose rein, pick up on one rein and "open" it up, without pulling back, but forwards-and-sideways at the same time.  Use your inside leg at the same time to ask him forwards, with a little bend in his whole body, not just his head.  Release as soon as his head goes forwards and slightly sideways (as if you were riding a large-loop serpentine, or starting half a circle)  In some ways, you are going to act as if you want the opposite of on the bit!

(2)------------------------------
>>he other thing that the little prince does is "skip-up" w/this hind end as we are trotting. It's like a baby buck....

Since it seems is not a veterinary/shoeing issue, I suspect it has something to do  with his overall lack of balance, lack of muscle tone, etc.  I' ve ridden unbalanced TB/s as well as other breeds, not unusual with young, or stall-kept horses.  All those issues might just cause him to be pokey too, as well as buck when he feels he has to run.

What I would do is:
- turn him out with other horses on a  pasture with hills, if possible
- lead him on a long lead and do groundwork on the trail, over every ditch, log, etc we can find
- set up cavalettis and lead/ride over them, walk, then trot
- start with poles on the ground, then raise them a little
- ask for steping over behind and disengaging hind on the ground
- bend his head / release and praise when he gives from the ground
- ride many slow walk-fast walk transitions
- ride many circles, figure 8s, serpentines, etc at the walk, on a fairly loose rein (don't attempt to go on the bit.. pick up contact if he needs support, then release when has rebalanced himself)
- don't trot for long periods of time, do lots of transitions.. easy and gentle, nothing too fast
- don't attempt to go straight for too long
- avoid tight , small circles ..

Hope this few tips help
Rena