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Jane Cockerton wrote to Stabletalk with the following problem

Help No Brakes Whatever Bit I Use!

"This must be a classic problem experienced by many horse and pony owners, HELP NO BRAKES!!!!. What do you do when hurling out of control at hunt fences at 110 miles per hour an once over go belting up the hill overtaking everyone still unable to stop when int he next county. I have tried everything right from the hardest bits thorough to bitless bridles, nothing makes a difference.

I am at my wits end with the most fantastic 100% all ways horse you know no vices etc but is just so strong. Another problem is when I have eventually got him to pull up then he preceeds to do nothing but what can be described as "bouncing" up and down on the spot sometimes so much that he hits me in the face, a anoying painfull problem. This problem only occurs when he is either hunting, crosscountry and sometimes in show jumping."

I have had the horse examined by the local riding instuctor, vet, tooth man and the back specialist so there is definatly nothing wrong so maybe it is just his pig headed self! Prehaps someone else out there has had similar problems and may be able to help.

Ken Perrin, who runs the SALE OR RETURN BIT BANK, gives Jane some sound advice.

You are not on your own when it comes to fizzy little ponies who are very strong. You seem to have done everything right in asking Vets, Dentists, Back people to look at him.

Generally with horses that do this it may be the bit, or it may be a need for a type of schooling that I have tried and find very successful.

Basically, we only ever need a horse to do two things.

1. Move away from your leg

2. Listen.

Sounds simple, but it is the essence of control. I use the following method.

Starting in a school, warm the horse up - NO CANTER WORK - keep it slow and deliberate.Walk & trot only. Now, pick a number between 7 & 10. This will be the number of steps you will do in one pace, no more, no less. Proceed round the school doing all different exercises, circles, loops etc, constantly changing what you are doing so the annimal is having to think all the time as to what you are going to ask.

Starting from halt, do 7-10 strides of walk, then into trot (7-10) back to walk, then halt, back to trot, walk halt etc. Get the picture. What you are asking, at low speed, is to get him to listen and move off the leg. You can then miss paces, (Halt to trot & trot to halt). Then take this out into the open, with a friend, so your pony is in company, but still listening to you - not his own instincts. If he does pull, try not to pull back, but give a quick 'tug' on one rein and then release. Keep doing this until he realises that he is not going to continue to walk through you.

My own Horse (16'3" ID x TB had the same problem. I persisted with this and eventually, when I dropped the reins, he stopped (even from Canter). I also, very early on, taught him rein back and combined this with the other paces. It's slow, boring, but for me it worked. I now have a very responsive horse that I can school in walk, trot & canter - in a head collar & 2 lead ropes.

Ken Perrin.(01933) 277515.

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