He corrected me again, and said to make sure my elbows stay at my side, with my thumb and index fingers holding the reins tightly *with a loose and relaxed middle finger, ring finger and pinky finger*

Confident riders use a mix of tools and techniques to communicate with their horse and guide its movements. These help them to deal with common challenges like a horse that pulls or bolts or grazing while riding. blitznbobs, I'd assumed I was too big - he's 13.1hh (but a chunky Dartmoor), I'm 5ft 6, and more over 12 stone than I care to know about on the scales. Maybe last year before I ditched my diet it would have been ok - what do you think?? Maree, yes I think a crupper will be necessary, he just kept pulling til I noticed the saddle had been pulled! They are designed to let the rider control the length of the reins to stop their horse from lowering its head to graze while riding, which can be dangerous. You will also find these reins called "Anti-grazing reins" as they prevent the horse from grazing while under saddle. I would not recommend them for a horse that is grazing on the trails though. A simple lightweight nose net/muzzle is a better solution for those who love to dive for grass while out.I am going to suggest, maybe riding her only when you have others with you - to help you become more confident and stronger. And, when you are alone - maybe ride another horse who is allows you to relax and just enjoy yourself? Balanced Support Reins are a newer type of rein with a patented design that sets them apart from daisy and grass reins. Before you do that though, best to see if there is any other reason why he is snatching. If you have ruled out all pain, and everything fits, see if he would be more comfortable in a different bit or nose band ( what is he in currently?). Then get a really good instructor to watch your daughter ride him and see if she is causing him to object in this way for some reason. To the part where you say you let go of the reins completely, don't do that. I know it is hard to, and I know that bad habits are hard to break.

Dismayed listening through the windows at the howling wind. He clearly has a problem with it, and if we don't get to work him tomorrow I'm then away for the whole week. I worry that whatever we achieve one day will be lost if there's a big gap. So, lets take this as a learning experience - this mare deserves praise as well because she's teaching you - to become a more confident rider and a more determined rider. Maybe not at this point, but one day you'll see that. I suggest that you also look at a bit that will enable a 'one rein stop' safely without pulling the rings through the ponies mouth. Either a full cheek or tom thumb snaffle or french link. Adding flash/drop nosebands, a stronger bit etc is not going to work. You have to build your daughters confidence slowly, keeping her safe but enabling her to take control of the situation. The pony will soon learn that its naughty behaviour will be dealt with swiftly. Hmmm, you are right. This is definately a "you" issue - but I commend you for being upright and honest with yourself, so be proud for that! That's a good thing, because when you recognize your limitations, you can only improve from there. If you ignore your limitations, you'll never improve.

Sometimes he still Roots, and when I feel him about to, I drive inside leg into outside rein, tighten my core and hold myself so he cannot jeapordize my position - and I make him work.

When considering whether the daisy, grass or Balanced Support Reins are the right option for you and your horse it’s important to consider both rider and horse’s ease, comfort and what you want to achieve. If he is pulling down very sharply, ie yanking the reins out of your daughters hands, it would be snatching - snatching the reins off her. Its a very cheeky pony maneuver! ( thats ofc since you have ruled out pain) Some people think side reins - others the daisy rein? I'm leaning more towards daisy rein as it's designed more for this (albeit in terms of them putting head down for grass, although this is happening in a grass free school!). When used correctly, daisy reins provide a gentle and consistent pressure on the horse's mouth, encouraging them to keep their head up and in a more balanced position. Overuse or misuse of daisy reins can cause discomfort and even pain for the horse. They can be a difficult adjustment for some horses. If he were leaning, ie just heavily hanging on your daughters hands, as if she is holding the whole weight of his head - its leaning and is a schooling thing for both him and her.

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For an experienced rider who wants to correct grazing the daisy or grass reins will provide an adequate solution. For the novice rider, someone with a weaker grip or for an enhanced comfort experience and for both horse and rider the Balanced Support Reins offer a step up from these two options.

One of the benefits of using grass reins is that they are relatively easy to use. They can also be adjusted to fit different horse sizes and shapes. They are also a less severe option compared to martingales or draw reins. Grass reins provide a gentle pressure on the horse's mouth, making it easy for the rider to keep their head up and in a more balanced position. They may however not be effective for stubborn horses or those that are resistant to pressure.Please note that in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 we can only accept items returned to us for inspection if they are clean and dry, even if they are faulty.