HOPE'S BIT BLOG - All about horse bits! Hope's Bit Blog - Issue 1 | Page 4

Thoroughbreds have an amazing capacity to learn new skills.
When we are trying to teach a new behavior, we need to find a
fresh place on their face that will not trigger an old racing
response. One of the most successful ways is to tap back into their
nose training from when they were a foal. The same training we
use everyday to lead them everywhere we need them to go. Using
a hackamore or a combination bit has had very good results when
we are retraining thoroughbreds. You could even try the young
horse method I mentioned earlier by using your halter under your
bridle with two sets of reins.
Once you have your horse calm and listening by not
unintentionally triggering old responses, you can begin the real
work of training. Riding six days a week and doing a million circles
and transitions.

Back to Back D
Exercise
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Choose one end of your
arena.
First travel away from
the wall.
Make two Ds back to back
by turning alternate
directions each pass
down the center.
What is most important
about this exercise is the
strides of straightness
before you turn the
opposite direction.
Passing the bend through
the horses body one side
– straight then the next.
Then try towards the
wall.