Cheeky chops

Finding the right bit is a continuing challenge/nightmare.

In an effort to keep Max's cheeky chops untroubled, I decided to try him in his Tom Thumb Scrubs bit again. The "Tom Thumb" has a bit of a reputation as a harsh bit, but that's if you don't know there's an American version, and a UK version. The UK version, sweet iron, jointed with three copper rollers to play with at the joint, and copper inlays at the side to play against the sides of his tongue is a moderate bit. There are brakes, if necessary, but a sweet tasting bit with things to play with, which gets the mouth working and salivating softly. As always, a bit is as harsh as the hands that guide it and if I have nothing else, I have gentle hands - I'm far too aware of Max's delicate mouth to be too strong with him.

I have been using a bit loaned by my YO for ages now, and though Max has been OK in it (OK enough that I was considering buying my own). But for allthat, there has been something nagging me about it, something that just didn't feel right, so I thought we'd have a change, I'd give YO her bit back and see how we went. There was no more intent in this than I was cleaning my bridle and thought it a good opportunity to swap bits over.

YO turned up while I was doing the swap, and I told her the bit was fine, but I'd had it long enough and I'd get my own so she could have it back. This was really just a polite explanation; I was grateful for the loan and wanted to say something pleasant about it as I handed it back. It was kind, after all, for her to let me have it for so long.

It has been a long time, but I've not been using the borrowed bit consistently, swapping Max around with bitless and his Pee Wee as well. Thank God for that, in retrospect.

I had thought the borrowed bit was a bog standard "French link" with the typical lozenge in the middle. To my horror, in response to my "I'll buy my own" was advice that the particular bit we were using is very good for getting horses "lighter" and, "Oh, it's not a French lozenge, by the way. I know it looks like one. But if you're looking to buy your own, it's called a Dr Bristol."

I wonder if the horror registered on my my face when YO said those words. I don't think it did.

Good Lord! I had no idea! Dr Bristol bits have a reputation as one of the strongest (harshest) bits around. I hadn't noticed that the lozenge was angled, and I know there's an argument that it's better to put pressure on the horse's tongue rather than the bars, but God's truth, I would never knowingly have stuck a Dr Bristol in Max's gob and I'm thinking back now on corrective pressure I used when he was evading that I never would have used if I'd known what I was dealing with!

Thank goodness I always strive to be light with my hands, and I just use pressure by squeezing with my fingers (like squeezing water from a sponge) then release, as opposed to putting my forearms, biceps and even back into it. But even so! My poor Max and his delicate mouth! What an assault on that tender tissue.

No, I certainly won't be getting one of those to replace the one I've handed back! I feel now like I've been careless for not noticing, and for not paying attention earlier to my misgivings about that bit, even though I couldn't put my finger on why I was having those misgivings. Max never objected strenuously, but there was something about it that just didn't feel right to me. Now I know, and I am aghast that I unwittingly put such a harsh thing in his poor mouth.

But now we are back in the Tom Thumb, and Max is happy and going well. He's so responsive (he always is when we do an initial change of bit) and had a pleasingly relaxed look in his eye.

He is still not adverse to playing his old evasion tricks but I'm getting much better at reading his body language and knowing how to deal with his mischief.

It's a bit tricky working out pressure and release with my hands with Max, because he's such a cheeky monkey! I can usually see when he's about to evade my direction. Max is no good at disguising his intentions, he'll go along perfectly nicely, but when he gets to that turn (usually on the left rein), his ear cocks towards where he's thinking of going instead, and I can see an unmistakable glint in his eye that forewarns me.

So if I'm quick off the mark, I can check his next move by applying slightly more pressure to the inside rein and positioning myself to get him round the turn without deaking out on me.

I can either counteract it completely with encouraging praise, or if not quite quick enough, I can bring him to a halt and ask for him to back up a couple of steps, then silently put him back in position, or sometimes if all is lost and going a bit wayward, I can ask him do something completely different for a while and then get him back in position to where we were and ask again.

But the tricky bit: If I succeed on my check and get him round the turn (with praise) then that would be the ideal time to release the pressure from my hand as a reward. Thing is, if I do release then, the little monkey will take the release and bloomin' well turn and go through with his evasion! He's not so green as cabbage looking, my Max.

He doesn't do that every time, but often enough that it's making it really tricky for me to know whether to release pressure or not. If I do, he might fake me out, but if I don't, then I'm just applying pressure with no release and Max isn't learning that if he yields, things gets instantly easier (reward).

Why the evasion? No real reason other than Max being Max. He'd rather play than work, and he does it because he can.

Today, though, his auntie H gave me some brilliant advice: "Why not try reverse psychology?" If Max wants to evade, or looks like he's planning to evade then make it my decision to go in the direction of his planned evasion before he has a chance to do it himself!

Brilliant! So simple and so stunningly brilliant! Make me wonder why I didn't think of it myself. D'oh!

So, just keep Max so busy with changes of direction that he won't know which way he's about to go, so he can't plan the evasion and instead, he'll just have to switch his focus to me being busy with him.

Might take a while to work it out, I'm not expecting it to be easy, but it will keep us both on our toes, and is an easy, non-confrontational way to work out the problem without getting into a battle of wills about it.

Auntie H is a genius! Max won't think so, but as much as it will draw a line under his games, it's a very kind way for us to go forward, playing, not fighting. As it should be.

Auntie H is Max's good friend, and in his heart, he knows it. As do I, that's why she gives such good advice - she loves Max, and takes his snorts of protest with good humour (and she's always good for a herby treat, so Max will always forgive her).