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| Joined: | Fri Jul 2nd, 2010 |
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I put my new 11yr TWH gelding in the ICB yesterday. His prior owner rode with a typical TWH bit (not really sure what is is called, 6" shanks, curved SS mouthpiece, toggles at mouth corners, round bit guards, unscrews to interchange the mouth pieces). My new gelding flat walked well as I was trying him out, had a good handle, but pulled at the reins as if to get more "head" room, still tucked his chin beautifully, but seemed a little resistence to that particular bit, moved off my leg pressure and body clues more. So his ability to communicate with my body made me hopeful of his ability to improve to a better bit. He is 16hhs and fits that height, impressive, you do want to feel secured in communicating with him. He can get into a very "parade" show off energy, holds his tail up steady, nods, arches his neck "Trojan-style", loves to show off a flat walk or running walk. His "motor" and strength is great. Just that the bit being used on him did not seem to communicate how to relax and keep that motor energized at the same together. I thought it seemed to hype him at times. I am used to riding reigning QHs, and the bits I have used have always calmed the QH during performances or riding. I was hoping to see the ICB do this for him once I got him home and on my own tuff.
He took the ICB easy into his mouth, had a slight toss of the head the first time I got in the saddle and picked up the reins, but seemed to adjust quickly. We rode out at a walk to let him get the feel, then he started flat walking on his own at a slow parade speed. I did not feel any resistence or pull from the bit, and so was able to relax my own arms and hands. We rode a good 5 miles over a dirt road, a few hills, and trails. He got very relaxed and responsive, lost the arched neck pulling, allowed me to use a non-tight hold, lighter hands, try out whoas from the seat, some light bit communications. He did well with stops, flex and lateral moves in the ICB, even holding still when we took breaks from riding with me still in the saddle. I was feeling confident to let him gait at his own energy on the way back.
At first he seemed confused how to stay collected with the ICB, almost as if the looser feel from my hands unbalanced him. He stumbled a few times if we built up speed, and I had to use a tighter hold on the reins than when we started out just walking and relaxing, but not the strong hold with the prior bit. I kept our speed moderately gaited, slow at times to keep him in a flat or running walk with the new bit feel. He had "less" tucked at the neck then in the old bit, but we finally figured out how to stumble less between the two of us
chkl . We encountered a few situations on the way back that heightened both our energy levels, and his neck arched more, seem to connect to the bit more then, so it was almost like I still used a light hand, but communicated more direction. He listened well with the nervous output. I actually enjoyed our heightened ride back home, but kept his speed checked to keep him collected better.
Question is... I am actually new to TWHs so feel free to teach me more (mostly have rode performance QHs)... does this sound like an on track response from the ICB and how should I progress? He is a nice TWH, and I want to communicate the comfort of this bit to him while letting him enjoy working off his parade attitude.
Just for infomation, I had posted several months ago when I first brought the ICB. Turned out I never got a chance to use it. The two gaited horses I had gotten at first proved to be perfect for someone else, one is now ridden by my boyfriend's daugher. She is a timid rider and this gelding's personality connected with her. So this is the first time I had gotten a chance to convert my own gaited horse to the ICB 1l So still in the learning stages, but I am happy with my new boy.