How to stop Mouthiness in horses & getting Forward
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This episode of Mark Langley Horsemanship Solutions for Partnership addresses three key challenges in horse training: helping horses overcome 'mouthiness' and resistance to forward movement, transitioning carriage-trained horses to under-saddle work, and managing a young horse's playful but potentially problematic chewing behavior. Mark Langley explains that horses like Amanda's, who excel in long reining but resist going forward, often lack clear, consistent cues and may have developed a habit of facing the handler instead of moving forward. He recommends using a long stick with a flag as a forward-driving stimulus—mimicking the rider's leg aids—while maintaining clarity in body language and rein positioning to avoid confusion. For carriage horses like Catherine's, who are desensitized to ribcage pressure, Mark emphasizes re-sensitizing the horse through tools like belly ropes and teaching backup and one-rein stops to rebuild responsiveness. Regarding Deb's two-year-old who chews the lead rope and treats the flag as a toy, Mark introduces the concept of balancing curiosity with caution, advocating for occasional, unpredictable stimuli (like sudden drum taps) to build awareness without fear. He stresses that healthy caution, not fear, is essential for long-term confidence and mental resilience in horses. The episode concludes with a reminder that behaviors like chewing can become habitual coping mechanisms when horses are anxious, and that consistent, thoughtful training fosters understanding over time. Key takeaways include: (1) Use clear, consistent cues in long reining to prevent confusion and encourage forward movement; (2) Re-sensitize carriage horses to ribcage pressure using belly ropes and one-rein stops; (3) Balance curiosity with caution by introducing unpredictable but non-threatening stimuli; (4) Avoid turning tools like flags into toys; (5) Recognize that behaviors like chewing may stem from anxiety and can become habits; (6) Build understanding through training to replace fear with confidence; (7) Use environmental surprises (e.g., sudden sounds) to build awareness without causing trauma; (8) Prioritize mental balance—curiosity with caution—for long-term horse well-being.
Use a long flag or stick as a forward-driving stimulus, mimicking leg pressure, to encourage forward movement in long reining.
Re-sensitize carriage horses to ribcage pressure using belly ropes and teach backup and one-rein stops to rebuild responsiveness.
Balance curiosity with caution by introducing unpredictable, non-threatening stimuli to build awareness without fear.
Avoid turning tools like flags into toys—use them as awareness tools, not playthings.
Recognize that chewing and other habits may be anxiety coping mechanisms and can become addictions if unchecked.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction to the Episode: Forward Movement & Transitioning Carriage Horses
Jenny Langley introduces the episode, setting the stage for three key questions about horse training: forward movement in long reining, transitioning carriage-trained horses to under-saddle work, and managing a young horse’s mouthiness and toy-like interaction with the flag.
Solving Forward Resistance in Long Reining
“The driving I sort of try and tell people not to do too much of is, oh, here's something coming, I better get away from it and create distance from it all the time because that can cause a flight response in a horse and we can lose trust.”
Re-Sensitizing Carriage Horses for Under-Saddle Work
“You've got to work out what tools you're going to use under saddle and usually it would be using the reins from a slightly higher angle... and that would mean I would generally put a belly rope back on the horse.”
Managing Mouthiness and Playful Behavior in Young Horses
“The very quiet horses in the world that have been kind of handled well and they're very curious but they haven't had caution, later on they go to being started and they might get sent to a facility where there's a lot more horses, a lot of pressure, and the breaker inner or the trainer, the starter has got to put them through so many weeks of pressure. Those horses really struggle because they go, I'm not used to solving problems.”
The Role of Dopamine and Habit Formation in Horse Behavior
Mark discusses how horses, like humans, can become 'dopamine seekers' and use behaviors like chewing as distractions when anxious. He warns that playful habits can become compulsive if not managed, linking them to long-term issues like cribbing and wind-sucking. He advises monitoring and redirecting such behaviors early.
“The very quiet horses in the world that have been kind of handled well and they're very curious but they haven't had caution, later on they go to being started and they might get sent to a facility where there's a lot more horses, a lot of pressure, and the breaker inner or the trainer, the starter has got to put them through so many weeks of pressure. Those horses really struggle because they go, I'm not used to solving problems.”
“Understanding always replaces fear.”
“Build understanding so I know at some point they'll have trust, they'll be soft, they'll still be curious but we won't have the fear factor all the time.”
Host
Mark Langley
person
Flag
product
Long Reining
other
Jenny Langley
person
Belly Rope
product
Carriage Driving
other
Deb
person
Amanda
person
Mark Langley.com.au
product
Catherine
person
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