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Comment by Jackie Cochran on November 15, 2009 at 10:44am

Hi Trish--I never have handled a Luisitano but I did own a pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino mare for a long time. There may be some similarities though the movements are different. Both breeds are Iberian horses, and my mare was EXTREMEMLY fiery and responsive. At times I thought she should have been a fire breathing dragon! Cross-under bitless bridles were not available then, but I broke her to ride with a Jumping Cavesson bridle, using Forward Seat training techniques (stabilization on loose reins at first.)
This mare was narrow between the jaws--I could not fit my fist between them where they meet the neck. While she would collect on her own when she gaited, she would never gladly accept the snaffle bit. The more I would ask for contact, the more evasions she would come up with--open mouth, inverted, or she would sort of compress her self and start to explode. If I did not let up with the reins she would then try to run away. She never got away from me, but I was the only one she liked riding her--with other people she would loose patience with them and then compress herself up and then explode, usually running away.
How old is your mare? Could her molars still be erupting? If there are lumps on her lower jaw branches these could be irritated by the cross-under. There are several other bitless options. The real old time dressage masters (Cavendish and de la Guerniere) would start their horses out bitless with the old fashioned lungeing cavesson, the one with the padded noseband with hinged metal and three rings on the noseband. They would put the reins on the two side rings and ride with the cavesson until the horse was trained in the basic aids. You could also try a Light Rider Bitless bridle, which is a modified Scawbrig, with no poll pressure or cross-under straps. There is also the LG Bridle, which was developed by a lady who rides Baroque dressage.
My mare was only willing to accept intermittent contact with my hands. I wrote a blog about intermittent contact a few months ago where I describe how I ride and give aids with the less than perfect contact.
I think that the only reason I did not have major problems with my Paso Fino mare was that I broke her to saddle using Forward Seat training techniques, always working on stabilization (keeping to a certain gait and speed) on loose reins. This way I always had a "safe" place for both of us, where she would obey me while I was not irritating her mouth. As I got weaker and my hands less stable due to my undiagnosed Multiple Sclerosis I had to ride her with loose reins more and more. Finally I put her into the most comfortable curb I could find (a Walking Horse bit) with a leather curb strap and we had many happy rides thereafter.
When she got all fired up, if I insisted on full contact she would get hotter and hotter, respond quicker, move her legs quicker, and get mad at me quicker. If I slacked my reins she would sigh and quiet down, sometimes muttering that I would never let her have any fun.
I hope this helps some. One thing is for sure, this mare will turn you into a real good rider!

Comment by Trish Pitzel on November 14, 2009 at 6:09pm

Now I am trying to imagine the best way to explain how sensitive she is. Hmmm, if I breath out from a canter she will almost halt on the spot. Absolutely no intermediate riders can get on her - only advanced and we have only had two riders including myself who have been successful riding her. We do not use spurs, nor do we use any other auxillary equipment. She is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, and loves to work. I mean I have had senstive horses before but this is almost ridiculously senstive. I have read, and I have been told that this breed can read your mind and I am almost certain that they can.

Trish Pitzel

Comment by Trish Pitzel on November 14, 2009 at 6:04pm

What I mean by sensitive is that she tries to anticipate every move. I do in hand work with her such as shoulder-in, and the shoulder-in volte on a circle. She sometimes gets very worked up if anyone does in hand work with her. Also, under saddle we do a lot of bending, releasing endorphins - shoulder-in, half-pass (the inviclund I believe it is called) and leg yeilding, turn on the forehand in motion. Almost all we do is bending exercises. Have you ever worked with lusitanos before?

Trish Pitzel

Comment by Jennifer Lamm on November 14, 2009 at 1:46pm

I'm not sure I get what you mean by sensitive.... he's not your breed, but he's been called sensitive. I make sure we do alot of work with him releasing his endorphins so he will stay level headed. Softening him, etc.... so that no matter what bridle I have, he will be bendy and soft. Good luck with your new horse... I don't see a photo here though. Jen