It’s not about the bit.
It’s the bit about the bum.

So, if he really is heavy in front, why?

Some horses tend to be on the forehand due to no impulsion from behind the wither. Don’t forget, the hindquarters are the horse’s engine and this is how they are driven forward. Imagine the horse as a seesaw. If there is a problem affecting the balance, it will tip forward meaning the front will be heavier than the back. This is where you need to find out what is causing the front to be heavier and weigh it back out evenly so the seesaw is straight, ideally pointing a little uphill at the front which would be the correct way for a horse who is really engaged and sat on its hocks.

Possible (not muscle) related factors causing the horse to be heavy in front.

• Teeth – not a hind quarter issue but if the horse has sharp teeth or pain in the mouth of course he is going to hang on the bit, it’s a way of him telling you there is something wrong.
• Sore feet – this goes for front and back. If there is pain in the foot, the horse will compensate where there is no pain. How can he balance and perform correctly with an unbalanced feeling where he bears all of his weight?
• Ill-fitted tack – ok… this will affect muscles directly. Both the saddle and bridle are related to this. Yes, the bridle. Muscles in the face which sit under the bridle can be restricted when too tight. The masseter which opens and closes the mouth, temporalis which sits under the sides of the browband and of course the poll. Bits too high and pressure from the headpiece will restrict that soft accepting mouth, which would encourage the horse to ‘hang on the bit’ but this doesn’t mean you need a stronger one. This will only add to the discomfort.
• Riders heavy hands – a question you should ask yourself is if the horse is heavy or your hands are heavy. It is more common than you think for riders to carry the horse when riding and have an overly tight contact which really isn’t necessary, this is going to cause the horse to pull against you as a way of saying get off – that is if he hasn’t already bucked you off. By riding from your seat to hand and not your hand alone you are asking the horse to sit back and work from behind and use those hind muscles. This is something your trainer can work on with you.
• Confirmation – all horses are put together differently. If the horse is naturally heavier in front of the wither this will make it considerably harder for him to have an uphill way of going as he will find it much harder to sit back on his hocks and lift himself in front, he is more likely to pull himself along with the front end and if you’re on board then your arms are going to feel this too.

This brings us back to: how we can resolve some of these problems.

We all want solutions and better results in the ring as well as a nice pleasant ride and above all a happy comfortable horse.

“We all want solutions and better results”

Firstly, check back, tack, feet and teeth. Ensure your saddle fits and your bridle isn’t too tight or too small. If you have already gone down the route of a stronger bit – ditch it. Consider going back a softer mild bit, one which isn’t being used for lifting/pinning which we have established is not needed this can be done from your seat to encourage the horse to soften in your hand and work from behind. Keep in mind that all horses are different and the stronger horse may need more control, therefore the bit you choose should be one which suits your horses needs. When trying different bits and/or new gadgets, having an established instructor on the ground in an enclosed arena where possible makes it safer should anything upset the horse.

But what is the main reason behind being on the forehand?

Horses are made up of muscle, bone and other soft tissues which are all linked together though fascia. For him to perform properly and feel supple, flexible and connected the whole body must work, however, it is always possible for even the most flexible of horses to feel tense, have weak areas and feel sore from time to time. Horses with weaker front ends who find it hard to lift their torso for the weight to be taken behind, or with hindquarters which aren’t developed enough to push through and take the weight of the horse, are both factors in which equine massage along with corrective exercises can and will improve.

The thoracic cling is the front of the horse from behind the shoulder and is made up of the (muscles front to back) brachiocephalic, omohyoid, pectoral muscles, SVT and external oblique. As horses don’t have a collar bone, there has to be some form of structure to keep the body connected in front and for the body to gain stability at the chest. The thoracic sling must contract correctly to lift the horses’ torso to bring the withers to the same height, or slightly higher than the croup which forms an uphill shape so the horse is not on the forehand. With a weak and disestablished thoracic sling, the horse will be weak through the back, shoulder and neck resulting in being heavy in front and unable to lift the front end.

We want the horse to naturally use those muscles and create a natural shape to lift itself up and let the body do the job it was designed to do.

For horses with a weak thoracic sling, exercises such as hill and straight-line work are perfect. If you can establish straight lines and control the horse through your body then half the battle is won.