Understanding your OTTB's Contact Problem and a Roadmap to Fix It

Buckle up, because this is a topic loaded with twists and turns. If it were as simple as changing the bit type and leverage, using a flash noseband, and doing the "inside leg, outside rein" thing, you wouldn't be frustrated, and I wouldn't need to write this blog post.

This article exists to help you understand the WHY behind the contact problem, as well as give you practical, effective tools to improve your OTTB's relationship with the bit and contact.

Let's start by getting clear on WHY we use a bit and contact

The bit is an incredible, refining tool we can use to gain deeper connection and communication with our horses. We can use the bit to dictate bend/direction as well as changes of carriage from long-low to collection with a poll-high frame.

Contact is the feeling we get in our hands and body from the horse's mouth. Ideally, we want this to feel spongy, consistent, and soft. It's like a two-way phone call with 5G reception where you can both give and receive whispered information with your horse.

Let me be clear, I do NOT believe the bit should be used for control. I'm a firm advocate for 99.9% of our use of the bit for communication and 0.1% use for control in safety issues. This is developed over time with trust, balance, and soft hands.

We cannot expect our horses to have soft jaws, necks, and backs if we are using the bit for control. We will only experience more brace, avoidance, and disharmony.

Now that we are all in mutual agreement on the use of these tools, let's discuss the challenges:

Why do OTTBs Struggle with Contact:

The simple answer? Contact usually means something very different to a horse coming straight off the track than our intended pleasure and sport horse uses.

Now I'm making generalizations; some OTTBs leave the track with an understanding of contact that translates very well into their next career... but my guess is if you're reading this article, then you probably have an OTTB that does not.

From my interviews with track trainers, jockeys, and exercise riders (all of which is shared in the BRINGING HOME OTTB Masterclass), the bit is primarily used for control, bend, and balance. This makes sense because if you're riding a 1200 lb flight animal at breakneck speeds, you want to be sure you have those controls.

During training exercises at the trot and jog, most OTTBs are flexed at the poll to encourage correct working over the back and hind end engagement. During breezes and races, they will lean into the bit for balance, bend, and control.

How does this translate over to their second career?

It's very scary to feel your horse bolt and run away with you. It gives you the true meaning of "horsepower," but not in a fun way.

The answer to these problems is stronger bits, more leverage, and tighter circles. These tactics don't work at the core issues, though; they are merely control methods to fix symptoms.

Let's put our science hats on:

To understand the underlying source of contact issues, we need to understand two neuromuscular concepts about our horses:

There is a muscular grouping that is associated with the sympathetic (fight/flight) pathway.
1. This muscle group includes an activated brachiocephalic muscle (under-neck)—this is often considered inverted or ewe-necked.
2. This muscle activation also works in tandem with a dropped back, flat pelvis, tight hamstrings, and tight poll.
3. This muscle group is very strong in wild horses as they rely on strong survival muscle groups.
Conversely, there is a muscle grouping that is associated with the parasympathetic (rest/digest) pathway.
1. This muscle group includes a relaxed jaw, lifted withers, activated core, and rotating pelvis with a soft under-neck (preferred dressage and sport-horse posture).

When we look at bit/contact issues, we have to see what is going on in the mind and body. If the body is tense, rigid, and inverted, we sure as shucks are not going to make any foundational changes with different bits, circles, and pole manipulations.

(I warned you we were going deep!)

Luckily, I've found a way to rewrite your OTTB's relationship with the bit and contact on a foundational level to relax the body and mind for a soft, open contact.

What can you do to Improve your OTTB's relationship with the bit and Contact?

We have to go back to the first signs of tension that start the negative patterns with the bit/contact. For some OTTBs, this can start just by approaching them with the bridle; for others, it's once the bit is in their mouth, or once the rider picks up contact.

Wherever the first signs of tension are, that is where you begin rewriting their association.

How do you know where to start?

If you give your horse the opportunity to choose (no halter/lead-rope), what do they choose to do:

Will they stand there patiently while you bridle and put the bit in their mouth?

Do they turn their head away in avoidance?

Do they walk away?

Do they pin their ears?

When you give your horse freedom to choose, they will be very honest with you about their feelings.

It's best not to take it personally; you are just undoing the previous patterns your horse has learned. Your job is to create a new pattern.

Fixing the Contact Issue

Now that you know where your horse's first signs of tension are, we can rebuild their relationship with contact. Here are the steps I follow with every OTTB (and are taught in the Restart Program):

Create consistent and stable contact. The less movement you put in the bit, the more stable and consistent the feel can be for your horse.
1. Minimize see-sawing, twinkling, or whatever other word your trainer told you that adds chaos to your horse's mouth.

Focus on the feel in the body, not the feel in the hands. Let's go back to our biomechanics. We need a horse that is using the correct muscle group in order to expect a soft jaw and poll.

Find ways to increase relaxation, balance, and connection with your horse outside of contact.

Still have questions?

Improving your horse's relationship with the contact is not as simple as specific bits, flash nosebands, and creating poll flexion. It's a vital interconnected piece to your horse's mental and physical state of relaxation, balance, and connection with you.

If you feel like you need more help to rewrite your OTTB's relationship with contact on your own, I've outlined all the steps in a simple and easy-to-follow way using sequential how-to videos in the Restart Online Program. This program takes the guesswork and frustration out of transforming your OTTB's relationship with contact.

You can improve your OTTB's relationship with the bit, I promise. You are your horse's number one advocate and hold the keys to creating a new lifestyle and career of connection, trust, and relaxation.

Happy Partnerships!

A Note on Bit Types:

There is a world of different types, makes, and models of bits. I cannot tell you the exact bit that your OTTB will enjoy best, but I give you these tips that might help you narrow down the search:

The simpler, the better. Doesn't need to be the most expensive
Find something that is anatomical to your horse's mouth, both the bars and the tongue.
Avoid single joint nutcracker bits (bits that have no limit on how much they close).
Thicker is not always kinder. It must fit within the narrow space between the palate (roof of the mouth) and tongue.
Avoid leverage, curved, and super thin bits.
Non-leverage cheekpieces are fairly interchangeable. Don't overthink it.
The mouth should look relaxed holding the bit. Have the bit rest gently in the corners of the mouth (two wrinkles is too tight).

As a starting point, here are the bits I try first and generally find success with most OTTBs:

Myler Level 1 Bit - any cheekpiece
NS Turtle Top Tactio - any cheekpiece
Trust Eggbutt Inno Sense Flexi Soft
Korsteel Stainless Steel Jointed Fulmer Snaffle Bit
Sprenger KK Ultra Double Jointed Loose Ring Snaffle SENSOGAN