Our horses at the hack stable have that problem because a lot of the people have never ridden before, its hard to deal with that.
The quick nip manuver really does work. I learned to do it my very first time riding a horse. He was a good trail horse, but still young, he caught on quickly.
This article is very timely, with trail riding season just around the corner. I'll have to try this method. Thanks!
Ugh, I worked at a trail riding barn that had a pony that would nearly dislocate your shoulders because he'd yank so hard to get at the vegetation. Wasn't like he was starving either, he was the fattest one they had!
I've been considering an overcheck. Or if I'm in a western saddle I'll wrap the reins around the horn.
I have to admit I don't really mind if my horse enjoys a few quick mouthfuls of grass while we're stopped. This is especially trus during the spring, when the grass we encounter on hacks is often more lush than what's in his pasture. When we're moving, I usually just keep him too busy to think about eating.
When my horse reaches down to get snacks on a ride, just pulling on one rein works really well, and he seems to get the point after just a few times. I think letting your horse nibble while you are stopped on a ride depends on the horse. If I let my horse sit and eat all he wants during breaks, then he thinks it is still ok to eat on the go. As a general rule, I don't let my horse eat with a bit in his mouth. If we take a break and I take his bridle off so he just has a halter, then he can snack until I put his bridle back on.