A little 'Bit' of advice please :)

[Sheri]

Good afternoon all,

I wonder if you could help please?

I have a 12 year old cob mare who is a ride and drive and has very recently come back to riding after 2 years of driving only and before that she has 2 years off due to mystery slight lameness when ridden which we now know to have been arthritis in the coffin joint (now treated and sound)

She is driven is a jointed liverpool with the rein on the first slot in the shank she is strong but just about manageable.

I used to ride her in an jointed eggbutt snaffle and a jointed cheltenham gag on faster work and jumping.

I am currently using the eggbutt but have the following issues:

She chomps in the bit and flicks her nose out to snatch the reins (without raising her head)
She is strong
She lowers her head and I can't stop but I can't work out whether she is clamping on the bit whilst doing so.

When I half halt her to push her forward onto the bit and lift her up she decides to canter on the spot and chomp even more! then even if my hands are low when I half halt she threatens to rear! (basically has a mareish hissy fit)

I ride with a deep seat and very soft hands (I have an arab with a super soft mouth so its just built in me to be soft!)

I don't want to get into this battle with her as I know I will loose and it will just make things worse!

Teeth, back etc all fine

I also have Fibromyaliga (when your body registers pain more than it should) and she gives me really bad pains and cramp in my hands! I know I need a different bit I just don't know what!

Someone has mentioned a Pee Wee, Waterford or a Dr Bristol (I don't compete in DR so thats not an issue)

ANY help would be gratefully received

 

[Kat]

It doesn't sound as though you want a stronger bit, she seems very unhappy in her mouth and I would worry that going for a stronger bit might just mean that she rears.

I would check her teeth, back and saddle.

Is her snaffle double or single jointed? Try experimenting with a double joint like a french link or lozenge or KK or a myler, try a loose ring as well as an eggbut. Also consider something like a cambridge mouth, nathe or mullen mouth. It might be worth trying a full cheek with fulmer loops to stabilise the bit and reduce tongue pressure. I would try riding her in a light contact (or possibly virtually no contact for a while) and using voice, weight, seat and legs to slow her. Working lots of turns and changes of direction to keep her responsive. She sounds very unhappy with the contact at the moment.

For the flicking her nose out a bungee or a market harborough might help once you are sure there is no discomfort. You might want to consider a drop or grackle noseband if she fixes her jaw or opens her mouth but make sure her teeth are ok and her mouth is comfortable first.

Talk to your EDT about her mouth conformation and what type of bit might be more suitable for her.

 

[FionaM12]

That's odd. This thread seems to have duplicated.