advice on bit and noseband

pootleperkin

pootleperkin

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Hi all,

some advice on whether I should change my bit/noseband combo and if so, to what?

My horse is a 5 year old warmblood, generally going quite well on flat, but my question is prompted by the fact that he is not consistent and soft in his contact all the time - he is a clever guy, when he gets a bit tired, he starts to lean down and snatch, or come above the bit and hard in the mouth and occasionally opens his mouth and tips his jaw. He is slightly resistant in canter in the school. I would like him to become more consistant in his acceptence of a contact - I'm not asking for collection yet, just getting him going forward with a soft mouth and jaw.

He is ridden in an eggbut snaffle with a revolving lozenge and cavesson noseband. He is quite dry mouthed (not sure if this is due to his way of going or less saliva production due to grass sickness in the past). I tried him in a grackle (not mexican type) yesterday in the school and he seemed to go ok, but had a little fit (albeit for about 5 seconds!) this afternoon on a hack when he realised that he couldn't open his mouth (drop part of noseband fitted with two fingers adjustment).

In general, in the past I have considered a fulmer snaffle to aid with steering or perhaps a myler snaffle (are they as good as said or overated?), but not sure if any of this is necessary - any thoughts ?
 
Hmm just realised I didn't actually answer your question
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IMO I would leave it a little while and see if consistent riding doesn't get him more consistent in his behaviour/acceptance?

Again IMO it seems a shame to put lots of aids (nosebands, harder bits, martingales, spurs etc) on young horses, as I think it deprives them of the opportunity to learn the correct (allbeit sometimes frustratingly long) way?
 
Hi Ali,

I agree with you pretty much - I am all for keeping things simple, hence my question really.....I guess I just see a lot of people training young 'uns with drops and the like so wonder if they know something I don't...or perhaps they just don't have as much time as me
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The one thing I do you use on occasion are spurs, as he can be very dead to the leg and I can't be doing with nagging him - not good for either of us!

Yep, it is Gully from the EGS website - he is doing so well - had some problems last summer with his stamina, but just got back from an epic hack today, up hill and down dale he coped brilliantly with it - got puffed at some parts, but recovered quickly and then wanted to go on - unlike last year when he preferred just to give up! Bit more fittening work and hopefully he will be like new again - it has been quite a balancing act trying to decide when to push him and when to accept that maybe he just can't cope with the hassle today. The one remaining (slight?) problem he has is a tendancy to sweat at the slightest provocation....very sweaty boy today just standing in the spring sun.....makes rugging up for sweet itch fun!
 
Oh bless him! Grass sickness seems terrifying! So chuffed that he is gradually on the mend though!- and well done you for being so patient with his sweating and stamina issues- poor chap!

Having had it explaiend I can see your logic in the spurs, and realise that it may well apply to other gadgets- it makes sense to use the aid if it prevents the fight sort of mentality- I think maybe I am just old school
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Well done with him though, he looks great
 
try him in a loose ring snaffle with a french link or lozenge, they encourage a horse to play or mouth the bit more than an eggbutt as they have more movement. try it with aflash noseband to stop him opening his mouth and avoiding the contact.
I've had my mare in lots of combinations and find this works best for her, she can lean sometimes if her hind leg isn't engaged and she's feeling a bit tired
 
A loose ring I have definately considered - he seems to like his lozenge so will always incorporate that - I tried him in a jointed snaffle with copper rollers on the 2 sections, but he wasn't so keen on that!

Do you think a flash rather than a grackle? A lot of threads on here seem to bemoan flashes, as they reackon they aren't as effective as a grackle or drop and actually cause a bit more discomfort?
 
My mare can be a little resistant and comes above the bit/opens her mouth. I have found her far more accepting of a drop rather than a flash.
 
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