Bit advice needed

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horse264

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Hi,
I do a bit of everything with my horse but recently I have been having a few control issues when it comes to jumping. I currently ride her in a loose ring french link snaffle and she goes well in it but when jumping we do go rather too quickly.... :o
I'd been thinking about maybe getting a dutch gag with a french link because this would give me the option of dropping my reins down for jumping - she is fine flatwork - I think she finds it boring :p but then she has in the past had a few mouth sores. Would having a happy mouth sort this out? Are there any other bits that would give me the option to be nice and 'light' for flat work but then slightly 'stronger' for jumping?
Thanks for any replies
 
before looking at changing your bit, I would check her mouth and back are comfy, and then get some schooling sorted. If she is a little unbalanced then she will tend to rush forward. If she goes well in her french link then I would stick with that regardless of what you choose for your jumping. It is so hard to find the 'right' bit that if you have it sorted for flatwork then I would thank your lucky stars and stick with it! If you choose a dutch gag then I would do it with consideration to how she normally carrys her head - a dutch gag would act to lower her head through poll pressure (the gag name is misleading in this instance as it doesn't have a curb action!). A happy mouth would only be comfy for her if she has a decent amount of room in her mouth as they are quite chunky - what is her mouth confirmation like? When you say you need more control, what is it she does that makes you say this - tanking off, leaning, charging round with head in the air etc? More info needed please!
 
We're having her back checked in a week or so but we have no real reason to think its bad. Once thats been done we're going to have her saddle checked too.
I've been working pretty hard with her schooling recently, I've been riding her around the jumps in this hot weather too. I do have a few problems though with her locking onto jumps and trying to take me into them.
When I first had her I did try her in a wilkie but she didn't like it much at all. She got quite bad sores from this but I think this was due to the bit being much thinner and causing more pressure on the corners of her mouth.
When I say more control I mean that she doesn't listen to me and we end up with some dodgey strides and she sees the jump and things go go go!
I always jump out in the field so I think that the open space winds her up a bit, and when we go cross country we have similar problems!
 
I would practice lots of grid work when jumping, and if you can, do it in a menage as apposed to an open field.
You can still school whilst jumping, can you get an instructor involved?
I would try the schooling over jumps first before you think about increase the strength of your bit.
 
If she suffers from sores and rubbing on her mouth I would steer well clear of a happy mouth. When they get worn and chewed they can leave very rough bits that rub. If you want something softer than metal look for nathe, rubber or vulcanite.

I wouldn't switch your flat work bit if you are happy with it. If you must use a different bit just for jumping.

I'd echo the others and say lessons and schooling should be the first way to deal with this.

Then look at why you are having breaking problems. Is she chucking her head up to evade the contact? Tucking it in? dropping it? Opening her mouth? Crossing her jaw?

If she is opening her mouth try your usual bit with a drop noseband.

If she is crossing her jaw try her usual bit with a grackle.

If she is chucking her head up try a martingale.

If you still can get things going well consider the bit. I'd experiment with snaffles before doing for a dutch gag. Read this website for guidence on bits and an explanation of how a dutch gag works - they are one of the most misunderstood bits available!

http://www.sustainabledressage.com/
 
Thanks for the replies.
I used to have her in a cavesson with flash because she'd get her tongue over the bit but then when at a show someone took a picture which showed her clearly crossing her jaw. She now is in a grackle and goes very well in it. She also has a running martingale as she chucks her head up when jumping.
Ahh thats interesting about the happymouth - I'd always thought that the plastic made them softer.
I'll try build some grids for next time I jump, I know it varies from horse to horse but is it 2 human strides for landing and take off and 4 for each 'non-jumping' stride?
Thanks
 
oh, strides are tricky (well, it't that or I'm a bit thick as I can never remember them!). My oh 16hh slightly compact mare has 7 'loose long' strides of mine between each jump.
 
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