spotty_pony
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Sorry in advance as this may be long...
I am having a bit of a bit dilemma with my ISH. He started off in a loose ring french link snaffle, but we found that he lacked confidence in this bit and kept dropping behind the bit. I was told I would be better to try him in a straight bar snaffle. So we tried a loose ring happy mouth snaffle. This definitely encouraged him to take the rein forwards more, but then he became once he became more confident, he also became stronger and we found he was no longer respecting the bit in exciting situations such as hacking and jumping and I didn't have control which isn't safe. After much thought, we decided to try a dutch gag with the same happy mouth straight bar mouthpiece. He definitely respects this bit and we have control now. I say 'we' as me and my mum share him (mum hacks him out, and I school/jump him)
And that leads me to where we are at the moment. He is fine with this bit for hacking out, but I have found that when I school him, he tends to over bend and when he gets excited, he over bends and then leans down on the bit making it very difficult to raise his head. He also is a bit overactive with his mouth and chews the bit a lot. Although I have control, I am wondering whether the action of the bit is going against me when it comes to schooling, as although he listens to me when I ask him to half halt/wait on the approach to a fence, I need him to raise his head too... I think this may be due to the poll pressure action of the gag.
So basically, I am thinking of experimenting with a few different bits to see if I can find one which he is happier in. I will add, that I know changing the bit is not a solution to schooling - I just want to find a bit which both me and my horse can work happily in and then the schooling will come. He can be strong so I will still need something which gives me control, but something which he cannot lean down on. He is not in any pain, he has all regular checks, etc.
Any suggestions? Well done if you read all of that!
I am having a bit of a bit dilemma with my ISH. He started off in a loose ring french link snaffle, but we found that he lacked confidence in this bit and kept dropping behind the bit. I was told I would be better to try him in a straight bar snaffle. So we tried a loose ring happy mouth snaffle. This definitely encouraged him to take the rein forwards more, but then he became once he became more confident, he also became stronger and we found he was no longer respecting the bit in exciting situations such as hacking and jumping and I didn't have control which isn't safe. After much thought, we decided to try a dutch gag with the same happy mouth straight bar mouthpiece. He definitely respects this bit and we have control now. I say 'we' as me and my mum share him (mum hacks him out, and I school/jump him)
And that leads me to where we are at the moment. He is fine with this bit for hacking out, but I have found that when I school him, he tends to over bend and when he gets excited, he over bends and then leans down on the bit making it very difficult to raise his head. He also is a bit overactive with his mouth and chews the bit a lot. Although I have control, I am wondering whether the action of the bit is going against me when it comes to schooling, as although he listens to me when I ask him to half halt/wait on the approach to a fence, I need him to raise his head too... I think this may be due to the poll pressure action of the gag.
So basically, I am thinking of experimenting with a few different bits to see if I can find one which he is happier in. I will add, that I know changing the bit is not a solution to schooling - I just want to find a bit which both me and my horse can work happily in and then the schooling will come. He can be strong so I will still need something which gives me control, but something which he cannot lean down on. He is not in any pain, he has all regular checks, etc.
Any suggestions? Well done if you read all of that!