0310Star
Well-Known Member
So my mare is a 16.3 tb, very well mannered and generally a great ride. She is ridden in a loose ring snaffle with losenge as she doesn't get along with the nut-cracker action of a normal snaffle.
We hack out alone/in company & schoolwork is all fine in the bit, she occasionally spins when she is in a stupid mood but I normally manage to catch it early enough so she doesn't manage to get round and we carry on.
Now yesterday we went to our first dressage comp, and first comp in over a year other than a charity ride in the summer. And as it turns out a snaffle really isn't enough! Funnily enough she was fine on the fun ride but was like a different horse at an actual "show". We got into the warm up and all was fine until the 1 other horse in there went in the school to do their class and was out of site, Star went mad, screaming for the other horse, spinning, running, We had no bucks/rears etc but just a complete lack of concentration on me and I really cannot hold her, Its like the bit isn't even in her mouth.
I have always known that she can run through the snaffle but generally her manners are good enough not to even attempt it so we dont have a problem.
I always put a flash on to go out as we have had this before at a show whilst my flash was having another hole punched into it but as soon as the flash went on all was fine. this time however the flash did nothing.
I felt I rode her well through it, the judges gave us good marks considering and I didn't let her monopolise my concentration and just got on with the test but we cant have this every time we go out.
I know the more we go out the more she will get used to it but I really feel like I need more control for when she does behave this way as being 9st and 5ft2, I just cant hold her and my hands feel horrendous afterwards even with gloves! She hold her head like a giraffe too (which she doesn't do at home) which doesn't help with holding her either.
Any advice would be greatly received
We hack out alone/in company & schoolwork is all fine in the bit, she occasionally spins when she is in a stupid mood but I normally manage to catch it early enough so she doesn't manage to get round and we carry on.
Now yesterday we went to our first dressage comp, and first comp in over a year other than a charity ride in the summer. And as it turns out a snaffle really isn't enough! Funnily enough she was fine on the fun ride but was like a different horse at an actual "show". We got into the warm up and all was fine until the 1 other horse in there went in the school to do their class and was out of site, Star went mad, screaming for the other horse, spinning, running, We had no bucks/rears etc but just a complete lack of concentration on me and I really cannot hold her, Its like the bit isn't even in her mouth.
I have always known that she can run through the snaffle but generally her manners are good enough not to even attempt it so we dont have a problem.
I always put a flash on to go out as we have had this before at a show whilst my flash was having another hole punched into it but as soon as the flash went on all was fine. this time however the flash did nothing.
I felt I rode her well through it, the judges gave us good marks considering and I didn't let her monopolise my concentration and just got on with the test but we cant have this every time we go out.
I know the more we go out the more she will get used to it but I really feel like I need more control for when she does behave this way as being 9st and 5ft2, I just cant hold her and my hands feel horrendous afterwards even with gloves! She hold her head like a giraffe too (which she doesn't do at home) which doesn't help with holding her either.
Any advice would be greatly received
