cyberhorse
Well-Known Member
Looking for a bit of bit advice (no pun intended!). I have a 17.2hh ISH who I have had since a 4yr old (now 8yrs) he came to me extremely fussy in his mouth and I have managed to get him in a nice light consistent contact using a rubber straight for flatwork, hacking and jumping. He is perfectly happy and polite and I have no trouble with him at all.
He is nailed to the floor and very sensible, so when out on rides and in open spaces my husband needs to ride him rather than my hot headed warmblood. The problem I have is that he finds him too difficult to control in this bit and struggles to pull him up when he gets going. He is an experienced rider (also has lessons every 2 weeks in dressage), he has an independent seat and his hands are totally fine for all other horses he has ridden up to now (he does not fix and is not harsh). To ride this horse though I have to wrap the bit in vetwrap, so he does not get hold and bite right down to the metal in 10min. Obviously this is OK in the school but not when out. My husband wants him in a bit he can't bite through, but I am wondering whether there is a bitless solution the horse might respect and prefer when he rides. I think the horse is getting hold and as he is subtle with it my husband does not notice. I have the same make and style of rubber bit which I have used for over a year and there is not a mark on it even when I do a bit of fun cross country when he is excited. Our trainer can't see anything he is doing wrong at all that he could correct in his riding, but suspects I must do something slightly imperceptible that I am not aware of that the horse got used to when he was orginally schooled, yet if we can't see it and I don't know I am doing it I can't stop it. I think some of the issue may be the horse is more forward from his seat and leg just due to size difference and weight, so maybe he'll not be able to sit as quiet as me (the horse is a big mover). I just worry bitting up could be the wrong solution in this case.
We have teeth done and physio out regularly and the horse has no issues.
He is nailed to the floor and very sensible, so when out on rides and in open spaces my husband needs to ride him rather than my hot headed warmblood. The problem I have is that he finds him too difficult to control in this bit and struggles to pull him up when he gets going. He is an experienced rider (also has lessons every 2 weeks in dressage), he has an independent seat and his hands are totally fine for all other horses he has ridden up to now (he does not fix and is not harsh). To ride this horse though I have to wrap the bit in vetwrap, so he does not get hold and bite right down to the metal in 10min. Obviously this is OK in the school but not when out. My husband wants him in a bit he can't bite through, but I am wondering whether there is a bitless solution the horse might respect and prefer when he rides. I think the horse is getting hold and as he is subtle with it my husband does not notice. I have the same make and style of rubber bit which I have used for over a year and there is not a mark on it even when I do a bit of fun cross country when he is excited. Our trainer can't see anything he is doing wrong at all that he could correct in his riding, but suspects I must do something slightly imperceptible that I am not aware of that the horse got used to when he was orginally schooled, yet if we can't see it and I don't know I am doing it I can't stop it. I think some of the issue may be the horse is more forward from his seat and leg just due to size difference and weight, so maybe he'll not be able to sit as quiet as me (the horse is a big mover). I just worry bitting up could be the wrong solution in this case.
We have teeth done and physio out regularly and the horse has no issues.