Bit help for dressage!

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Amymou91

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First of all I am a sharer, my owners are very flexible and allow me to do what I want etc etc so all in all they trust my opinion and decisions. The horsey and I did our first ode a few weeks back and she was fantastic. My only problem was the dressage. She was excited, strong and very distracted. At home I always ride in a Dutch gag on the third ring purely because a) when working well she is strong and forward and b) I can be lighter in the hand and not have to be so harsh when asking for a downward transition. As you know, dressage is very limited in which bits you can use and I had to cope (barely) with a snaffle :( it was dire and she completely got away from me. Any suggestions on a stronger yet legal bit would be greatly appreciated. My instructor suggested I barely warm up as that's when she got a bit fizzy with so many horses rushing past her (also I was shocked at how many people don't know the left to left rule) and we were only doing the prelim7 so not exactly asking for much !! HELP MEEEEE!!!!
 
Have you tried a grackle or drop noseband? Because it doesn't matter what bit you use if she has here mouth open! What about taking her to quite a few dressage competitions, where you do two tests on the one day, see what happens. Is she just a bit wizzy because she can see the xc for example?
 
She loves her jumping and I think she was anticipating it ! I don't think we are allowed to use a grackle but I used a flash last time but maybe it wasn't tight enough ?
 
Dressage isn't my passion but it's what I need to work on to improve my overall score. I think you are right. A different bit won't fix everything. More work in the snaffle and I need to learn to use it too!!
 
I totally agree that your answer lies in schooling. You have to teach a horse to be light and responsive to the bit, just as you teach a horse to be light and responsive off the leg. Dutch gag on the third hole is VERY strong... I would stop using that right away, and start in hand work with a snaffle, and then progress to ridden once she's responding well to that.

You can use a grackle and hanging cheek snaffle BE, that's about as strong as you can go.
 
echo the others it lies in the schooling, but a bit can help you teach them what you want. if she is running through your hand in the downward transitions, be firmer with seat and hold, if she still ignores you. STOP and back up REPEAT REPEAT. you will know when she is getting the idea in the back up, she won't resist so much :) and don't forget the praise!!

just sometimes to reschool a bad habit, it takes what it takes to get the message across
 
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