Bit help, locking

[kassieg]

my 5 year old is a funny 1 !

She is beautiful & light to watch etc but every so often she will just lock on my inside hand, half halts help but doesn't completely solve the problem.

She was in a copper lozange loose ring snaffle then I changed her to a loose ring happy tongue ported snaffle as she has a big tongue & this helped but after a few months she has learnt to lock on this as well.

She might do it like 3 times in a schooling session but if were in a dressage test its a bit annoying as it drops us a crucial few marks. Don't get me wrong we get low 30's so by no means bad but as I am asking more of her it is more annoying. It is mainly if we do quick changes of bend etc

so I suppose my question is does anyone have any tips?

 

[Farma]

It sounds like she is locking through her back onto the bit due to a lack of suppleness if she is doing it through quick changes of bend so I would think just strengthening and suppling exercises will gradually improve things. Do you ever use small flexions to soften her during bending as I find that really helps then you can just do small counter flexion and half halt in a test if they lock down on you x

 

[kassieg]

That's a good point actually because if I come across the diagonal etc she doesn't do it because she has time, its only really if I'm riding a 15 metre 1 way then quickly change & ask her to ride 1 the other way. She doesn't always lock, if I really support her with my leg she is better so I guess it is probably more my fault thinking about it !

I do them in walk when warming up but I had never really thought about using them when actually schooling & in a test, that's really helpful thank you

 

[Jenni&Ditty]

Mine used to do this, I found it really helped if I dropped her on the rein she was leaning on, by really giving with it so there is no contact at all in it for a few seconds, then she can't lean.
You could try a Waterford which will be harder to lean on, I know you can't use these for a test but you could use it at home just to teach her?
Or a sweet iron bit May help as he might be softer in her mouth with it
Also check your reins are even!
Hope this helps

 

[el_Snowflakes]

You could also give her a nudge with the leg (side that she's leaning on) to get her to step under with the leg & come off your hand.