Bit Help please!!

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MileyMouse

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I have had my new boy now for 5 months and have mainly worked on schooling and hacking and dressage comps over the winter.

I have just started to jump him and I feel that I don't quite have enough control with his drop link mylar snaffle that we use for everything else. It is the landing we are having issues with as when we land I can't stop and get him on line to the next fence in time! I know half of it is imbalance (being young) and it will improve with time but I just feel that I am having to haul on him with the snaffle to stop which is not doing him mouth any favours especially with all the hard work we put in reschooling over the winter!!

Does anyone have any suggestions on what else I could try?
 
MileyMouse said:
.........I have just started to jump him and I feel that I don't quite have enough control with his drop link mylar snaffle that we use for everything else....
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Is your current bit a comfort snaffle, hanging cheek?

What age? breed is the horse? What level / height are you jumping ?
When were his teeth last done?
When landing; does he, lift his head high to run off? Does he put his chin to his chest ? go flat like a racehorse? does he set his neck, so you cant steer ?
How bad do you feel the brakes are? can you pull him up, after a jump? is he really difficult to pull up? or is it you want to be lighter on his mouth?
When jumping, what is his steering like ? is he balanced round the corners ? Is he soft and controlable into the jump?
With general schooling, is he balanced ? does he come soft to the hand ? does he round into an outline ?

All the above will help to narrow down a suitable bit to try
 
tbh i'd be reluctant to change to a stronger bit, esp since he is young and still learning. Maybe instead of doing related distances etc (at a guess since: "get him on line to the next fence in time!") you should be concentrating on trotting over tiny jumps, and lots of pole work, then simple grids.
However, maybe you've already done all this, and if taking him back a stage etc hasnt helped, i would ditto above comments, and make sure new bit is the right one for him (re shape of mouth etc etc)
sorry if this seems blunt or anything, just giving my honest opinion,
good luck

x
 
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