Bit Help

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LuLu2

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Hey, apologies if this is in the wrong place!

I have a 16.1hh 9yr old Irish sport horse who i ride in a french link loose ring snaffle which he goes quite happily in. However he is spooky and on the odd occasion usually when he is genuinely frightened he decides to do an over the top spin on his hindlegs and then sometimes trots/canters away in the opposite direction, most of the time I am quick enough to grab him and nip the trot/cantering away in the bud before it happens, which I found easier to do in his old fulmer french link snaffle because it aided my steering in such a situation. Problem is that the fulmer was too "fixed" for him and he didn't soften to it hence why I swapped for the loose ring which he goes far better in, but the loose ring gives me less control in the above situation.
So could anyone could sugest a bit I could try that has the same "give" as a loose ring but more control when he tries to get away.
He has a soft mouth so doesn't need a harsher bit, on the odd occasion he gets away he does always come back to me its not like he's bolting. But since i have been using the loose ring he has been pulling this trick more often than he did before.

Hope this makes sense and thanks if you got this far.
 
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Have you tried using the fulmer (a proper fulmer snaffle with a loose ring, not a long cheeked eggbutt snaffle) without the little leather 'fixers' between the bit rings and the cheek pieces of the bridle? This will make the bit much more moveable in the mouth.

Or try a rugby pelham, which has a loose snaffle ring rather than the usual fixed one. If you use two reins there's no need for there to be any curb action if your horse doesn't need that.

You could also stick with the loose ring snaffle but add a running martingale. I can't work out how or why it works but it does work for exactly your horses problem, they don't seem to be able to spin round whilst on the hind legs as long as you keep your hands wide and low.
 
A correctly fitting martingale may be better than changing the bit as it will only come into use when required and can sometimes help nip the behaviour in the bud before he gets round.
 
Thanks I shall be trying the bit rebel suggested which I assume is the same one that sugar and spice also meant.
He's not a pelham kinda guy, lol.
reluctant to use a martingale but if all else fails will be giving it a go.
Thank you x
 
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