Bit suggestions

[lucy007]

I have a 14.2 welsh x arab mare, that throws her head up and rushes at jumps, but leaps about, and backs right off if she feels that she cannot go forward, so I dont want to over bit her. I dont want to slow her down, just would like her to maintain an even pace to a fence.

She is ridden in a snaffle and running martingale for jumping.

I am going to start doing grid work again, and jumping more frequently, as this seems to remove some of the excitment that jumping causes, but would be interested to see if anyone thinks a change of bit may help at all to contain the pace, but not make her feel too restricted.

Thanks
Lucy

 

[Paint it Lucky]

What bits have you tried her in before? Sometimes with horses like this is it not so much a case of which bit you use but of how you use it. Do you try to hold her a lot into fences? Maybe try loosening the contact abit, it may be she is just rushing because she is pulling against you, when she has nothing to pull she may calm down. (Not saying this is the case just a suggestion). If you find you do not have enough control in a snaffle prehaps try something a bit stronger but ride with a lighter contact so she still feels she can go forward, then when you do feel she is getting too quick hold her gently with the bit, find the smallest amount of pressure needed to get her to listen.

What tyoe of mouthpeice does her current snaffle have? If it's just a single joint I would change this to a double joint (eg a lozenge or french link), as the nutcracker effect of a single joint can make horses raise their head. It may be she is simply uncomfortable in her particular mouthpiece and would go better in a different one, how is her flatwork? Does she seek the contact, salivate at all, does she feel soft in her mouth, or do you feel she could go better? Also make sure the martingale isn't too tight as this can make horses fight it more, also it will catch her in the mouth each time she lands which will make her uncomfortable and raise her head through tension.

Make sure you work lots on your schooling, particularly in the canter, teach her to have a working, an extended and a collected canter so she learns to come back to you or go on when asked. Work on her balance by doing lots of school movements and also transitions which will also get her listening to you. When you school put a jump up but work around it for most of the time, then when she is going calmly and sweetly just pop her over it then return to schooling to calm her down again if she gets excited.

Depending on why she rushes either make sure that when you jump you do lots of easy jumps so she doesn't feel the need to panic and rush. Or if she is finding it all too easy put the jumps up a bit, stick some fillers under them, make some spreads and related distances etc to make her think and slow down.

Sorry this has turned into a bit of an essay, not trying to be patronising at all so feel free to ignore me if you already know all this! Hope you can find a solution.

 

[lucy007]

Thankyou for the reply, sorry for my delayed response.

You have given me some usefull suggestions, that I hadnt thought of. Will give a stronger bit ago, as I wont know unless I try. Canter does need work so that im sure will help too. All input is appreciated.

Thanks Lucy

 

[Tnavas]

I would be inclined to remove the running martingale as it has a very strong effect on the horses moouth and change it for a standing.

Correctly fitted it will prevent her throwing her head up and if she does it will sock her on the front of her nose rather than in the mouth.