Bits- so many of them!

[jolie1234]

Ive had my belgium warmblood now for about 4 years and been a happy hacker for quite some time however now im having lessons in school work- ive found out she is rather hard to get to listen to my rein aids- specially when she doesn't want to work very hard!

she's in a french link snaffle at the minute but i was considering using a different bit to see if it helps?

i've tried schooling exercises to get her listening but these failed- because of this i cant get a collected canter and struggling to do any jump work. It just looks messy and uncontrollable as she bolts over the jumps.

When it comes to bits, I'm a complete beginner!

HELP?!?!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

If you're having lessons, I suggest that you first ask the person giving you lessons, that have seen you and your horse working together and presumably knows enough to be able to tell you if changing bit would help and if so, what bits to consider trying. Other than that, I know that it is a jungle of different bits out there to choose between, but it still starts with the basic, do you know what the french link snaffle does in your horse's mouth and how it is supposed to work? Does it work the way it should sometimes? Find out the basic of how different bits are intended to work, so that you have an idea about what it is that you put in your horse's mouth and how it is supposed to work.

As an example, I found the following links through a quick internet search (please note that I've just glanced through them and I don't know if they're correct or not, I also know that some of the text in some of the links are quite long, but perhaps you can find something useful):

equisearch.com/bit_gallery/frenchlink (about the French link snaffle, e.g. says that it is "good choice for horses with a low palate" but also "horses with large or sensitive tongues may not like the french link snaffle because of the close contact of the bit with the tongue")

thebitguide.com/ (very short about the basic difference between Snaffle, Curb, Pelham and Gag bits)

queryhorse.com/toppages/articles/understandingbits.asp ("back to basics", explaining the components of a bit and what they do)

sustainabledressage.net (both about nosebands and bits)

c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ponyclub.org (lots to read about e.g. the horses mouth, noseband and bits, I especially like this part from page 6 "Bits are for controlling speed, containing impulsion created by the rider’s seat & leg, for turning & stopping. Some bits are good at one job & not as good at others. People often expect too much of bits. Never forget that it is the hands on the end of the reins that do the damage.")

nationalhorseandponynetwork.co.uk/bitlessbridles (included because I had the link and think the page is informative)

foxhunter.on.ca/AboutBits (included because I like the part about different durability)

Came across a thread from Trot on line ( http://www.trotonline.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?21308-KY-rotary-bits&oo=0 ) were someone's horse wasn't happy in a French link and various other tried and rejected bits and wondered about KY Rotary bits, another member replied saying that they had ridden their horse in a French link hanging cheek but said that the horse was much happier with a Jeffries revolver bit, but posted a link to a KY Rotary double jointed eggbutt http://www.horsebitbank.com/ky-rotary-double-jointed-eggbutt-366.phtml that they said was very similar. Then a third member posted a photo of a Jeffries revolver bit http://www.thehorsebitshop.co.uk/product.php?xProd=164 .

Hope something gives you some idea of what might suit you and your horse.