bits

[Peanot]

Hi, I currently have a french link pelham to ride my horse and it seems ok apart form her leaning down a little in the trot and being heavy in the left rein when working on circles and turns etc. I have just had her teeth/back done and from what was found, these problems should be ok now but they aren`t. She takes hold of the bit during canter work and I know that I am supposed to give and take with the rein when she is holding onto but when I do, the circle isnt a circle anymore as she goes straight. I have been working on this with trainer but thought about changing her bit. When I bought her, (a month ago), she was ridden in a waterford loose ring and jumped in a tom thumb gag thing with 3 rings on, but the owner does like gadgets and uses strong leg/hand aids and I dont! So was thinking about the Neule Shule (sp) waterford! I like the NS ones as when I put the ss bit in her mouth, she plays with it for a while as if she doesnt like the coldness of it, and the NS are supposed to be of a warmer metal. Does anyone else use this bit and if so, why and does it do what you use it for?
I had her in the snaffle myler comfort bit but she leaned on this one.

Many thanks

 

[Bert&Maud]

It sounds like your problems are more likely to be with her way of going rather than the bit that she is in. You don't say how old she is, or how much work she had been doing when you got her. Personally I would keep the bitting very simple and concentrate on encouraging her to carry herself rather than relying on leaning on your hand.

 

[Peanot]

Thanks for your reply Tass. She is 8 yrs, and when I got her, she`d had a month off due to lack of time on the riders part, but we have been fittening her up. I have regular lessons with a BHSII, and we are working on getting her to carry herself which she is getting- slowly but it is on the circle that I find that my left hand is aching trying to keep her together in the canter. I understand that it is because her inside hind isnt pushing through enough and taking the weight which is making her heavy, but when I put on more inside leg, she goes faster and ignores the half halts.
I suppose she has only just had her back done a few days ago, perhaps she needs a few days to work that hind leg.
I work my other horse in a loose ring french link all the time, perhaps I should try this on her?
Thanks anyway.