BITS!

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22 July 2011
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Hi Guys,

Lovely mornining down south today, I im desperate need of some help i recently have started schooling my 7yr old Irish Sports horse. Hes leaning on the bit and is really enjoying his work, hes getting better but even so i want something which has maybe copper rolls, Ive been told by many people that giving him something to play with will help him to accept the bit more and work properly.

Any ideas or other bits which would be use ful?
 
At the moment were are doing alot of circle work in walk and trot as i am trying to get him to start bending, hes only just started to work on a outline so we are very basic so anything like a bridle which requires two bits isnt needed. I was thinking eggbut snaffle with copper rolls on it as i have been told this is a good bit but i dont want to put him in it without more advice. :D
 
Most of us have bits galore in our cupboards, bitting is a minefield. I can only comment on what I've found to have been effective. I like the sweet iron bits as they encourage a horse to be moist in the mouth. I personally don't like jointed bits but prefer a mullen mouth bit unjointed bits that do not encourage leaning. Thick bits are not necessarily the kindest, sepending on the shape of horse's mouth and tongue.
 
My favourite is a Fulmer snaffle with keepers and a drop noseband.

He is leaning because he is on his forehand so rather than thinking about his mouth work on him going forward and in a good rhythm.

Lots of circles, loops, serpentines and changes of rein for lateral suppleness - try not to go around the arena more than once without doing something different. This will keep him on his toes and listening to you.

For longitudinal suppleness - that will eventually get him off his forehand - is transitions between paces and within the pace. Increasing and decreasing the number of steps in each pace.

It's these transitions that will eventually stop him leaning.
 
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