Bitting advice for 5yo currently jumping in a snaffle

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awolstencroft

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Hi all,
I have a stocky 5yo Lusitano X Traditional Cob with a fairly short neck who has just started jumping courses of 80/90cm. The plan is to compete BE when I feel we are ready.
He has plenty of scope and is forward to a fence. My issue is that he loses respect of the bit and can run over my hand getting long and flat in the approach. This is managable at 80/90cm but becomes an issue as we advance.
He is currently in a 16mm Argentan french link fixed ring snaffle. This bit is absolutely fine for flat work, he works over his back correctly with a good length of neck into a solid contact. He can drop onto the forehand in canter which is something we are working on although it can be a bit of a struggle with him still being built croup high.
Does anyone have any suggestion for a bit to try for jumping?
I dont want to put anything in that is too severe and ruin his mouth as he has never had anything stronger than the above snaffle and is otherwise not strong! I also need to be able to go back to the snaffle for dressage...
Any suggestions welcome :)
 
awolstencroft said:
Hi all,
I have a stocky 5yo Lusitano X Traditional Cob with a fairly short neck who has just started jumping courses of 80/90cm. The plan is to compete BE when I feel we are ready.
He has plenty of scope and is forward to a fence. My issue is that he loses respect of the bit and can run over my hand getting long and flat in the approach. This is managable at 80/90cm but becomes an issue as we advance.
He is currently in a 16mm Argentan french link fixed ring snaffle. This bit is absolutely fine for flat work, he works over his back correctly with a good length of neck into a solid contact. He can drop onto the forehand in canter which is something we are working on although it can be a bit of a struggle with him still being built croup high.
Does anyone have any suggestion for a bit to try for jumping?
I dont want to put anything in that is too severe and ruin his mouth as he has never had anything stronger than the above snaffle and is otherwise not strong! I also need to be able to go back to the snaffle for dressage...
Any suggestions welcome :)
Click to expand...

My very soft mouthed mare gets excited jumping & I have her in a port mouthed slotted Kimblewick on the top slot - she is very very sensitive & loves this bit.

Obviously as has been said many many times on here - any bit is a strong as the hands that use it!
 
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