Bitting advice for a 'stargazer'

[sitting_pretty]

Hi all,

I currently use a French link snaffle for my 10yo show jumper, but he is what i've heard termed a 'stargazer' as he can have a very high head carriage and it's difficult to get a contact with him. He's not particularly strong most of the time, but I would like to be able to maintain a contact while schooling.

Any ideas on an appropriate bit?

TIA

 

[dibbin]

I found a Neue Schule loose ring Verbindend worked wonders on Jazz. He was ridden in a French link hanging cheek before and tended to poke his nose out. He's much more willing to reach down into the contact now

 

[smja]

I found the rings had more of an effect on mine; swapping from loose ring french link to fixed ring french link was a big help.

However, no bit solves the issue - I'm afraid it's lots of schooling to teach them to take the contact forwards. Has he showjumped all his life? He may not have had the grounding he needs to understand what you're asking of him when you're schooling, in which case you'd need to go right back to basics with him.