Bitting Advice for Strong Horse

[Nothing Original]

Hi

I am after some advice before I spend a fortune trying any more bits!

Horse is shall we say keen about his showjumping. Lots of re-schooling and lessons later and we can now trot nicely round a course. 3 years ago this seemed impossible so I am very pleased to of come this far. Canter on the flat has come on leaps and bounds (used to motorbike round due to lack of balance/core strength) so I am happy we have a good enough canter to be able to jump from it now.

Now trying to progress to cantering into fences and it is like a light switch has been flicked. 3 - 4 strides out he locks on and I am a passenger. After the fence is fine and he will come back to a nice canter (or trot/walk) easily - provided there isn't another fence in sight - if there is he will simply lock on and jump it.

I started in a loose ring waterford - he goes nicely in this but is just too strong when he puts his mind to it.

Then I tried a pelham (straight bar mullen mouth) but I did not like the feel of it (just felt wooden) and whilst the first few jumps he did listen (too much - think halt in front of the jump!) he soon got his tongue over and lost the plot.

Tried a waterford pelham but not enough brakes and he really wasn't happy and given he likes a waterford I came to the conclusion it was the pelham action he did not like.

Then went down the gag route - universal and dutch with snaffle, french link and waterford mouthpieces and also tried a back strap.

Most recent is dutch 4 ring waterford with back strap. He schools beautifully in it and will come down a grid happily but try and jump a single fence off a corner from canter and I now have a horse who is coming off the corner sideways because I cannot put my leg on and then 4 strides out I cannot hold.

He is a very capable jumper and part of me feels he needs a bigger fence to back him off (currently jumping about 80) but I am reluctant to try the whack them up approach when I know I am struggling for control.

Horse is very sensitive and my biggest fear with stronger bits is making him feel too restricted as he will simply become an un-exploded spring and it will be horrible to ride and not solve anything apart from making him even more tense and hollow and will just be a vicious circle back to where we have come from.

I need to teach him he can approach a fence calmly and part of me wants to give him no restriction at all (i.e. almost drop the rein so nothing to fight against) but I am not that brave or stupid.

Circling in front makes him 10 times worse and poles on the floor are a no go (genuinely not an option at all we have tried).

I have not tried changing the noseband so would like opinions on maybe trying a grackle or putting a sheepskin on the noseband to lower the head? Can a noseband really make that much difference? I would love if I could keep the bit and change this instead of a stronger bit but I have no experience with this approach.

I have also been told to try an English gag or a tom thumb but I know very little about them.

Horse typically sticks his head up hollows and runs rather than head down and b****r off.

I don't want to jump round Hickstead but I do want to have some fun jumping a meter or so (which is well within both our abilities) but I cannot contemplate it with these issues.

Any help, ideas or advice greatly appreciated.

 

[MissGee]

Yes, nosebands make a massive difference.

I have recently bought a little powerhouse that I was having real problems holding out hacking (he's done lots of hunting over winter) - couldn't hold him in a Pelham...! I now have him in a straightbar nathe with a grackle noseband - no problems

I used to have a jumping mare similar to yours - to be honest though (as in most cases) most of her problems were me, she took hold, so I took hold back... once I learned to relax and let her get on with her job she soon stopped grabbing me. However, I rode her in a universal bit and I did find adding a leather curb strap helped massively.

 

[be positive]

3 years is a long time to be working with a horse that is still rushing so I would look at totally dropping the contact and seeing what happens, if he is good in grids and combinations you should be able to give him complete freedom and leave him alone to jump once you are in the last few strides, the fact he does not take off on landing should mean it is safe to do so.
I have had horses that rush, land and run away that have improved no end by being left alone completely with the rider on a loose rein holding a neckstrap, obviously within reason and in a safe environment, it is usually a vicious circle the horse gets strong the rider takes a pull so the horse gets stronger, one of you has to stop the fight starting and 9 times out of 10 it needs to be the rider that makes the decision to leave the horse alone.

Most horses that are like this are lacking in confidence in some way, either they have been rushed too soon or they have had to cope with a less than able rider so learn to take over, a different bit/ noseband can help but ultimately they need to change their outlook as they just run through everything after a while and you have to keep changing for the next strength combo.

 

[Nothing Original]

Thank you both for your replies. You are both right - he takes hold and so do I - I try really hard but I know I am doing it. He is 17hh and built like a tank so it is not easy!

He was jumped too much too young and taught to hold and fire and various injuries have meant a long process has been even longer unfortunately.

He absolutely lacks confidence (in general life as well as jumping).

We have really built a partnership and I know he trusts me but it is like a red mist takes over when the jumps come out.

I need to be brave and let go but am honestly a bit scared to do so when he has proven to me how little my brakes work.... I think I will try a grackle to see if it helps - and to maybe give me the confidence I can let go because I can stop....

Would you leave the fences at 80 or use a bit of height to back him off while he learns I will leave him alone if he doesn't pull (if that makes sense). He has scope to burn (way more than I will ever need) so if I went to say 1m I don't think it would be an issue unless he got it wrong and then I would worry he would frighten himself (he used to do 2 laps of the school if he touched a pole but now manages to contain himself and trust me when I say it is ok)

I can leave him alone in a grid and although he can sometimes quicken slightly in the air this has improved so much now I was really hoping it would be enough away from a grid.

Thank you again for your help.

 

[be positive]

Without seeing you I wouldn't know whether putting the fences up will help or make him rush more, an anxious horse may go faster as they get bigger so I would try initially within grids to see how he is and if something meaty at the end helps him drop his head and back off a little, having the right brakes should help your confidence and a noseband change could be the best option, consider a micklem which can be used with the bit clips which bring the noseband into play a little more if required .

I would try a few very low but interesting exercises, such as a row of bounces where you can just let him pop through and pat him all the way, he is obviously improving and this type of horse will always be tricky as any mistakes set them back, does he take hold cantering through poles on the ground as that can really help encourage them to relax if they work correctly over them, 4 poles placed on a 20m circle that then get built up to be small fences is a good exercise for something that rushes as the rider can just keep a rhythm and keep going round until the horse settles, it is not easy to ride well but may help with this horse.