Bitting advice

[smudge99]

I have a small issue which I hope some of you will be able to help with, this may be a bit long and as a newbie to this forum I hope you dont ignore me lol.

My horse, Brook is 18hhs and a heavy chap (WBxShire) he is 7 but has done nothing really as he can be a handful. He went away for some serious schooling last year and has returned a different horse. However he still has me off now and again so I just hack him. For his size he is very sharp and not for the unconfident.

Anyway I ride him in a pelham with roundings (I know not the best but what my trainer suggested) he can get rather excited when jumping or doing any fast work and herein lies the problem. I dont do this work my daughter does, she is 14, will ride anything but is 5'3 and 7.5 stone. I have put in some pics to give you an idea. He ran off with her while jumping at the weekend nothing serious but it gave me more of a fright than her. Do you think I should change his bit for something a bit stronger? I know most will say he is too big and yes but he loves jumping and I dont. She is planning to do PC dressage with him eventually and her trainer cant wait to meet him

Any advice will be greatfully received.

Some pics of her on him last year.

quality of this isn't great sorry, this is the first time jumping indoors.

Liz

 

[LMuirEDT]

If she is happy then why don't you wait til you start training and see what the trainer thinks? It's better to get advice (I think) from someone who has actually seen the horse first hand.

Personally I don't think she looks that small on him - lovely looking horse too!

 

[smudge99]

Thanks, someone replied ;o) "wavey"

Yes you are right I was planning to do that anyway but my daughter is flat out with her PC pony and Brook sorts of fits in, I continue to do slow schooling but she wants to take him to a low level 1'6 hunter trial at the end of next month so I though I would ask about to see what others did and if you think I am mad letting her ride him at all ;o)

Liz

 

[AngieandBen]

I agree with Lo1000, wait until your trainer has seen them together and take it from there.

If she is a confident rider then to me thats half the problem solved!

He's gorgeous btw
I'm 5ft 3 too, but I would be terrified on him; I'll stick to my 12.3hh and 14.1hh pones lol!

 

[smudge99]

I might just let her try him in two reins, I ride him on a hack with 2 but put the roundings back on for her as its one less thing for her to worry about.

Liz

 

[Kat]

I would try two reins rather than change the bit. She'll get used to it quickly and it will be good practice for showing/higher level dressage.

Bear in mind that for dressage she will have to be able to ride him in a snaffle so she might want to try schooling in one now.

If she struggles to stop when doing fast work it might be worth trying to train him to respond to a voice aid for these situations.

 

[Sol]

Braver than me! I have a 15.1hh light weight little thing that takes off and doesn't stop (and I'm the same height/weight aprox. as your daughter) which is bad enough, 18hh.... I can't imagine!

I'd agree with trying 2 reins - might also help for making the transition between the pelham and a snaffle for dressage so you can use just the top rein most of the time.
Also trying out the vocal commands myself, someone suggested it a few weeks back and we're hoping this might help once he's learnt! Right now it seems a bit hit and miss, but the theory is good