Bitting Advice

[Eilean21]

We have had my daughters horse for about a year and a half now, she has been ridden in a hanging cheek happy mouth with lozenge for about a year however we were at XC training on Saturday and the first thing the instructor said was she needs a different bit. She was getting long and low on the approach to a fence and then stopping. The instructor said the horse was pulling my daughter forward , She said the happy mouth was too soft and she was not respecting it.

We borrowed a D ring copper roller to try, which she has been ridden in before, but she was not herself, spooking at everything and rushing at jumps and then tanking off after them which is not like her as she is usually quite laid back, although was also thinking that her behaviour could just be time of year and feeling fresh after a few days off.

Can anyone suggest a bit to try? Should I stick with the hanging cheek? She is not a strong horse but gets a bit more excitable XC although always stoppable. She is a 15.3 ISH turning 7 this month, she has a fat tonge.

She was ridden in a loose ring before but didn't like the movement in her mouth.

We would keep the happy mouth for flatwork as she does go nicely in it but maybe just needs a little more for jumping

Thanks

 

[be positive]

That sounds more like an issue that can be corrected by training, if she is not strong generally and happy in the bit then a few lessons may be enough to help your daughter learn how to prevent her getting so low and being pulled forward, she needs to sit deep for the last few strides which can make all the difference so the control comes from that rather than just using a stronger bit, obviously if she really needs something different then find a bit she likes but from your comment "the first thing the instructor said" it may be she is not the right instructor if she had already decided the bit was an issue not the training, maybe try a different instructor next.

 

[Eilean21]

Thanks Be Positive.

She does have lessons most weeks and does Pony Club etc so has regular tuition.

Sorry should have said "first thing the instructor said after the very first attempt to jump" as the horse just slid into the fence.

The instructor is a very experienced BE instructor but didn't tell me what to try just that we would need to try different bits so that my daughter has more control going into a fence.

 

[BethanT]

I had my horse in a NS hanging cheek. He used to be in a NS loose ring, but like yours didn't like the movement of it. Something I only realised after trying the hanging cheek on him.

Out of interest I had a bit fit consultant come out (she was already doing a visit on the yard), we tried a few bits but found he quite liked the Bomber Happy tongue snaffle. It is fixed, but with a port. Still dressage legal, and still a snaffle, but offered up a tad more stability.

I went out and bought one and tried him in it properly last night. A lot more steady in the contact so we shall see! Not jumped him in it yet though, but he also drops his head after a fence, and gets excited XC. Though always stoppable.

Your best bet is to speak to someone from the Horse Bit Shop or Bit Bank, as they will be able to offer advise as well as let you trial bits. This might be better than getting someone out, as I found the person I had didn't really let me have enough time to ride with that bit, and of course eventually the horse gets tired and bored of having things swapped and changed about.