Silmarillion
Well-Known Member
Ok, I need some opinions! Please bear in mind that Frank isn't mine 
Frank is a 13yo ex-racer who came out of racing at 9yo, I believe. He had a wind op (hence the coughing and occasional whistling) and became a dressage pony for an older lady. Eighteen months ago he couldn't canter - he either did a fast, unbalanced trot or launched into gallop and couldn't balance. He's got a lot stronger since I've been riding him and his owner can even manage to canter him now During our last dressage outing, only Prelim, I got a lot of "mouth open" comments. I am aware that I cause some of these problems myself as I try too hard to be soft in the contact and go too far the other way and become inconsistent. However, I have been wondering whether a change of bit might be a good idea. This short video shows a close-up of his mouth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rui6Vag5Jc
As we go past C you can see how "mouthy" he gets. He does, however, mostly have his mouth closed but his lips open. In transitions he opens his mouth (and hollows, which I know is mostly my fault). I wonder, however, if he could be encouraged to help me in my learning to make a consistent contact, by finding him a different and more comfortable bit? He is currently in a loose ring with a lozenge, nothing fancy just a plain one.
He had sinusitis last year and is missing a few molars on the left side of his top jaw, which could be causing him an issue in the contact (but nothing a vet is concerned about as he has had regular check-ups since to ensure he isn't getting food compacted and more infection in there, etc). I obviously don't want to potentially cause any more of an issue with this and so it will need to be considered when thinking about bits.
Here is a longer video so you can see generally how we work together:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J54r2tmxHM0
I am well aware that my left hand needs chopping off
If anyone has any constructive comments about the general work, too, then feel free to comment! I asked my husband to take this video as I had an awful time at the dressage last week and I wanted to see if the comments (about his mouth, the "lack of forwardness" and his long outline) were fair as it felt a lot better than my mark. Turns out I think I could do with shortening my reins (carrying my hands myself would be a good start rather than relying on my left thigh to hold my left hand up!) and the transitions also need to be a lot sharper... I still ride him thinking he's a battleship but he left that phase about six months ago and I think I need to be more demanding of him, now. He used to get very wound up (and I'm cautious about jazzing him up as his owner can't cope with it) so I try to ride him quietly and "nicey-nicey" which just doesn't work in a test! I also need to tie my knees to some hefty weights to stop me gripping up (I think I'm gripping with my knees rather than my heels, which makes me heels come up).
Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts about the bit or about our work in general then I'd be grateful to hear them!
Frank is a 13yo ex-racer who came out of racing at 9yo, I believe. He had a wind op (hence the coughing and occasional whistling) and became a dressage pony for an older lady. Eighteen months ago he couldn't canter - he either did a fast, unbalanced trot or launched into gallop and couldn't balance. He's got a lot stronger since I've been riding him and his owner can even manage to canter him now
During our last dressage outing, only Prelim, I got a lot of "mouth open" comments. I am aware that I cause some of these problems myself as I try too hard to be soft in the contact and go too far the other way and become inconsistent. However, I have been wondering whether a change of bit might be a good idea. This short video shows a close-up of his mouth:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rui6Vag5Jc
As we go past C you can see how "mouthy" he gets. He does, however, mostly have his mouth closed but his lips open. In transitions he opens his mouth (and hollows, which I know is mostly my fault). I wonder, however, if he could be encouraged to help me in my learning to make a consistent contact, by finding him a different and more comfortable bit? He is currently in a loose ring with a lozenge, nothing fancy just a plain one.
He had sinusitis last year and is missing a few molars on the left side of his top jaw, which could be causing him an issue in the contact (but nothing a vet is concerned about as he has had regular check-ups since to ensure he isn't getting food compacted and more infection in there, etc). I obviously don't want to potentially cause any more of an issue with this and so it will need to be considered when thinking about bits.
Here is a longer video so you can see generally how we work together:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J54r2tmxHM0
I am well aware that my left hand needs chopping off
If anyone has any constructive comments about the general work, too, then feel free to comment! I asked my husband to take this video as I had an awful time at the dressage last week and I wanted to see if the comments (about his mouth, the "lack of forwardness" and his long outline) were fair as it felt a lot better than my mark. Turns out I think I could do with shortening my reins (carrying my hands myself would be a good start rather than relying on my left thigh to hold my left hand up!) and the transitions also need to be a lot sharper... I still ride him thinking he's a battleship but he left that phase about six months ago and I think I need to be more demanding of him, now. He used to get very wound up (and I'm cautious about jazzing him up as his owner can't cope with it) so I try to ride him quietly and "nicey-nicey" which just doesn't work in a test! I also need to tie my knees to some hefty weights to stop me gripping up (I think I'm gripping with my knees rather than my heels, which makes me heels come up).Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts about the bit or about our work in general then I'd be grateful to hear them!
)!