Bitting Dilemma - RIs disagreeing!

[cundlegreen]

The thing is, better brakes can be a result of 'more comfortable' so unless you try things you'll never know. If I have a strong horse come to me, the first thing I try is less bit, not more.

Your YO escalating would worry me - where do you stop? Twisted Liverpool driving bit on bottom hole?

Exactly this... The old saying " it takes two to pull" still holds true. Horses will run through the bit if uncomfortable. One bit I use on young uneducated horses is a myler combination, as it takes pressure onto the noseband as well as the bit, which has a curved mouthpiece and roller to accommodate the tongue. Quite often less is more. Nearly all of mine are ridden in a curved mouthpiece snaffle and cavesson, and that is up to Intermediate eventing.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You might not know why/how a particular bit works but it is clear from your post that you can tell when your horse goes well/better in a different bit. You need to have the courage of your convictions to be able to say "I like the way my horse goes in this bit, I am going to use it for now".

 

[ozpoz]

I'd approach this airily - "I like the feel my horse gives me in this. I'm working on 'soft and relaxed' right now"

Smile and carry on doing what you're doing..

As others have said, less is often more for some horses.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Well today I put her back into her snaffle and plain cavesson. I need to ride her in a snaffle as I am going to have to do a dressage test in a field next week at Kelsall ODE anyway so figured that was a good place to start before considering buying anything else. She went so sweetly in it. Really relaxed and obedient and no pulling at all. I did mainly flat-work in an arena with jumps up but at the end popped over a few small jumps including a double and she just popped over with no bother. RI saw us from a distance and said 'wow she's going nicely'. So that's good. Quite what XC will be like in just a snaffle I don't know though. I am going xc schooling this weekend so I shall find out! Might take a spare bit with me though in case of brake failure!

 

[Fiona]

'This was suggested to me and I thought I would try it for a while as Amber seemed to respond well initially. If it doesn't work, I can always look at going back to the other bit, but if I don't try, I won't know.' Additionally if you would like 'Would you support/help me through trying this out, I'd really like to give it a good go for x amount of time but some guidance from the ground would really help too.'

Very tactful, I'd definitely go with this approach.....

Fiona

 

[Orangehorse]

Sounds as though your horse is most comfortable in the snaffle. There are books you can get about bitting, but it is a complex subject.

 

[blitznbobs]

i may not know everything about horses but I have got 40 years experience owning and schooling horses and I've never had a horse that doesn't respond to a snaffle bit for every day riding ... I have as a teenager bitted up a horse because I couldn't control it but all that hppened was it got worse... Occasionally hunting or cross country I can see the point of a stronger bit but at the end of the day it is all down to schooling. The bit is there to signal to the horse not to cause pain / discomfort which, whatever you think is what a stronger bit does especially in a novice rider ( I accept that western riding is different btw) please don't say your horse is ' a strong horse' all horses are stronger than you what you actually mean by this is that it's a disobedient horse... any instructor that keeps bitting up a horse further is
A) not very good
Or
B) is so scared that the horse is going to hurt you because you are not very good or take unnecessary risks...

Now I ride bitted because I compete in dressage but I do have sympathy with the bit less riders... and those riders that can ride a horse with a piece of cotton round the horses neck prove that it's not about strong and weak horses but degree of obedience

 

[cold_feet]

Why don't you phone The Bit Bank and explain your horse to them and see what they advise? They will hire bits out for you to trial, which might be a less contentious discussion with your YO.

I’ve been using loans from the horse bit shop to help me with my strong horse that I felt uncomfortable with ever stronger bits. After a couple of tries I’ve ended up with a Bombers ported happy tongue. He seems very happy with it, and no longer strong or fighting me at speed. The advice from Vicki there was very helpful.

 

[BethanT]

I've not read all the replies, but wow. Your YO/RI sounds lovely.........did you get the sarcasm?

Seriously, reading that got my back up, cranking up a noseband, putting a hefty bit on AND a curb chain?! Just why?! I'm not surprised your girl went nicely the first few times, she was probably in shock! Then started to fight it.

I really believe in less is more. I had a mare who I couldn't even turn if she had a gag and flash on, but had a mount like butter with a rubber Nathe bit.

I feel for you OP, it isn't nice when two people you look to have such differing opinions, but as professionals they should be conservative about sharing their views with clients.

I recently had a "Bit Fit" Lady out. She was doing some other horses on the yard so thought I would try it. I started to tack my horse up and made a statement of "Oh, you have XXXX for saddle fitting do you?!" but in a very disapproving tone. When I asked if she knew them, she replied that "yes, I've seen their work......" I immediately wanted to tell this woman to shove off, as I felt that was a totally inappropriate comment given she didn't know me or my horse or why I have chosen to use that fitter.


But ultimately OP, if you want you horse in a snaffle bit, then put her in one. Tell you RI, that while you appreciate her opinion and expertise, you would rather go down the snaffle route. Also, if you plan on competing dressage at all, your horse has to go in a snaffle, so you can use that as an argument as to why you want to revert back. In fact, just use that as your argument anyway!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Well I braved XC in the snaffle today! I did have the gag to hand should I need it but I didn't. She was fine. What a lovely horse! So I am very pleased.

Pics.... just because...

 

[Dave's Mam]

I think you found your answer. & Wow, you are both looking really good!

 

[Mule]

Amber has a fantastic jump. She looks like she's flying! You were right to trust your instincts about the bit.

 

[Northern]

That's great! You both look happy, relaxed and enjoying yourselves I will always use a simple snaffle first and foremost until every other avenue is exhausted. Luckily I haven't needed to bit any of mine up. My young TB goes in a snaffle and plain noseband everywhere. I appreciate there are some exceptions to this though. Happy jumping

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I recently had a "Bit Fit" Lady out. She was doing some other horses on the yard so thought I would try it. I started to tack my horse up and made a statement of "Oh, you have XXXX for saddle fitting do you?!" but in a very disapproving tone. When I asked if she knew them, she replied that "yes, I've seen their work......" I immediately wanted to tell this woman to shove off, as I felt that was a totally inappropriate comment given she didn't know me or my horse or why I have chosen to use that fitter.

That kind of things winds me up too. I used to have an RI. I loved her lessons but I could not stand the 45 minutes of badmouthing everyone else that I had to put up with during them! So I stopped going. Same with a trimmer I used to use. My horses were all unshod just because that suited them. (3 different horses now and they are all shod!). But she was a barefoot fanatic and assumed I was too and just used to insult farriers/farriery when she came. So I stopped using her too!

 

[honetpot]

Riding horses is not about strength, its about communication and the biggest part of that communication is your body, especially you seat and weight. I sounds like at the moment you are ending up like a water skier, using stronger and stronger bits to control and the horse is doing just about everything it can to avoid it. The RI does not appear to understand what a curb bit is, or how it works.
I am afraid I would ditch the RI/YO, get yourself a Mary Wanless book, like Ride with Your Mind, and start working on the basics, walk, turns, halt with your bum and body, and go back to a simple bit that she finds comfortable. It will be hard at first, but as I have taught young children to ride with their bum on ponies much bigger than them, it does work.

 

[Fiona]

Fantastic pics Amber - well done

Fiona