Bitting problems...

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horseart

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At the moment I am riding 2 novice showjumpers which I have had trouble bitting...

One is a 17.2 hano/ID and is very heavy in front and leans very heavily. I have tried everything from waterford links to the metal pelham he has in atm. However, I find that although lighter in a stronger bit, he is reluctant to go forward into it and will often jump hollow.

The other is a 16.1 warmblood. I currently have him in a lozenged loose ring snaffle and a market harborough. Again he wants to work slightly on the forehand, though when I try and correct this he throws his head up and carries it over-high. He is not strong or particularly fussy.

Both horses have regular back/teeth/saddle checks. Any advice on some slightly different bits would be great :)
 
For both horses, I would work a lot on flexion, moving off your leg laterally (leg yield etc) direct transitions such as walk- canter, canter-walk, rein back to canter etc to engage behind and lighten their forehand. Market harboroughs I find cause them to go on the forehand in a lot of cases, and a stronger bit will just make him come deeper to avoid the action.

Make sure they are truly off your leg too, and you should find they lighten. If they still feel strong, try something like a cheltenham gag with 2 reins, so you have the help of the gag rein to lift on the odd occasion, but can ride off the snaffle. Try a plastic bit (nathe or Happy mouth) for the one that goes inverted, as sometimes this can encourage them to take the contact forward over a fence without leaning :)

I think schooling and working on getting them in self carriage and off your aids will help the most though ;)
 
I work alot on the flat inc. flexion as I complete at 1.30m+ , however, I find these two don't respond in uite the same way. The 16.1 especially has very good lateral work and is so good off the leg he can canter virtually sideways across our 40x60 arena! lol.

I was thinking about possibly trying a butterfly flip bit or an elavator bit as they are 2 I haven't tried before...
 
Ah ok, fair enough :) The butterfly flip would have a similar action to a pelham, but maybe helpful for the first horse. A universal with a curb strap can be helpful for keeping them together but "up" in front without too much action to back off, they seem to have a slightly more elevatory action than that of a pelham. A synthetic mouthpiece for the first one though I think will make a difference :)
 
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