Kenzo
Well-Known Member
Can I ask you for some suggestions please?
Right I'll keep this short, welshy doing her first dressage on Monday (weather permitting as I've got to hack up) which will no doubt be entertaining for anyone who thinks dressage is boring.
But we have a little problem, the bit she has is not dressage legal, myler, medium port, hooks. This is the bit the owner put her in ages ago, not sure if it was for the reasons of needing that particular bit or if it was more a case of the stick a myler in there much kinder for the horse etc etc so I have no history on what bits have been used or tried in the past.
What I do know is she has occasionally puts her tongue over the bit and I do know in the past she used to do it a quite a lot but its not an issue now as its only happed on a few occasions, also she can lean on the bit at times, she's very responsive and light and rides into a nice comfortable contact and breaks/turns are great when she's schooling which is good, however when she's out in company she can get a little stronger when she scampers off an spooks at something therefore bit doesn't quite have the same effect when schooling.
Anyway I know some of you may be thinking
....well why have you not been schooling her in something else which is dressage legal while preparing her, you cant exactly change her bit and expect her to get used to it 4 days before your test!...
Well yes you have a valid point a but also I've had to do a lot with her to get her to this stage and get some weight shifted off her and get used to each other as she can be a bit tricky at times, so the sensible thing was to stick with what she is used to and potentially go well in rather than making life more complicated and getting her used to a new bit while doing all the rest, so that is why.
Now this is where are you need to pick your brains, I've tried the Miler which is dressage legal, with a small port, no hooks and although she schooled in nicely in the arena, we have less control when she's being a baggage and well not as good breaks, doesn't seem to accept a contact as well and not as responsive with my hands, seems a tad numb in the mouth is the only way to describe it
So I'd be really grateful for any suggestions please on something that may be very similar to her usual bit but is acceptable to compete in which I will then try, I've not had a lot of experience with different bits as all my horses have always been in a bog standard loose ring or a French link snaffles or been ridden a double so I can't go off past experiences/problems if you see what I mean, I'd rather get advice of someone who has actually used that particular bit and found a equally good alternative rather than chatting to my local saddler etc and buying loads of bits when its not my horse.
Thank you and sorry I said it was going to be short but I'd rather explain it all so then you dont have to post lots of questions
Right I'll keep this short, welshy doing her first dressage on Monday (weather permitting as I've got to hack up) which will no doubt be entertaining for anyone who thinks dressage is boring.
But we have a little problem, the bit she has is not dressage legal, myler, medium port, hooks. This is the bit the owner put her in ages ago, not sure if it was for the reasons of needing that particular bit or if it was more a case of the stick a myler in there much kinder for the horse etc etc so I have no history on what bits have been used or tried in the past.
What I do know is she has occasionally puts her tongue over the bit and I do know in the past she used to do it a quite a lot but its not an issue now as its only happed on a few occasions, also she can lean on the bit at times, she's very responsive and light and rides into a nice comfortable contact and breaks/turns are great when she's schooling which is good, however when she's out in company she can get a little stronger when she scampers off an spooks at something therefore bit doesn't quite have the same effect when schooling.
Anyway I know some of you may be thinking
....well why have you not been schooling her in something else which is dressage legal while preparing her, you cant exactly change her bit and expect her to get used to it 4 days before your test!...
Well yes you have a valid point a but also I've had to do a lot with her to get her to this stage and get some weight shifted off her and get used to each other as she can be a bit tricky at times, so the sensible thing was to stick with what she is used to and potentially go well in rather than making life more complicated and getting her used to a new bit while doing all the rest, so that is why.
Now this is where are you need to pick your brains, I've tried the Miler which is dressage legal, with a small port, no hooks and although she schooled in nicely in the arena, we have less control when she's being a baggage and well not as good breaks, doesn't seem to accept a contact as well and not as responsive with my hands, seems a tad numb in the mouth is the only way to describe it
So I'd be really grateful for any suggestions please on something that may be very similar to her usual bit but is acceptable to compete in which I will then try, I've not had a lot of experience with different bits as all my horses have always been in a bog standard loose ring or a French link snaffles or been ridden a double so I can't go off past experiences/problems if you see what I mean, I'd rather get advice of someone who has actually used that particular bit and found a equally good alternative rather than chatting to my local saddler etc and buying loads of bits when its not my horse.
Thank you and sorry I said it was going to be short but I'd rather explain it all so then you dont have to post lots of questions