Contact issues...

[_jetset_]

Grace is back in work again after the bruising/abscess/diva act and when she is working forwards into the contact she is really going beautifully and starting to put a bit more expression into her trot work.

However, I have been playing around with bits because in the KK I found she was really able to get hold of it and could be quite difficult to work her off it. So, I tried her in the Myler 02 which she seemed to really back off from and over bend very easily. Then onto the NS Verbibend loose ring which she really took a dislike to

So, yesterday I lunged her in an bog standard eggbutt snaffle. She seemed much more settled in the contact in this, so I rode her in it this morning. She was better in it than she was in the others, however, on two occasions she was working really nicely so I asked her for a little bit more and she threw her head up in the air, spun around with right flexion (even though we were on the left rein) almost to make me get hold of it. The first time caught me by surprise, but on the second attempt I really pushed her back into my right rein and did not let her spin. After this, she was pretty settled and gave me some lovely transitions.

Any ideas where to go from here? Do I look at finding another bit, or persevere with this one for a while? I am not a fan of the nutcracker action if I am honest, so have always tried to stay away from bits with this

 

[H-J]

what about an eggbut french link?

 

[Tempi]

Personally i would keep going with the bit - it takes longer than a couple of sessions for a horse to settle into a new bit. id give her at least a week to settle into it and then see what shes like after that.

 

[Henny]

I have tried lots of bits, and found my horse is most settled in an eggbutt. I think if they found the nutcraker action uncomfortable or painfull they would let you know!

 

[piaffe]

[ QUOTE ]
Personally i would keep going with the bit - it takes longer than a couple of sessions for a horse to settle into a new bit. id give her at least a week to settle into it and then see what shes like after that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Was going to suggest the same.

 

[_jetset_]

Thanks... will keep her in it for the next few days and see how we get on.

It is really old and squeaky, so I would probably look at getting one of the lighter weight ones, but am dubious about trying a french link as that is pretty much what the KK Ultra is which she was in originally.

I just don't understand why she is throwing her head in the air like that and spinning... it is almost as if she is trying to get me to take hold of the left contact rather than keeping her soft on it

 

[kerilli]

myler 32 is dressage legal with no nutcracker action. gives them a lot of confidence in the contact.
are her teeth 100%?

 

[_jetset_]

Yes, teeth absolutely perfect. They were done at the beginning of June by a registered EDT who I think is very good...

She backed off the 02 though, so would she not do this with the 32?

 

[ihatework]

The 32 gives a completely different feel in the hand to the 02, personally I have seen a few horses go really well in the 32 who went like donkeys in the 02

 

[_jetset_]

Right, thank you for that...

I may have to find someone who has one I could try for a week or two then, as don't have the money to buy one and her not like it

 

[Halfstep]

JetSet, I have a Myler loose ring snaffle that I don't use - if you want to borrow it you are more than welcome.

xx

 

[_jetset_]

Are the loose rings legal for BD?

 

[Halfstep]

Yes!

 

[_jetset_]

Do you know what mouthpiece it is Halfstep???

R x

 

[Halfstep]

Its this one:

 

[kerilli]

the 32 is a mullen, it rotates but does not flex at all in the mouthpiece. feels more like a nathe or happy mouth, but metal so smoother, less chance of tearing lips.

 

[_jetset_]

Thanks Kerilli... will look into that one.

Halfstep, I think that is the 02 that I have already

 

[Halfstep]

Oh rubbish. I don't know which number it is, sorry.

 

[_jetset_]

I think that it looks like the one I ride Han in at the moment

 

[KatB]

Try a JP snaffle. Bout £8, single jointed but curved. I dont like nutcracker bits, but this works really well as is slightly softer than a standard eggbut, but still a snaffle action.

 

[TarrSteps]

It's not really about whether or not PEOPLE like single jointed snaffles . . .

The coloured horse that used to be in my avatar before I went all nationalistic yesterday goes much better in a standard single jointed D/eggbutt/full/Fulmer cheek snaffle than he ever has in a "proper" loose ring/KK/double jointed 'dressage" bit no matter how many people have told him he shouldn't. He's a big, strong, sensitive horse and I suspect the less movement the better, so far as he's concerned but again, I don't care about his reasoning, only the result.

The grabbing and spinning may be nothing to do with the bit, or it maybe merely something else the change of bit is making more obvious. Either way, if she's improving keep going - if you keep changing you never narrow the options.

 

[_jetset_]

Thanks TarrSteps... She has always had a sensitive mouth, and she is very soft in the mouth too

So perhaps, as you have said, the less movement the better with her???

I am really not sure what this spinning and grabbing is all about... it started when I changed her into the Myler (after she had two weeks off with a bruised sole) and became better in the NS and better again in the eggbutt

 

[TarrSteps]

It's also getting better the more she works, yes . . .?

 

[_jetset_]

Yes...