Could someone recommend me a bit please?

[Jackson]

I have been using my dutch gag with two reins for a little while now and am finally at the point where I rarely if ever actually touch the gag rein, which is great, and I think it's time that we found a suitable snaffle for us to start schooling in.

Here's where I'm hoping for some help I bought one today, purely because it was very cheap and wanted to try it out. I can't remember for the life of me what it is I will get it out of the car tomorrow and see, but I know that he will probably choose not to like it, because he is fussy like that..

He has a tendency to pull and lean, and is quite strong, although he has got much better, so I was thinking that a hanging cheek would be a good idea, however, he also evades the bit and sticks his head in the air, and it is really hard to push him foreward and get him working nicely...

When I first got him I took him to a dressage comp in a full cheek and the entire time he had his head in the air laughing at me, but I will have to try that one again too...


Thanks for reading, what do you think?

 

[Miss L Toe]

Sounds as though he is heavy on the forehand, I'd get an experienced peripatetic instructor to come and give you a lesson, she will advise.

 

[Jackson]

Okay, thank you. I can't have 'outside' instructors come and teach me where my horse is on livery, so that could be tricky though

Would some pictures help?

 

[Jackson]

I will add them any way, it may be helpful for you to see his current way of going..

Excuse my cr*ptastic riding, it is improving gradually, and this was a little while ago

 

[be positive]

Why cant you have a different instructor?
Is the one based on the yard helpful?
If not could you go somewhere else for some help.
Otherwise its trial and error with bits see if you can borrow off other people plus lots of work to improve his way of going.
Pictures would not help as much as a video for further suggestions.

 

[Jackson]

I may have a video somewhere, but I'm not sure, I will have a look

I'm not sure why I can't have another instructor come and teach me, it was just part of the contract when I put my horse on livery there I suppose so that I use their instructors!

We have improved a lot, and we are still improving, just.. slowly

 

[calon]

Moving down from a gag a wilkie snaffle gives you the poll pressure but not as strong our heavy cob stallion goes great in the magic mouth wilkie and so does my sec d mare the french link snaffle version is also very good .

 

[Jackson]

Thanks! I will see if I can borrow one of those too

 

[niagaraduval]

Take off the gags and whatever, and go back to a snaffle and concentrate on re-schooling him. I used to ride a mare for her owner when I had time and she was put in a pelham with no roundings on last ring or a revolver bit, She was so strong and used to play up regularly. I took everything out and went right back to a snaffle and schooling, after 3 months she was rideable with just a snaffle, even when we went out galloping with other horses. Just goes to show that the correct schooling is everything. This may not be the case for your boy (it isn't for mine, although he is ridden in a snaffle often except for jumping) but most horses are over bitted and people assume it's the bit rather than the rider or the tack or other problems.

Good luck with whatever you judge best for you and your horse

 

[calon]

just a thought wilkies are not dressage legal so maybe a hanging cheek and flash noseband if needed and yes pleanty of schooling x

 

[tinap]

Our pony leans on the bit & is is heavy on the forehand - was always In a waterford gag. But the daughter wanted to have a go at dressage so after a lot of trial & error have found he goes well in a loose ring with a lozenge. LOTS of schooling in this bit is working wonders & he now only has the gag for SJ & xc.
Good luck! xx