Dressage bit advice??

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msjumper

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Does any one know of a good snaffle bit for quite a strong horse? I rode him in a sweet iron copper roller which he quite liked today. Just wondered if anyone else had any ideas. He is light in the mouth but he can be strong and he is powerfull. He also has very fleshy lips so i have to be carefull nothing pinches him
 
Unfortunately a copper roller isn't dressage legal. Have you tried a hanging cheek snaffle? The little bit of poll pressure makes it a bit stronger.
 
Dr bristol isn't dressage legal although you can't tell without looking in the horses mouth so I do know people who get away with using them.
 
im a showjumper and iv always had my dressage lessons for my jumping but my horse is so talented that everyone keeps telling me i should take him out dressage to just working on a few things before i do take him out and do a test so i might try dr bristol and a few others for now and then try something different for when we are ready to go out
 
If you say he is light in the mouth but also strong and powerful it sounds as if his mouth is not truly educated yet and he is not actually accepting the bit properly.

Try him in a Fulmer with keepers and a drop. Then start riding him long and low and forward into the contact.

The Fulmer is a very still bit and encourages the horse to have confidence in the bit. The drop done up so that you can get two fingers in between horse and noseband prevents the horse from opening the mouth wider than it should, there is enough room to allow the horse to relax the jaw.

The Fulmer is Dressage legal.

Just for information a Hanging Cheek does not have poll pressure - it is similar in action to the Fulmer. To have poll pressure you need the bit to be held down in the mouth by a curbchain and for the rein to be attached below the mouthpiece to generate leverage.
 
he does work long and low and is light in contact but hes just very expressive horse and sharp, there are things i need to work on but nothing major its all there just a lil bit of fine tuning but its just finding a suitable bit that he likes hes not easiest horse to bit he only likes certain mouth pieces certain thickneses and he has fleshy lips so not everything suites him
 
Evelyn said:
If you say he is light in the mouth but also strong and powerful it sounds as if his mouth is not truly educated yet and he is not actually accepting the bit properly.

Try him in a Fulmer with keepers and a drop. Then start riding him long and low and forward into the contact.

The Fulmer is a very still bit and encourages the horse to have confidence in the bit. The drop done up so that you can get two fingers in between horse and noseband prevents the horse from opening the mouth wider than it should, there is enough room to allow the horse to relax the jaw.

The Fulmer is Dressage legal.

Just for information a Hanging Cheek does not have poll pressure - it is similar in action to the Fulmer. To have poll pressure you need the bit to be held down in the mouth by a curbchain and for the rein to be attached below the mouthpiece to generate leverage.
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ok thanks for that i will get hold of a fulmer and give that a go
 
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You look to concentrate on pulling his head in rather than working correctly from behind which is why he is likely to be heavy on the hand.

I would second the suggestion of a fulmer and really concentrating on working from behind. Please make sure a drop noseband is fitted correctly. They are fantastic pieces of tack but should NOT be done up tight at all, this could seriously affect breathing and unfortunately some people fit them far too tight.
 
caterpillar said:
You look to concentrate on pulling his head in rather than working correctly from behind which is why he is likely to be heavy on the hand.

I would second the suggestion of a fulmer and really concentrating on working from behind. Please make sure a drop noseband is fitted correctly. They are fantastic pieces of tack but should NOT be done up tight at all, this could seriously affect breathing and unfortunately some people fit them far too tight.
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Do you have to wear a drop noseband with a fulmer? iv never ridden him in a drop noseband before? iv recently moved to a new yard where i am lucky enough to have a grand prix dressage rider and an international eventer on hand, i know there are things i need to work on as i had my first lesson with her today and we discussed i need to get him working from behind more so your very correct there :) she got on him and she had him working beautifully! hes a very talented horse but i just need to be pointed in the right direction and ride more correctly. Iv always showjumped so there lots i need to change :D
 
No you don't have to use a drop, it is just that I prefer them to flashes.

Good news that you've moved to somewhere with plenty of instruction available, that will really, really help.
 
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