Dressage bit!?

[JazFisher]

I really want to do some dressage on my 14.2 as everyone is always saying how nicely he holds himself and we are still a bit too nuts to try show jumping or xc the only problem is he is in a dutch gag, he was bottom hole but with schooling I have managed to get him up a hole and we still have steering and brakes but I need a snaffle I can put him in without losing control completely :/ what bits are there that I can use? I have got him into a running martingale rather than a standing too so he doesn't throw his head up anymore! It's just the bit thats the problem

 

[Wheels]

Have you actually tried him in a snaffle? If so which one and how did he go?

I would have a play with different mouthpieces to see what he prefers

 

[JazFisher]

Have you actually tried him in a snaffle? If so which one and how did he go?

I would have a play with different mouthpieces to see what he prefers

When I bought him (3months ago) he was in a snaffle but completely uncontrollable - not dangerous - I would just have no brakes! We'd canter round the school 10 times til he decided to stop and I couldn't do anything about it. Schooling has made him a lot better and I am going to carry on with it, I just don't know much about bits and don't want to waste a load of money trying different ones out.

 

[ThePony]

When I bought him (3months ago) he was in a snaffle but completely uncontrollable - not dangerous - I would just have no brakes! We'd canter round the school 10 times til he decided to stop and I couldn't do anything about it. Schooling has made him a lot better and I am going to carry on with it, I just don't know much about bits and don't want to waste a load of money trying different ones out.

single or double joint?

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

My horse is very strong and we've managed to get him from 2nd or 3rd ring(depends on his mood) in a waterford gag doing jumping to a waterford training snaffle for flatwork and showing! I'd suggest trying him in a snaffle and see how you get on as you might be suprised i certinly was with my boy

 

[JazFisher]

Single jointed I think :/

 

[ThePony]

Single jointed I think :/

in which case I would def try a double joint with a lozenge, alot of horses don't get on with a single joint because it doesn't suit the mouth shape and can jab into the roof of their mouth.

If your horse doesn't have any bit in, and you gently part his lips, does his tongue bulge through the gap between his front and back teeth? If so then he probably has a rather large tongue and might get on better with a lozenge with shaped sides to allow the tongue space without squashing.

For a 'regular' size tongue I'd go with something like this http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/...Snaffle_copper_french_link_bradoon-(783).aspx

or

http://cotswoldsport.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_66&products_id=240

for a large tongue then these are absolutely ace http://cotswoldsport.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_66&products_id=467

 

[Hedwards]

You could consider a jointed (single or double/french link type) hanging cheek, to give you the poll pressure, but still be dressage legal.

 

[JazFisher]

Thanks for all your help, I will have a look.


Bit of a long shot but is there any where that you can borrow bits to try them out with out forking out for each one?

 

[ThePony]

Thanks for all your help, I will have a look.


Bit of a long shot but is there any where that you can borrow bits to try them out with out forking out for each one?

have used these guys before and had good service http://www.thehorsebitshop.co.uk/

 

[JazFisher]

Will give them a go thanks

 

[ThePony]

Will give them a go thanks

just a thought, but what size are you after? Lots come up on ebay that are even cheaper than hiring one, and you can always put it back on if it doesn't suit. but tbh a huge amount of horses go well in a french link lozenge.

 

[ThePony]

4.5 inches:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-5-coppe...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item3f1849fa81

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-5-loose...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item3f1849f985

5 inches:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/O-ring-sn...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item35bd0f7782

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Breaking-...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item27c7b80ea5

5.5 inches:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-5-loose...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item2a1e7b317a

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sweet-iro...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item337719e853

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cyprium-l...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item337719ee56

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Loose-rin...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item337719f580

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sweet-Iro...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item2c65e4b21c

6 inches:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Half-Moon...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item3376fc22d7

hth