Dressage Legal Bit For Strong Horse?

[GaitedDressage]

Hey everyone.


So I've been riding a Tennessee Walker under gaited dressage for around a year. I have had mild issues before with controlling him in the Tom Thumb that his owner bought, after he took off with someone riding him. Lately though, when I'm practicing gaiting him at a flat or running walk, all he's been wanting to do is take off from under me! I have no issues solving this, so I don't really need much advice there, but I do need some help for my bit.

I am going to be investing in new tack of my own for when I am mounted; so I've come seeking advice here, on what bit is legal in gaited/all around dressage. Seeing as it's only an issue at a gait faster than a normal walk, his owner can continue to use the tom thumb and be unaffected by his little issue; she only walks him, and also rides in a western attire. I have a dressage bridle that we both use, but that's the only one we have on him as of the moment. Different saddles. I've rode him western before too, no difference in him being strong.

I have tried a dee-ring plain snaffle on him; that was a nightmare to say the lease. Never tried anything else yet, so any opinions on what to try that is legal in dressage shows? This would be a major help to me, and I'm sure others too who have this issue.



I was honestly thinking about trying a Dutch Gag or a Kimberwicke. Please inform me of some types though. Thank you all

^He's so cute I couldn't help but post some pictures

 

[Red-1]

Not what you want to hear, but I would go back to helping him be soft to listen to the halter from the floor. then the bit from the floor. Then the bit at halt, then a back up, then at walk.

Usually when someone thinks they need a stronger bit the horse is not soft from the floor or at halt, so when moving too the energy runs over.

Once good from the floor and at walk then use the leg to steady the horse by ensuring the leg means engagement rather than "go".

IME a stronger bit causes other issues. Lessons with a good trainer would help you learn to engage the horse so he stays soft in the hand.

Neither of the bits you mention would be dressage legal.

Your horse looks lovely!

 

[Tern]

No clue about USA rules as i assume you aren't from the UK.

But, in British Dressage, snaffle wise the strongest you can wear is a hanging cheek or a rotating middle piece. Nothing compared to a tomb thumb.

Had a look and it seems to be the same rules exactly for you bitting wise.

 

[GaitedDressage]

Not what you want to hear, but I would go back to helping him be soft to listen to the halter from the floor. then the bit from the floor. Then the bit at halt, then a back up, then at walk.

Usually when someone thinks they need a stronger bit the horse is not soft from the floor or at halt, so when moving too the energy runs over.

Once good from the floor and at walk then use the leg to steady the horse by ensuring the leg means engagement rather than "go".

IME a stronger bit causes other issues. Lessons with a good trainer would help you learn to engage the horse so he stays soft in the hand.

Neither of the bits you mention would be dressage legal.

Your horse looks lovely!

Thank you for the help, any input is appreciated! I'm actually going to be lunging him on a regular basis for the next couple months, so I'll probably have the time to work through the whole ground practice. His old owner let him get away with murder, as does the lady I lease him from now! So maybe I'll be able to switch to a softer bit instead, I'll have to see what can be done! Thank you!

 

[Llee94]

My mare can get a little excited and strong in her dressage tests. She was fine on the ground and riding normally so I decided to swap her to something different. I couldn't always hold her in a normal bridle and so swapped to a Micklem bridle. I use it with a neue schule verbindend and it is like riding a completely different horse. She is so soft in it, easy to move forward and bring back and more importantly she is much happier and calmer in her work. Both of them are dressage legal in the UK but not sure about US.
Like Red-1 has said, it is better to address the problem properly on the ground rather than just putting a stronger bit in as you could end up running out of options later down the line if he continues to just get stronger.
He is a very handsome boy. Good luck with him!