Dressage Tack

[dianchi]

OK i have a problem that im looking for extra advice on.
I have a TB mare that i compete at dressage (prelim/novice). I have been riding her in a flash noseband but have found that this made her tense so went back to basics of loose caverson. All was well at home, went to competition on saturday and she went round with her mouth open.
BUT...... she is sensitive about her nose and doesnt like a drop noseband. If a bit scepital about riding in a loose caverson and flash as i dont want to inhibite her breathing.

So im open to any ideas or suggestions that people might have, im going out again in two weeks and in April have Regional unafilliated championship so all help appreciated!!!!

 

[KatB]

Hmm, what bit is she in? I'd be inclined to think why she opens her mouth in the first place....

 

[Tempi]

why do you think a flash and cavesson will inhibit her breathing? if fitted correctly no tack should inhibt breathing!! if it does it means you have the noseband too low.

 

[dianchi]

She is in a loose ring french link copper bit.
I dont have my noseband too low, its jsut that if it is loose i was worried that by having a flash it may pull it down.

she has always had a tendancy to get tense so mainly i work on that getting her to relax and work consitancely.

 

[RachelB]

But if the cavesson is loose it will allow the flash to pull the front of the cavesson down and will then potentially inhibit breathing. I've seen it all to often at PC rallies, poor ponies with loose cavessons and way too tight flashes!
As KatB says, I would wonder why the horse opens its mouth in the first place. What bit do you use? I find I ride heavier in the hand when I'm at competitions due to nerves, which actually helps my horse as I'm far less wishy-washy in the contact and she becomes much more consistent (handy really!). However this could easily upset a different horse.

 

[Judie]

Hi Dianchi, what bit have you got her in? Have you tried any others?

A horse with it's mouth open is not fully submissive through the body or termed 'accepting the bridle', which you may get on your test sheets, this can't really be 'fixed' as such, it will come down to her continuing training, I accept the flash isn't liked by everyone - I indeed don't care for it but use one for the same reason as stated above, although it's getting much better as we progress - but I think you will need to carry on using it until such a point you can ride your test without it.

With regard to riding her in a flash, this has no interferance with her breathing, thankfully as most horses would have passed out by now

 

[dianchi]

OK just to clear this up-
I was worried about her flash as i have been riding with her caverson loose to help her relax. So putting a flash on would pull this down. I am fully aware of how to correctly fit tack and how it works.

I have tried her in numerous bits, and found her to settle best in the current bit. I have on occasions changed to a drop snaffle when she has been a little strong but she knows she can evade by dropping behind it and as soon as you put more leg on pops her head up.

I should add that she is a chestnut mare! and knows all the tricks in the book!

Just was trying to see if other people had similar problems and how they solved them.

 

[Judie]

[ QUOTE ]
I am fully aware of how to correctly fit tack and how it works

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry I wasn't suggesting you didn't, I didn't mean to offend

[ QUOTE ]
Just was trying to see if other people had similar problems and how they solved them

[/ QUOTE ]

I was just trying to explain I do have a similar problem and it's getting better with progressive training and not to worry about it too much.

 

[dianchi]

My biggest problem is we as we have stepped up a level of training (now working at higher end of Novice/Elementary)
our basics are now suffering.

Plus it doesnt help she is fit as a fiddle (even with a mid winter two week holiday) and it takes an hour to work her in!
So we are going down the consistant training route just frustrating when before Xmas was gitting 65% plus! Now back down to 58%!!!!!

But all suggestions welcomed!

 

[Partoow]

Tog was right when she suggested that you are seeing a symptom of 'acceptance of the bridle' its not your nose band that is the problem or your bit its actually a training issue which is why you are seeing the problem as you move up a level. Dont see the symptom as the cause...'What you see/feel in your hand is a symptom of whats not happening in the hind leg.' In simple terms she is opening the mouth to avoid the increasd demands on her balance. I'm sorry but regardless of colour , gender horses dont stand in the box or field thinking of ways to pi** you off. They simply dont work like that. Your nose band needa to fit so that is not hanging off and the flash so that if she 'gapes' then she creates a pressure that when she shuts her mouth there is no pressure. I'm sure you know how to fit tack so dont get offended you asked for help but it seems do not want to see that the issue is about training not fiddling with the bit, too many people do this and dont see the training issue.
As for fitness she should be enough between the leg and hand that energy is 'dirrected' so this gives more clues that it is back to basics in terms of what the connection to the contact is and the roll of your leg and her self carriage.
When you have horses at advanced lavel dressage the fitness required to perform at that level dictates that you cant have a tired horse going down the center line when you have an 8 min test ahead , what changes is the ability to dirrect that energy and thats part of the 'scales of training'. Mares can be 'funny' with leg acceptance, especially if they are strong or Alpha mares. Like many ladies they dont take kindly to being told. This attitude can then lead to submission problems.
I wish you luck. Think about your connection and the acceptance of the 'ask' and i'm sure you will progress again.