Help bit advice needed :(

[Beatrice5]

Okay she is in a nathe straight snaffle as she is just riding away after being backed then having a break for her suprise foal. Came back into work as foal weaned in Spring. Hacked as much as possible and built up to an hour and a half 5 times a week before summer hols and had just started short canters such fun

So now we need a little more refinement as she has learnt to pop head in the air and jig jog when she gets excited and fresh. I try to bend her one side then other but she just sticks her nose out and says "nope"

So which bit next? I don't have any major issues but feel she has outgrown the baby nathe bit but am afraid of over doing it.

She is half Arab half cob so has a thick tounge (sp) and a low roof but a narrow mouth so is only in a 5 inch straight bar so guidance for a jointed needed too Do you go down in size for a jointed?

Was thinking lozenge but they can be quite thick.....?

Advice greatly appreciated there is far too much choice

 

[SS.89]

I use a full cheek peanut jointed happy mouth (that was a mouthful!) with my youngster. I did use to use a copper coated one but he got a but snatchy with his head so I swapped it as it seems to work much better!

I use the full cheek to help with steering as he's an ex racer and has no idea about contact and which way to turn etc etc ...

What your saying about throwing her head in the air is exactly what I went through however with the help of my instructor we've virtually eradicated the problem (still does it a bit in trot but we're getting there).

When on a circle I need to keep my outside rein as still as possible maintaining the contact to keep him straight. With my inside rein instead of slightly turning say to the right I will exaggerate the turn so he actually bends his head. Even though he didn't quite grasp it at first and went on quite a small circle, after about half an hour as he started to bend round my inside leg he was able to walk on a larger circle with his head bent slightly inwards.

As he bent round I rewarded him by loosening the contact (not completely but just so he relaxed more). Ive been doing this 2 weeks with him now and I no longer need to exaggerate the bend or need to use as much leg to keep him moving forwards.

Its frustrating at first as i'm one of these people to expect change overnight but its worth it in the end perserverance and patience pay off.

SS x