Hmm, which bit? What should I do?

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WishfulThinker

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As it is winter Beau is in his element as its not sunny so he has more 'ping' to him. As he is a good doer he doesnt get fed loads, just enough to give him energy for what we do.

I personally now like the ping in him, and he has been MORE focused and enjoying his work, BUT he is still strong - I don't think this will ever change that mush for a downhill nearly 12yr old Shire X! He was in a loose ring snaffle, but due to my sharers old shoulder injury she wanted him in something with more control, so I said she could use his 3ring snaffle - I was not happy for her to use anything stronger as she fixes her hands a bit. He goes well in it, and is quite light, but he REALLY overbends - which is one of the reasons I took him out of it. He overbends in a snaffle anyways, the 3 ring just egsagerates it and so I am not overly keen on him being ridden it it all the time. Plus it is not legal for dressage (which we hope to do with him).

So I got him a Hanging cheek french link snaffle and he went soooo well in it the other night, and although he was sharper with his transitions (and we even got counter canter and I have figured out how to ask for and get a perticular canter lead - only took me 12 years!!) and turns, he was still not the keenest to stop from canter.

My instructor keeps saying that its my horse my rules, so if I don't feel happy with him in the 3 ring to say so, but then I don't want to lose my sharer as Beau likes her and despite the fixed hands she can ride well, if a little nervous.

Would it be ok for us to change the bit around a lot? Bearing in mind that it is usually me then her day about with no more than 2 days each at one time. Or should she just learn to stop him in the hanging cheek?

Opinions please!
 
I can't see any reason why you can't keep swapping the bit around - if he is happy in both then why not if it keeps the sharer happy.

I use a loose ring french link, a hanging cheek french link and double bridle on one mare and swap from a snaffle to a gag for the other mare, depending on whose riding her.
 
When I'm schooling on the flat and hacking I swap both horses between a loose ring french link (thin mouthpiece), a jointed loose ring (thin mouthpiece) and a jointed eggbutt and it hasn't done them any harm.
 
It will be fine, I swap bits on my mare depending on how she is going, who's riding and what we are doing e.g. hacking, jumping or schooling.

If your sharer is nervous as she does think she will be able to stop in a HC, she is likely to hang onto his mouth even more!!! Which kind of defeats the object of using a lighter bit........remember at the end of the day bits are only as mild/severe as the hands on the end of the reins.
 
i wouldnt worry 2 much about about swapping bits. buster competes in a tom thumb, hacks in a kimblewick (hes very strong in this but if i hack in the tom thumb he learns to hang on it!
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) and then he is schooled in a hanging cheek!
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