Is a loose ring snaffle better for unsteady hands?

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hannabanana

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Im having a total bit confusion moment. My horse bobs his head when excited, so my hands will bob, which then makes him more excited as he has a sensitive mouth, no matter how hard I try I cant keep my hands still when hes having his 'moments'. I currently ride in an eggbutt snaffle, but I read on the internet that a loose ring is good for unsteady hands because the rings move instead of the horse mistaking the movement for a command. Your thoughts before I buy one?
 
My mare goes through a couple of months head shaking at spring time. I don't change the bit I use, but I do put a balance strap on the front of my saddle. When she shakes I just keep a soft contact with the reins and tuck my thumbs behind the balance strap. Without it when she yanks on the reins as much as I try I can't stop my hands coming back to me as a reaction to being pulled out! That only makes her more unsettled. With the balance strap she settles very quickly and shakes for much shorter periods of time. Lots of places sell them http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ba...PNG6jAfU2fHgDA&ved=0CA4QpwU&cts=1280913849430 or you can just tread a flash strap through the d rings on the front of your saddle. I didn't notice a difference with a different cheek piece. I used to ride her in a loose ring verbind, now she is in a hanging cheek with the same cheekpiece as she has a large and very sensitive tongue, the hanging cheek removes some of the tongue pressure and so suits her very well.
 
Why dont you just give her her head more? You dont always have to ride her on a short rein. Maybe allow her a bit of head room, and work on circles to keep her focusing on you so she doesnt decide to leave.
I think too many people assume that they always have to ride with a contact, but i think that horses like to be able move there heads freely, at least part of the time.
Also, if she gets excited and you shorten the contact, this may make her head bob more. Maybe if you released her she wouldnt feel the need to shake her head so much. Might be worth a try.
 
I do ride on a loose contact jennyharvey, never on a short rein. Hes fine for schooling doing circles, transitions, figures of 8 etc. But when he does get excited the head bobbing starts. When he does get excited I shorten a little because he wants to rush everywhere and gallop (not good when you want to do some smooth/collected flatwork). He was a huntshorse for a quite a while before I bought him and it was always go go go (especially when a jump is in sight), and schooling him has took some time.
 
I don't feel 'unconnected' (iyswim) when I use the balance strap as I am still using my reins normally, just putting my thumbs behind. I feel like I am much more in touch using a balance strap than if I use a neck strap.
More rein may work, but didn't for my girl. Believe me I have tried everything!! When she is headshaking, she isn't on a loose rein but neither is she ridden up into a contact either - just a soft connection there and leg on so that we keep up a nice walk forwards.
 
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My daughter's mare can be head shakey, hot and hollow and reluctant to pick up a contact, and my daughter knows her hands are a weakness in her riding that she's constantly working on. She changed from an eggbutt snaffle to this bit and started to use a neck strap again and the horse does seem happier, but around the same time some other things changed too so it may just have formed one part of the solution (which I pray is permanent)
 
I considered bitless, but I was advised not too, not on him anyway, its hard to describe what he is like on here, hes the kind of horse that everyone seems to underestimate him until they get on him.
 
I like the look of the flexi reins, thanks posie honey, Do you use them often? The seem to be what I need, for unsteady hands, sensitive mouth and for horses that rush jumps. :)
 
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