Need some advice on schooling/biting

i won't laugh - i'll bring my camera though. i have to say that 99% of hte time i have been there it's p*ssed with rain! and it's an outdoor warm up!!

well, if you are comign to MW to watch me next w/end, why don't you stay over hten, and we'll do something, rather than you coming the w/end after - just htinking logistics and money really? up to you though.
 
Sounds like a better plan!!

I have just emailed you about it
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when I first got my extremely green horse (aged 7 and left in a field for most of this time) he was a nightmare, tanking off, hanging off my hand, always on the forehand, awkward to steer and therefore a snaffle was not a lot of use. After a few months I switched to a kimblewick and hey presto, he was suddenly controllable. Having said that I found it too "sharp" and could tell he was not completely comfortable so I stuck with it for a couple of months and then once his schooling had improved and he'd learnt to take his weight back and was balanced, I went back to a snaffle and he was perfect in it.

So the moral of my story was that whilst I felt I needed a stronger bit at first, it was only because he wasn't balanced and schooled. You could take a step up to something slightly stronger for a little while but I think most good instructors would want you to school the horse on more in the snaffle as I'm pretty sure you'll have plenty of control in one once you've schooled her on a bit more.

On a young or green horse, a stronger bit is sometimes a way of cutting corners to get results which effective schooling in a snaffle and time would bring more slowly...
 
i find it quite amazing that you think that a pelam could be suitable for a young horse! your problems are due to the fact that your horse is young and weak. form the pic you need to encourage the mare to stay more forward to the hand so tha t she stays there because of the balance on the hind leg .Rushing the fences is a symptom of a poor canter that needs more engagement so she can stay in balance.She is quite croup high and that makes this 'ask' a big one. and also gives some clues as to why your lovely horse is struggling with this.this aim to be able to 'sit' in the canter takes strength and that in a young horse=time .your description of halt to canter is a horse hiding behind the bridle she has a young soft mouth and her defence when she suffers a loss of balance is to run or nap because the option is running against a severe bit.Remember a horse knows how to be a horse we dont always know how to be riders! go back to basics and get help from your instructor.oh and until you have a horse that works correctly from the hindleg to an accepting hand forget the changes. sorry to sound negative but you obviously have a lovely horse and time spent now will pay off in the future. Hanging cheek snaffles are good and they also come with a french link Neue schule are exellent bit company who offer exellent advise info@nsbits.com is the first place to try. good luck
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