Neue Schule Tranz Angled/Verbindend or other bit for a horse who leans?

[jesterfaerie]

Hi folks, my chap is currently ridden in a KK Ultra Loose Ring Sprenger Snaffle. He isn't strong but tends to lean and fixes on his left hand side. All the regular checks have been made and are all fine. My instructor has given me some excellent tips which do help. I am toying with perhaps a Neue Schule Tranz Angled Lozenge Loose Ring as it is very similar to the KK Ultra or the Verbindend as he is heavy on the forehand (he is built downhill). Any (other) suggestions???

My instructor can ride him in anything but she is much stronger than me through her 'core'. Comes from riding up to 6 horses a day! I have spoken to my instructor who has said that a NS bit would be a good move but that I shouldn't go for a much thinner mouth piece (KK is a 16mm). However I believe he has quite a fleshy mouth and large tongue. If I lift up his upper lip his tongue sits out of the gap where the bit sits so I am thinking a thinner mouth piece would be more comfortable (Verbindend is 12mm, Tranz Angled is 14mm or 16mm I believe).

The NS offices are shut until the new year so unable to ring them for advice. Can anyone offer me their experiences and recommend me a bit to help the leaning and going on to the forehand. Thanks!

 

[Cortez]

What type of horse is he? Could he be a cob by any chance?

 

[jesterfaerie]

No he is a Thoroughbred.

 

[Cortez]

OK, that makes it easier (in one way). I am using the NS verbindert at the minute on a super-sensitive Spanish horse with a ruined mouth because he will not take any contact at all - it is doing a good job with getting him to trust the hand again, so in effect I am using this bit to do the opposite job to the one you are wanting. The mouthpiece is very thin compared to most snaffles, and all my instincts were against it working - but it has! I don't know if it will do your job, you'll just have to try it to see, but I know that the theory behind the 3-piece mouthpiece and bent "corners" is sound.

 

[jesterfaerie]

Brilliant thank you.

 

[Izzwizz]

You may not like this suggestion but my gelding did this when I first had him and my Trainer advised me to try him in a loose ring Waterford. It has worked wonders and he goes beautifully in it. He used to lean/hang onto the bit he had before on his right side and it showed with his teeth too. Downside is its not Dressage legal but we are graduating him onto a loose ring french link and will see how he progresses in that for competition.