Noseband change for strong pony?

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riding_to_the_stars

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I have a 4y/o who has been broken in for almost a year now, we've recently started doing faster hacks with other horses and she has started bolting when she is excited or if we start cantering and the others get too far ahead. I've tried most things to prevent her from bolting with no tack change (trotting lots before faster work, cantering in different places, uphill, at the back, at the front, you get the jist...) but she is super strong and it takes me a while to regain control. i definitely don't want to change to a harsher bit, at the moment she is in a french link loose ring snaffle and has been since day one, but i'm considering changing to a flash or drop noseband (as she sticks hee tongue over the bit when she bolts). I'm not well educated on nosebands so i'd love some advice on which may be suitable for the pony! Thanks.
 
Your pony needs to go back a step and learn how to canter without tanking off, she is not bolting she is running away/ tanking off most probably because she has not learnt that she should go at the pace the rider wants, you have started to hold her back and she has become stronger and frustrated, possibly also confused, so takes control of the situation and charges off ignoring your attempts to stop her.

If you want to avoid harsher bits and totally ruining your pony then you need to stop going on fast hacks until you have gained proper control or you will eventually have to use stronger bits to have any control and you both may well end up injured if she really bolts and will not stop until she hits something.
A change of noseband will only reduce the possibility of her getting her tongue over the bit but it will not teach her not to try or to learn to settle in company only correct schooling and education will do that, at 5 she is still young enough to learn how to behave in company but it is down to you to start teaching her, it is so important that it is done correctly otherwise she will be yet another young horse that has limited options of a useful future.
 
I would put your bit up a hole as she really shouldn't be able to get her tongue over the bit, if it is fitted properly. Personally, I prefer to find a bit the horse is comfortable with and goes well in, rather than strapping the mouth shut, which ime, causes more problems in the long run.
Incidentally, you are doing your horse a disservice by saying she is bolting when in fact, she is just running away/carting you
 
Then you need to hack with one sensible person who will help you by staying with you, being ready to pull up or even get in front and block her if she starts tanking, the problem with going out in a group is that it can be hard to dictate the pace and give you a chance to educate a youngster, if you can find one really good hacking buddy it can make a huge difference, ideally your pony needs to find going out in company no more exciting than being alone, it is easier to say than do, once they have learnt to tank off it may mean no cantering in company for some time to stop it becoming any more of an issue.
 
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