Recommend me a bit?

[ellie11987]

I'm currently re-schooling my 6yo tb, hoping to do some unaffiliated dressage next season. She came in a loose ring eggbut snaffle but since her schooling stepped up, she's become very strong and quite likes to grab the bit and tank off. She is also very heavy on the forehand and leans on my hands, particularly the left. I can't collect her in canter either, she is very unbalanced and shoots off and its stopping or nothing at the moment. She doesn't seem to agree with the bit and is never soft or relaxed in her mouth. I tried riding her in a french link last and even though she was softer, she didn't seem to take to the bit and wasn't working properly at all, very above the bit, it felt like i had no contact.

What bit should we try next? Thanks in advance

 

[ImmyS]

It may just be a case of trial and error? Or if she resents the bit then maybe try bitless, I ride my ex racer bitless purely because if she gets agitated at all the bit seems to amplify her tantrums 10x and she seemed to get blocked by the bit. I've found in the past that if you work a horse for a period bitless (providing it works well for the horse) then you can often transition back to the bit and the horse is a lot more accepting.

Have you had teeth/back etc., checked to make sure it's not pain related?

 

[ellie11987]

It may just be a case of trial and error? Or if she resents the bit then maybe try bitless, I ride my ex racer bitless purely because if she gets agitated at all the bit seems to amplify her tantrums 10x and she seemed to get blocked by the bit. I've found in the past that if you work a horse for a period bitless (providing it works well for the horse) then you can often transition back to the bit and the horse is a lot more accepting.

Have you had teeth/back etc., checked to make sure it's not pain related?

I was considering the 30day trial on the dr.cooks bitless bridle. The same goes with mine, when she gets agitated she grabs the bit and just makes it 10x worse. Here teeth were done a few months ago so I don't think its that but back is my next port of call. Saddle fits but I get it checked every 6 months anyway. I think I'll have to go with trial and error and try a few bits, I'll ask my RI to let me try some of his, his car is like a tack shop

 

[Izzwizz]

My gelding used to be like this. My Trainer suggested trying him in the loose ring Waterford and we never looked back. Although not dressage legal it has been a good tool to get him off my hands and off his forehand. Some people would call it a harsh bit but any bit is in the wrong hands imo. He goes really well in it and it is used daily for whatever we are doing. We only change to a legal bit if we go off to compete.

 

[ellie11987]

My gelding used to be like this. My Trainer suggested trying him in the loose ring Waterford and we never looked back. Although not dressage legal it has been a good tool to get him off my hands and off his forehand. Some people would call it a harsh bit but any bit is in the wrong hands imo. He goes really well in it and it is used daily for whatever we are doing. We only change to a legal bit if we go off to compete.

I do like the idea of a waterford, have been debating for a while. I think I'm going to have to try her in a few. I've been reccomended everything from a french link to a double, bitless, rugby pelhams, normal pelhams, waterfords, gags, everything. The waterford will have to be tested I think

 

[FreddiesGal]

Why anyone would suggest a Pelham is beyond me if you want to get her off the forehand. Have you tried a single jointed D-ring snaffle? There is less vibration in the mouth but the mouth piece is a step up from a French link.

 

[Missmac]

Try switching to a loose ring snaffle first.
My tb tended to grab the bit and get 'heavy' when i rode him in a full cheek french link. Then one lesson i tried a loose ring neue schule with a losenge and it was like riding a different horse!

 

[Missmac]

Sorry, didnt see the loose ring bit, just the eggbut!!

 

[maccachic]

Mine is happy in a level 1 myler he has a small mouth so the thick bits didn't fit properly.

 

[Izzwizz]

I do like the idea of a waterford, have been debating for a while. I think I'm going to have to try her in a few. I've been reccomended everything from a french link to a double, bitless, rugby pelhams, normal pelhams, waterfords, gags, everything. The waterford will have to be tested I think

If you can borrow one then give it a go without spending, though mine wasnt expensive. Make sure you get one a bit bigger than your normal size as thats how they are meant to fit. My horse seems to love his, is very wet in his mouth and is now very light. We have never had a problem with this bit. With his lozenge snaffle he used to grab it and hold on, you could see the marks on the bit but some of that may also be due to the fact he had various different riders before I got him! We just had to break the habit....

 

[Lotty]

I do like the idea of a waterford, have been debating for a while. I think I'm going to have to try her in a few. I've been reccomended everything from a french link to a double, bitless, rugby pelhams, normal pelhams, waterfords, gags, everything. The waterford will have to be tested I think

I do dressage and when schooling my mare had a tendency to lean. Also my daughter started jumping her and she would get so excited and tank that I tried the NS loose ring Waterford from the Horse Bit Shop, she went so well in it I ended up buying it. I have just recently bought the NS Verbindend (dressage legal) and she's doing really well in this. So depending on what we are doing I swap the bits around.