reschooling a 9year old from tom thumb into a snaffle...?

[Brimmers]

Hello! just to introduce myself my names Rach, im twenty and im a student. i recently bought a 16.1, 9 year old, oldenburg x trakehner after having him on a months loan.
Hes absolutely lovely, really chilled, such a loving horse. however, hes had a bit of a rough life, was boarderline neglected til he was 4, and has then moved around a bit. the person who had him before me had him a grand total of 2 and a half months because she "didnt get on with him"... absolute rubbish in my opinion you cant fail to like this horse.
Anyway, he came to me underweight and with VERY little muscle like this

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so have done lots of hill work and basic stuff to just get him stronger in himself and really simple things like that, i treat him just like a youngster as he is THAT green. anyway here he is 4 months down the line

but my real question is about schooling him. his old owner used to have him in a tom thumb (not the worlds nicest bit) and ive seen him in pictures being ridden in a 3ring gag. now hes not strong in the slightest, he can get heavy on his forehand but hes slowly getting better. he does get very tense sometimes, especially after canter, the picture is quite extreme but just showing what i mean =)

have asked experienced people at my yard what might help they either suggested draw reins or a stronger bit... both of which i am VERY reluctent to do as it wont solve the under lying problem. have started lunging him in a chambon which seems to be working but need exercises on how to get him to chill out when im on him?
thank you for reading this far! apologies for the essay!

 

[nannubu]

Hi - think you're totally taking the right perspective with this i.e. loads of schooling, treating him like a youngster and starting from scratch. I had similar problem with my 6 yr old. Only ever been ridden in gag, didn't understand aids without poll pressure. Used a small ring wilkie as transition bit (slight poll pressure), lots of schooling to lighten forehand (transitions, lateral work to get hind legs properly underneath etc) and now we're in a loose ring, sweet iron bradoon snaffle with a copper lozenge. He likes mobility of loose ring (less to lean on) and iron and copper encourage acceptance, softness, mouthing etc. Let me know how you get on - always nice to hear someone else's story!

 

[treacle_beastie]

I would use a hanging cheek snaffle to start with and then as his schooling progresses switch to a lozenge snaffle

 

[nikCscott]

Your chap sounds just like mine- Z was 8 and was more like a 4yo through lack of work, he had only been ridden in draw reins though and had a horrid neck placement and contact. Like you, I did loads of hill work and changed him to a happy mouth snaffle as not strong at all. S

Sounds like your doing a great job - if he was mine I'd try a Wilkie (happymouth if he's as soft mouthed as you say) that what he has a little poll pressure to reassure him and as he improved you can just put the rein on the back.

PS I couldn't see the pictures

 

[Brimmers]

oh ok guys so moving him back up into a wilkie bit and then back down to his snaffle again after hes better in that one? that makes sense, it is quite a leap from a tom thumb to a snaffle =) thank you!

oh ermmm... i dont no why that would be i think ive done it right =/, has anyone else got this problem?