Should I change his bit?

[Seahorse]

Axel is becoming a bit 'leany' out hacking mostly in trot and canter and a few times I've had trouble stopping him. he's in a french link loose ring and a flash noseband (not tight) My friend said he had his mouth wide open the other day!

Would a Waterford snaffle help, and should I tighten up the flash?

Thanks
Sam x

 

[helenandshadow]

Yep i think a waterford would help if he is leaning.

 

[Seahorse]

thanks will try it then! Have borrowed one off YO, but someone else said they were no good

Sam x

 

[Molineux]

Yes try the WF, if you tighten up the flash, that may make it worse, as my horse to lean like anything in canter.

My trainer told me to take it off him **SHOCK!** - Wolfe used to go round with his mouth wide open tounge hanging out and no breaks!

However I took the flash off in which he went a lot softer in the mouth and no leaning, he had more room to move around, I also used the Myler Snaffle which helped too.

Try and take the flash off and use a different bit and ride him forward into the hands and you may see a difference

 

[Seahorse]

thanks, I will try taking the flash off, but have been advised to tighten it up even more?

Axey never leans in the school, he's very light in the hands and forward, but out hacking he just leans on me sometimes, often pulling me out of the saddle. I just want something to bring his head up a bit! He often has his mouth wide open and is a bit tanky too

I've had a few hairy moments while cantering......

 

[Irishcobs]

Hattie would lean and I had trouble stopping her till I put her in a WF. Fab, she can't lean now and I have no probs with her. Plus she loves it.

 

[Seahorse]

What noseband are you using with it?

 

[Molineux]

In that case I would try a Grackle that may help, then he can not really lean on you.

The more you bit your horse the more he is going to lean - if that makes sense

!!

KK bits are quite good that gets there head up - dont go down the gag route as that just will make him worse and make him lean and pull his head in and down.

Try the Grackle that should help.x

 

[Seahorse]

Thanks, I have a grackle knocking about somewhere!
So keep him in the french link then? I would love to get a KK bit but finances wont quite stretch to £70 for a bit just at the moment, although the local tack shop hire them

 

[Irishcobs]

Flash as she goes around with her mouth open otherwise. I have found with her rugby pelham which she shows in, if you lower the caverson a few holes it helps to keep the mouth closed so a flash isn't needed.

 

[vicm2509]

When I bought my horse last April he came in an eggbutt snaffle and a grackle noseband. And he used to lean badly especially in canter. I took off the crackle and put on a flash instead. Made no difference he kept trying to fight the bit (so I thought) and open his mouth. My instructor also advised I tighten the flash even more.

Anyway against her advice I took it off completely one day and he seemed to work better although he still leaned a little (but significantly less) he no longer tried to open his mouth and swing his jaw, so obviously he didnt like his mouth being strapped shut.

Then I swapped his bit and he settled nicely in a sweet iron loose ring with copper peanut. (I did try a few other bits like a hanging cheek but I found the stonger the bit the more he leaned on me, also he didnt like single jointed bits)

It took a few weeks for him to realise that he only had a plain noseband but now he does not lean at all, nor does he open his mouth. He really salivated in the new bit which I have now managed to swap to a hollow mouth french link loose ring and he is going so well.

Just a thought but maybe you could take flash off? Try riding for a few weeks without it and maybe try a sweet iron or copper bit? Obviously every horse is different but it could be worth a try before you go down the stronger bit route?

Oh and I also like to carry a schooling whip, if he ever leans even a little I give him a tiny tap just to re engage those quarters and it works well.

 

[Seahorse]

Good idea, will have a play about and see what he does

He is in a sweet iron french link at the moment and this seems to be the only bit he likes. But the other day he just opened his mouth wide and leant on me, and just pissed off in trot as we were coming back from a hack, walking down the road.
Naughty pony!

 

[GatefieldHorses]

Havce u had teeth checked?

 

[Seahorse]

They were checked in march by the EDT and a month later by a vet.
Will give the EDT a ring and get him out I think, didn't realise it had been so long....
Thanks for reminding me

Sam x