sorry help with bits again!

[serena2005]

im thinking about trying out a new bit but not sure what to go for.

i have a 6yr old TBX who is very green (which makes me want to stick with his eggbut snaffle) however, we hack out with a 16.1 x racer whos stride is enormous so im always pushing to keep up, so when we dont go out with him i cant stop...

went out with our cob the other day and decided to have a steady trot, but he pulled and pulled i was half halting and he would just flig him head in the air, if he did slow down i gave him a little more rein to try and get him to relax but he just speeded up.

he has a very soft mouth but being green when he tries to work in an outline he over bends and leans on the bit twisting his head sideways and opening his mouth.

physio has advised i stick to it for a while and if he improves in the school but not out on a hack to consider trying another bit....

not sure what to do...

 

[rrose]

lots of people are recommending the myler snaffle. but they are extremely expensive. i would stick to the eggbutt. does he have a flash?

 

[Sal_E]

Serena, it sounds as if you are dealing with it very sensibly. Are you finding him phsyically too strong, or does he just feel 'disobendient'? My guess is that a stronger bit may not help - if he feels he can't go forwards he is MORE likely to throw his head up, twist his head or go over-bent, all the things you already have a bit of a problem with.

Firstly, it sounds as if he's ok in the school, so don't change anything there (that said, it may be worth trying a loose ring snaffle rather than an eggbutt).

Out hacking - firstly, I think you need to slow it down a bit - can you ask your friend to take it a bit easy? If he gets used to fast rides, you'll end up with problems regardless of the bit. Can you try going out in front so that YOU set the pace?

You could try keeping the same bit but use a flash if he's opening his mouth or a running martingale if he's raising his head - neither of these should make the over-bent problem any worse (but a stronger bit quite likely will...). Regardless of tack, I do think your solution will be more discipline out hacking, i.e. not making him think it's so exciting.

Obvious stuff, but do be sure his teeth etc are ok, although this does sound more like a youngster/schooling thing from what you've said...

 

[serena2005]

not sure what that snaffle is.. i will look into it though, thanks!

 

[serena2005]

i do find him physyically too strong out on a hack but it is also disobedence, i know he can walk out when he can be bothered to put the effort in, but somedays he just tries jogging instead of using his hind quarters.

its when i go to pull him up, either when hes jogging or in trot his head comes up, but its only out on a hack, sometimes in the school when we first go in to warm up he tries and jogs but usually stops doing it after about 10 mins.

i will ask her to slow up a bit when she goes out with me, unable to go in front as he naps and ends up rearing and bucking!

iv tried a flash and he was even worse, i spoke to my physio about it and she watched me ride without the flash then with, within to steps she stopped me and told me never to ride in it again, his head came up his back end went out he just didnt want to work at all.

i and going to get his teeth checked soon, not sure when he was last done, only had him on loan about 4 months. he does need loads of schooling even though hes 6 im the 1st person ever to have hacked him and ever thing screas him!