sprenger correction on fussy tb?

[bengal1502]

hi i’ve got a 13 yo ex racer , big tongue low palate. likes to fling his head this way and that when excited - to try loosen reins and get the green light to rush off (at a jump etc). thought it was just ex racer behaviour until i stumbled on the sprenger correction “good for horses that shake their head to relieve tongue pressure” am now thinking maybe this head shaking is due to him being in discomfort rather than excitement? he’s in a wilkie with a copper lozenge- it’s the bit i’ve found he likes the most out of everything i’ve tried. is the sprenger worth a try? even with a low palate ? TIA

 

[paddi22]

I retrain exracers and just from the ones I've had they seem to either end up going in a d-ring copper roller or a ns universal turtle top. the head shaking and rushing at jumps would be fairly common, I would ride a lot that are like that at the start. if he is trying to loosen the reins before a jump is there any chance he is being caught in the mouth going over it, or the contact isn't the correct contact he needs on the approach? I end up spending a lot of time schooling them not to rush, I don't let them near a jump if they try and take over or get too fussy, I just circle away. a lot rush due to weakness and lack of balance as well. what's his canter like? it is also tricky sometimes to teach them and get them strong enough to 'sit' in the canter so they aren't ploughing in on the forehand? where is he at is his schooling?