Strong horse? Bitting v Schooling

[PucciNPoni]

Not wanting to have a go at anyone but it seems to me that lots of folk want to know about sorting out a strong horse and want to know what kind of bit they should use. A stronger bit certainly could be a temporary solution - but what about going back to basics to get a longer term solution.

Sometimes a horse is strong or heavy cos it's got no balance. Sometimes it's just plain naughty and needs some manners.

Sometimes upping the bit strength is good for the occasional outing or schooling session. But I would like to think that the majority of strong horses could be schooled to become "less strong"

Discuss?

 

[millitiger]

i think more horses wear stronger bits than necessary but can't agree that schooling would correct the majority of strong horses.

take a look at any top level sj or eventing competition- most horses wear a martingale, most are not in a snaffle and most do not have a cavesson- is it because their riders cannot/ wil not school them correctly?

or is it because the rider has found a combination that works for the horse AND rider, allows the horse the freedom to do its job but allows the rider to actually ride the horse?

my own 2 current horses who are home broken and produced are in snaffles and cavessons but i have had plenty of horses in the past where schooling wasn't enough.
i do believe that you should always use the least amount of 'gadgetry' possible- so a lot of my horses that jumped in stronger bits had seperate bridles for flatwork, hacking and jumping.

 

[thorney84]

I ride quite a strong and forward horse and have been told that he is out of balance, so when schooling i do lots of tight circles, is that the right thing to be concentrating on?