STRONG HORSE WHAT BIT ? DRESSAGE LEGAL NEED HELP

[dieselbrook]

hi all
i have a new horse who is rising 8 big strong id type been over bitted all its life as i am told he been in a gag since 3 !
he came in gag and although he is super strong and super forward and green when is comes to schooling i am determind to get it right with him as i would love to do a bit of dressage in the future so thought as i am reschooling him would it be better to find something suitable now to school in that is allowed in a test ?
I AM NO BIT EXPERT and have been lucky that my old horses have all been mosty snaffle mouth and im new to dressage too so never even looked into the rules of what snaffles are allowed untill now

i normally ride in waterford gag on snaffle ring and bottom ring for jumping and fun rides
he works in outline and has a good natural head carrage
but tends to overbend when ridden in a gag , or tuck his head in his chest as most strong cobs do !
i have tried full cheek snaff ok for first 30 mins although heavy on hands and transitions coming down slow but he does get board and takes hold of the bit and runs even in the school :/ and he does constantly mouth perhaps messes a bit too much with any bit this was on a normal bridle no flash

then i tried hanging cheek waterford with flash to close his mouth was good yet still managed to take off after getting board leaving me with no breaks it infuriates me as he goes so well b4 taking off and has learnt so much for me to even contemplate schooling in anthing other than a gag

i dont know what to do next try something else?
change anything ?
keep going in the hanging cheek?
am i applying the right pressure in the right places ?

has anyone else experienced this or any bit experts out there that can offer any advice as i said all this reading up about bit is all new to me and confusing as there are so many

please help

 

[be positive]

Keep trying with what you have but try to prevent the horse becoming bored and fighting you.

Vary the work so he is occupied more mentally, start to do smaller circles and turns, loads of transitions anything to engage his brain and finish on a good note even if it is earlier than planned, 15 mins of good work will gradually become 20 mins and build up to a better way of going.

Finding the right bit is less of an issue than finding what works to keep his mind on you, pole work may also help him focus.

 

[dieselbrook]

thank you
your right about his attention being more of an issue i have been having some grid work lessons with my friend and he really enjoys them we have gone from flat out gallop at trotting poles to an even speed across 5 and even tripple bounce

i think im just rushing him and expecting too much too soon and panicing thinking am never going to be able ride in any snaffle for dressage but hopefully patients and persistance will pay off

 

[superpony]

Give him time, lots of different exercises, challenge him and I would think he will get it in time.

My guy came to me just broken (been sat on 3 times) in a kimblewick.. And he still managed to do a runner with me when I tried him!!

But he now does affiliated dressage happily in a ns loose ring.

I would carry on trying with the hanging cheek and see how you get on.

 

[dieselbrook]

thanks for the support guys
just panicing thinking if he has developed a hard mouth from 5 yrs of gags will i ever revert it without it being dangerous and out of control ?

 

[cm2581]

I would change to a gag with a dressage legal mouthpiece - a lozenge is probably the closest to the waterford and school in double reins using less and less bottom rein till you are rarely using it then change to a hanging cheek with the same mouthpiece. If he proves too clever for this then you could just use the hanging cheek for competitions, using the gag with double reins the day before as a reminder of his manners!

 

[Shay]

You could try a Mylar snaffle. My stong Cob goes in a 3 ring gag for just about everything - although we've schooled him from the bottom ring to the top one, with the middle one for hunting. But someone lent me a mylar snaffle and he went like a dream!

We have the ported one which is all jointed with slots so you can put the rings through the main bit or through a slot to give you some poll pressure.