sandi_84
Well-Known Member
When I started schooling my very green lad I originally had him in a full cheeked, copper roller snaffle link (what a mouthful!) and then we went to a plain eggbutt snaffle.
When we started doing canter work though he became quite strong and my RI suggested I try him in a gag for extra brakes.
I really wasn't keen on the idea and put it off for ages even though stopping and downward transitions were a bit of a struggle. I just felt it was a schooling problem that needed sorted without upping the bit stakes.
But after 1 particularly bad schooling session where I just felt like I was constantly at his mouth to get him to stop or slow down I gave in and let her put him in one. It's a 3 ring gag - small ring then big snaffle ring and then another small ring - and what a difference! I no longer felt like I was having to haul on him to get him to slow down and stop and I was able to do it with my seat and a small tightening of my fingers on the reins.
Now though I was thinking we might try the snaffle again but I can't find the silly thing!
Rather than go out and buy another snaffle and it turn out not to work for us I was thinking it would be cheaper to buy bit roundings but I'm not sure if that's the way to go, are bit roundings all the same length?
Any advice appreciated!
When we started doing canter work though he became quite strong and my RI suggested I try him in a gag for extra brakes.
I really wasn't keen on the idea and put it off for ages even though stopping and downward transitions were a bit of a struggle. I just felt it was a schooling problem that needed sorted without upping the bit stakes.
But after 1 particularly bad schooling session where I just felt like I was constantly at his mouth to get him to stop or slow down I gave in and let her put him in one. It's a 3 ring gag - small ring then big snaffle ring and then another small ring - and what a difference! I no longer felt like I was having to haul on him to get him to slow down and stop and I was able to do it with my seat and a small tightening of my fingers on the reins.
Now though I was thinking we might try the snaffle again but I can't find the silly thing!
Rather than go out and buy another snaffle and it turn out not to work for us I was thinking it would be cheaper to buy bit roundings but I'm not sure if that's the way to go, are bit roundings all the same length?
Any advice appreciated!
Thanks for pointing me towards the simple answer to my problem, I do worry about myself at times you know!