suggest me a bit??

[lisa_lou]

My 7yr old mare gets very strong when schooling after cantering and i find it very hard to get her to concentraye. Before cantering she will go in a nice rhythm in a soft outline but after the first canter i do she keeps taking hold of the bit and resisting it and trying to rush off in to canter again. I really want her to relax again after cantering and get into the outline again but she gets very strong and the more contact i take up the more het up she gets. Ive tried just trotting round on a loose rein until she calms down a bit but as soon as i take any contact up she picks up the pace and wont listen. Shes in a french link snaffle at the mo but i feel she is takin the mic and needs to learn who is boss.

 

[ncarter]

I am not an expert at all but if she is not strong before the first canter I would think the first step to be would be to try to control the pace after the canter with your seat rather than going for a stronger bit straight away?
Sorry this is probably not much help!

 

[paddi22]

mine rushes so i circle him in canter, and make the circles smaller till he balances himself a bit more. when he starts to calm and balance them i increase them and bring him back out to the track.

i agree with other poster that schooling is probably the answer more than a bit

 

[lisa_lou]

she does a lovely slow balanced canter in an outline but when i come back to a trot this is where the problem happens, she just wants to canter again and gets very excited. And even with 20 mins of walk, trot transitions she still hasnt calmed down!

 

[spotty_pony]

Assuming you have had her back/teeth/saddle etc all checked, I will ask: When did she first start doing this? Is it because she is stabled a lot at the moment and feeling fresh? If yes, I would try lungeing her for 10 mins before you ride to give her the chance to have a god canter and get rid of any excess energy before you get on. Also, when you canter her when ridden, give her a good long canter to wear her out so that when she comes back to trot she really feels like she has done something and needs a rest! Then, once you want to return to walk and trot work, keep her interested by adding in some leg yield, shoulder in, rein back or turn on the forehand. You could also do a line of trotting poles to encourage her to maintain an even rhythm in trot without rushing. I wouldn't immediately turn to using a stronger bit, but if the above doesn't work you could try her in a Wilkie Snaffle which will give you a little more control.

Hope this helps!