Thinking about bits

Chippers1

Chippers1

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My horse is currently ridden in a loose ring French link snaffle. I use this for all disciplines (except when I use a Pelham for working hunter) hacking, xc, sj, hunt rides etc etc and i have brakes and control. The only problem with it is he is not consistent in an outline when schooling. He works nicely from behind but his head position stays for a short while then pops up then goes back down. He's had his back and teeth checked and will have his saddle checked as soon as my horsebox is fixed.
Reading another thread I was wondering whether it might be worth changing to a neue schule team up purely to see if it would encourage him to relax more into the contact or is it a case of more schooling/lessons, I'm not too sure! I've ridden for years but will admit I'm not brilliant at schooling but I'm working on it!

Or is it a case of it's not (really) broke so don't fix it....
Any thoughts?
 
Good idea. I've also messaged the bit bank to see what they think. I could just have a nosey in our tack room (riding school/livery yard, there's a lot of bits!) and see if there's any which I could try and if they would be kind enough to let me have a go!
 
Borrow whatever you can from friends, and see what makes a lasting difference, if anything before buying.

Remember to swap back to old bit and see if deteriorates before deciding.
 
Just had a go with an eggbutt French link, he did feel a lot more consistent and a bit lighter but he kept picking up the wrong canter lead on the right rein! This is something we've been working on so I think although he didn't seem to mind the bit maybe it's affecting him slightly wrong! Jumped fine in it though and actually felt like I could hold him in more, tried the scariest jump which he doesn't like and he felt like he was going to run out but went over instead with a firmer hold. Hmmmm what to do?
 
I can't work out how to edit so I'll post again! I think I'd like to try a thinner mouth piece with larger rings as it was quite a small wide bit I tried. So that's my next port of call!
 
Yes I've been schooling him for the last year I've owned him, he's improved vastly, he couldn't leg yield when I got him and we're now leg yielding, shoulder in etc.
By outline I mean the whole shape, I know he needs to work over his back to bring his head down and round and he's definitely getting there, it's just inconsistent. He tracks up nicely it's just the final tweak. I will also add that the inconsistency is mainly in trot.
 
He sounds like a lovely willing boy. You know what I personally don't think it's a bit issue. The fact that he can flex and reach into the contact momentarily shows that he can do it in the bit you have and is happy to do it, he just doesn't have the strength and flexibility to hold himself there yet, maybe he's not quite straight and is falling in/out - that sometimes makes them throw their head up to balance. By all means try what you think will make things comfortable if you think it is a pain issue in the mouth, but keep working on flexibility and straightness.... SI, QI, SI on a circle, try doing counter bends as well. I've found this has helped massively with mine who falls out terribly through the left shoulder!
 
p.s. I tried the verbindend and the team up. It made no difference to us. I now have a cheap single jointed snaffle and surprisingly goes the best in that.
 
I think you're probably right, he is a lovely willing boy and could probably do with more strength and flexibility. It did feel like he preferred the fixed ring bit possibly because it was more stable in his mouth. He's only ever been in the loose ring and at his previous home wasn't worked properly over his back so wasn't expected to work into a contact so maybe he was feeling a bit insecure with that.
Might try and source a cheap one on eBay and give that a go for a while, see how we get on.
 
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