trying to downgrade pony's bit

[Firehorse]

i posted before about finding a new bit for my boy. he came to me with a dutch gag.

altho was ridden by teenager at pony club events and was competition fit. i've kept him in it while i got to know him. we only hack. no comps.

i was advised by bit bank to try him in a universal on middle ring. this i have done and he seems to go ok. only ridden him twice in it so far, once in school with plenty of downward transitions to test brakes, once on slow hack. didnt feel any less in control. i can ride him round the roads, literally on the buckle end of the reins, as he is good. its when we hit grass or when he knows we're heading for home he gets v excited on occassions (not all the time). his head will come up and he gets stronger. (not overly strong to me, as he is only ickle) he has good brakes (in the dutch gag), but chucks his head in the air when they are applied. (he wears running martingale).

would u try him in a snaffle and see what happens, or stick with the universal a bit longer until we've done some faster more exciting hacks to see what happens?

 

[JenTaz]

how about a hanging cheek snaffle still has the poll pressure but not so severe

 

[ester]

second option, try the universal a bit longer as not worth having a problem and perhaps try snaffle in school

I downbiyyed frank who came in a dutch gag, goes in snaffle for dr/sj but I did put the gag back in for hacking after too many hairy moments in snaffle- he spooks so much less in gag.

 

[Firehorse]

i'd thought about the hanging cheek, but it pretty much does the same as the universal on snaffle ring. if i were to ever jump him (only at home) he would deffo need to be on the extra ring of the universal, so need that in my tack box. maybe i'll get a snaffle anyway and i would deffo try him in the school first and a pootle round the road. and keep going with the universal until we've had several exciting hacks. he can ride differently every day, one day calm, nxt day he might be an ass! i'm pleased i've got him out of the dutch gag, he so doesnt need it. it'll be going on ebay soon.......anyone want it.? 5 inch, single joint.