Update on my "can't ride with snaffle" issues...

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bex1984

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Thank you to everyone whp agve me advice the other day regarding finding a bit I can ride Murphy in for our first ever dressage test in a few weeks time.

Someone at the yard has very kindly lent me a french link hanging cheek snaffle. I've ridden Murph in it Fri, Sat and today and it has gone well, he seems happy enough and I have something that vaguely resembles control
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We even managed a little jump with it in on Saturday, and I wouldn't dare jump him in a bit I didn't have control in as I know exactly what the result would be
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So I've filled in my dressage test entry form!!
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I've now got just under two weeks until the test so am going to go back to the pelham for now, and then use the snaffle for the test as I'm a bit worried he'll work out how to evade it before the test and I'll be a bit stuffed!! Does that sound like the right thing to do?

But I think after the test, I'll get my own hanging cheek bit, and make a conscious effort to ride him in it in the school.

And just a quick question, he annoyed me today because he was jogging again, so everytime he did I tried asking him to walk, and if he didn't walk, turning him on a tight circle, which meant he couldn't use his tanking off muscle against me and came back to walk. It seemed to work - but is that a bad way of doing it?
 
Excellent news, and well done for getting the entry in, I'm sure you'll be brill! I would go back to your pelham and just pop the new bit in for the test - Murph may not notice if you're lucky!
 
Persoanlly i would school in the snaffle. Bit of a cheat really to work in a pelham and then put the snaffle just for the test.
Most dressage riders above elem still school in snaffles and occasioanlly the double.
Unless of course you ride in two reins which is better as you have the independent reins?
 
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excellent news
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The circle turning thing is good - it will get him bendng and flexing and encourage him to soften as well
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would this help when I'm out hacking? I say that because will be taking Frankie out for one of or first 'decent' hacks and when he gets excited he jogs
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but I don't want to undo all our good schooling with us having an argument
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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
excellent news
smile.gif


The circle turning thing is good - it will get him bendng and flexing and encourage him to soften as well
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

would this help when I'm out hacking? I say that because will be taking Frankie out for one of or first 'decent' hacks and when he gets excited he jogs
mad.gif
but I don't want to undo all our good schooling with us having an argument
wink.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

If you're out hacking it might wind him up tbh. I'd try and focus him by asking for left/right bend, ask for a bit of leg yield/shoulder in etc to get him thinking about what you will ask for next rather than how exciting everything is!
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