What bit for Showjumping?? Please Help.

[chickeninabun]

I ride my 14.3hh cob mare in a Neue Schule lozenged loose ring snaffle. She goes nicely in dressage in it but when we did some showjumping yesterday (and granted we have never jumped a showjump before) we had absolutely zero control in the steering department!
I couldn't even get her over the first jump, as she'd throw her head up and run out to the right, no matter how hard I pulled left we went right.
It looked terrible, like this...

The bit kept going out of the side of her mouth, so suppose I could put bit rubbers on, but I was doing dressage afterwards and it takes me ages to get bit rubbers on and off. So any advice appreciated. And yes a martingale next time too. But what bit would give me more steering power?

 

[fatponee]

Oh poor you, we've all been there!

I'm thinking she just got a bit excited with the jumping so maybe you could just use a full cheek snaffle rather than anything stronger? Maybe combine it with a flash to stop her opening her mouth and being cheeky?

 

[Kenzo]

Morning

Hope you had a lovely day, we did, although I was a bit saddle sore riding back to the yard, it was great to meet you and hopefully see you again next time.

lol at the photo but come on lets be honest here, my mare was doing that same impression during the dressage!


Full cheek will really help, although to say it was her first time over coloured poles, she went over eventually bless her.

If you can thank Karen again for me, she was an excellant caller.

 

[chickeninabun]

Yes I think full cheek might be the way to go. Do I need cheek piece keepers on the side to hold it in place? I can't just whack one in can I?

Kenzo - Yes we did have a nice day, Blooming hot tho. Went home with a stonking head ache! It was lovely to meet you and Miraed. She was a good girl really. You made the showjumping look easy, so i was almost looking forward to going in, but then it all went wrong!
I will thank Karen again for you. She's going to try and get to the next one too, so if you need calling again, I'm sure she'll help out.

 

[Three]

Oh dear!

Would you be better leaving in the bit you have and starting from scratch with trotting poles rather than expecting her to jump first time?

Start at home raising the jump from trotting poles to tiny cross poles etc. Then with one or two jumps before progrssing onto more. That way you can get steering sorted at walk, then trot before trying anything bigger?


Apologies if you've already done that!

 

[chickeninabun]

Thanks Three. We have done a bit of trotting pole and cross pole work at home but are limited due to having to jump in the field, with only old tyres and planks of wood to make jumps out of. When we get to a show it's all a bit different anyway. She's a good girl and doesn't get het up at a show but the jumps are like nothing she's seen before.

I think the full cheek should be a gentle enough bit to have a go in, as she can be tempermental at the best of times and is built like a brick out-house, so if she wants to go somewhere I have very little choice anyway .

If I did go for the full cheek, should I go with a fulmer one (i.e. loose ringed as she's in now, as she does lean on my hands sometimes) or a eggbutt style full cheek? And also with keepers, does that give more poll pressure? I'd like her head down a bit but would it make her lean more??

 

[Kat]

I'd go for a double jointed fulmer or full cheek. Brilliant for steering issues and not too strong on the mouth. I'd also pop on a mexican grackle or drop to stop her evading the bit by opening her mouth. If you do dressage go for the drop as this is dressage legal. It is also kinder than a flash and more effective.

Even if you can't do much jump schooling at home work on getting her bending and turning well, and also remember to steer from your legs and body rather than your hands. You shouldn't be pulling her in the direction you want to go with the reins.

Maybe book a few jumping lessons at a venue with a decent set of show jumps too.

 

[Nocturnal]

Ditto Katt ^^. Also worth bearing in mind that pulling on the left rein will actually incourage her to run out to the right, to escape the rein pressure. So try instead to keep hold of the outside rein whilst asking her to turn with your legs and seat .

 

[Stacie_and_Jed]

I agree with Nutkin....If you drop contact on the rein which she is running towards you have nothing to keep her straight and heading towards the jump!

I think judging how far away from the jump she was resisting she is rather scared. The only way to learn is practice and by not having the facilities at home you may find this hard......but its not impossible!!

Could you get some old ply wood and paint it pretty, bright, SCARY colours and use them as fillers? Get some brights coloured clothes and put them around, underneath, on the jumps you have? Bags etc etc?! There are lots you can do at home without speaning lots and lots of money on expensive jumps!

It could work out quite expensive if you only practice over coloured fences when you go to shows and dont end up achieving the outcome (clear rounds) you want!

I hope this helps you!

 

[chickeninabun]

Thanks, that's all really helpful.
Yes I don't think my riding is up to scratch, especially when jumping, and am about to book some jumping lesson with a good lady who's local to me, which should really help, as I haven't a clue!
Good ideas about making my own show jumps, or fillers etc.
She seemed to go quite well in the warm up...

and I was quietly confident but it just shows doesn't it, that in the ring it's a whole other problem!

 

[Kat]

Ah but in the warm up you weren't trying to navigate your way round a whole course - it makes a massive difference. If she is new to jumping she may well have been getting unbalanced and anxious between fences. If you were a bit nervous you may have not been riding as well as usual either. And the fences are more scary looking in the ring.

I'd get plenty of lessons on her and work on grids and things and then move on to courses.

I'd also consider taking her in a nice steady trot if you do any little clear round courses. Give her time to look and balance, and steer her in nice big wide corners so she can look at the fence and get her self balanced. Even walk her a bit if you need to. Clear round or schooling sessions at your local show centre are good for this.

That picture shows that you are tipping forwards and getting a bit up her neck in your jumping position too, this may be contributing to her getting unbalanced. So shorten your stirrups a bit more, and rather than thinking forward or fold over the fence, think stick your bum out backwards and widen your hand to let her stretch.