What bit would you suggest for my horse...sorry another bitting Q!!

[Natassia]

Eight months ago I got my horse (ex-eventer) on full permanent loan to bring him back into work after he was turned away with a suspensory ligament injury, he now has high ringbone so cannot event but fortunately he hasn't shown any sign of lameness since I've had him. He's steadily getting fitter now and I hope to do some dressage with him in the future.
The issue is that as he's getting fitter he's getting quite strong, especially when hacking in company. In the school he is really good but takes a while to soften and go into a nice outline. However, I think this may be a schooling issue rather than a bitting issue because I have only very recently started schooling him properly again, even though I have done some basic schooling when hacking.
If he is somewhere new/on the way home/excited about something he really plays with the bit and tries to pull me out of the saddle, even though I am not at all heavy with my hands and let him stretch regularly its as if he isn't comfortable with the bit. He can be nappy but we're working through this.
At the moment he is in a sweet iron french link snaffle with a copper piece in the middle. This is great for schooling but I feel I need something a bit stronger for hacking, especially on longer rides in company. I also would like him to soften more and accept the contact better, so was thinking of a more comfortable sort of bit, possibly a Myler??
I'm not that experienced with bitting so am totally open to any suggestions, thanks for reading!

 

[Parkranger]

How you getting on at new yard?

Just personal opinion, but I've learnt the hardway that getting them to soften and relax is more to do with the schooling than the bit. I'd be tempted to put him in a loose ring snaffle in the school - french links are hard to fit and if it's not high enough it could be clanking on his teeth!

Ty used to pull me out of the saddle - he grew out of it but I think alot of it was to do with schooling. Once he understood a contact he started to accept it out hacking aswell so didn't fight me so much.

If he's throwing his head up a running mart may help aswell.

 

[0]

Im a huge fan of the cherry roller bit for encouraging horses to come down onto the bit and not be so resistant.I suppose they are quite old school bit's now but i really like them for schooling in.

As for a stronger bit i think it takes alot of playing around with if you go too strong you can get a very bad reaction,you have to match the bit with the horse.
This is why i like a snaffle mouth horse so easy and straight forward.

Good luck x

 

[Parkranger]

PS - to add, I'm a bit boring and would rather start with a bulk standard loosering than going up the bit ranks without having a good schooling base....although if he's an ex eventer I'm guessing he's quite well schooled?

Maybe a case of him being an evasive schoolmaster (like oscar)

 

[Natassia]

Hi Vicki, I'm getting on well there, have finally learnt all the rules and getting to know everyone still its so much bigger than the last one! Horsie isn't settling so well bless him but he's getting there, they've had to split the geldings field for him!! I'm much happier there, but will be relieved when he's with all the boys and happy.
I've got a lesson on Wed so will speak to my instuctor about this as well. He is well schooled so I think the softening is more a schooling issue than anything else, its just a case of asking him to work properly again. Out hacking he can be an angel, but can also be very sharp and strong, schooling has helped but for safety's sake I think I need something slightly stronger for longer hacks, I'm not saying something really severe, possibly a 2 ring gag.

 

[Natassia]

PS he already wears a running martingale with a breastplate, he pulls his head down rather than throwing it up!

 

[horseandhound]

Hi,
Well if he is putting head down rather than up, you could use a gag bit, lifts up the head, but with two reins, not one as is so fashionable now!!! The bubble bits 3 ring gag] are rather milder than the traditional gag bit, but all depends on the riders hands.

Also a waterford snaffle is a good bit and despite popular belief is not a harsh bit, all dependant on riders hands though!!

 

[xXShelleyBXx]

I'd try a Gag 3 ring bit with just the one rein. It will encourage him to go forward, and like you have been doing, give him plenty of rein. Its a strong enough bit to pull him back if he pulls you up from the saddle, yet not too severe. Have you got a flash on him? If not i suggest that you put one on and do it up fairly tight. This will also avoid him playing with the bit allowing you to have contact.

My mare can be slightly nappy at times. I changed her bit to a Gag and shes moving forward and going a lot better with it. Its made me far more confident with her. I use it for both hacking and schooling.

 

[angiebaby]

Another vote for the three ring gag. I have mine in a happy mouth with roller in the middle, and he loves it! I school him in a Myler comfort snaffle. He likes thinner bits.