what bit?

T

trakehnersrock!

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 June 2010
Messages
428
Location
Belgium
Visit site
What Weymouth bit ?

I’ve been riding in a double bridle for about 2 years now since moving up to PSG. However, it’s been a while that my mare has been sticking her tongue out (on the left side only) but not her entire tongue, just the end (like a person who sticks their tongue out slightly when they concentrate). I’ve noticed that she has also twisted it slightly inside on the odd occasion.
She seems to not want to accept the contact. I currently ride in a Sprenger KK Weymouth (in 5 1:2in (which is too big though so probably doesn’t help)). I’ve tried a Nathe Weymouth, but this seems to make it worse. I also used to ride in a short shank Weymouth, which I might try again.
She apparently has quite fleshy gums (bits of flesh dangling down). Although she is quite tall (17hh) she doesn’t have that big of a head nor mouth I believe.
I’d really like to find the right bit for her as currently we are heavily penalised for the contact and tongue issue… If I could ride in a simple bridle, I would (I do at home).
 
Hi
Firstly why cant your daughter ride in a simple bridle at the show? Unless its International all levels (including FEI PSG to GP) can be ridden in a simple snaffle.

Secondly if there are contact issues I rarely see these fixed by changing the bit. A couple of questions:
- Does the tongue only come out on the left side of the mouth?
- In general does you daughter find right bend that bit easier than left or the other way around?

If it is only to the left and the horse is slightly easier to bend right then the contact issue stems from a straightness issue and the right hindleg is the one that needs to be addressed more. Let me know what the answers are and I can give exercises to help.
Simon
 
I don't have experience at this level, however it might be worth giving Hilary Vernon a call - Informed Biting. Her bits are thinner and very curved, great for horses with fleshy gums/tongue.

I use her bits, amongst others, I also know several people who compete at a high level in dressage that use her bits after experiencing problems. Do agree that a contact problem cannot be fixed by changing bits however if the horse is not comfortable in the mouth then the contact issues can never be sorted.
 
Firstly Simon, here in Belgium you must ride in a double bridle from M+,
Secondly, in answer to your questions, yes and yes. so any exercises you could suggest would be very interesting, thank you.
Simon Battram said:
Hi
Firstly why cant your daughter ride in a simple bridle at the show? Unless its International all levels (including FEI PSG to GP) can be ridden in a simple snaffle.

Secondly if there are contact issues I rarely see these fixed by changing the bit. A couple of questions:
- Does the tongue only come out on the left side of the mouth?
- In general does you daughter find right bend that bit easier than left or the other way around?

If it is only to the left and the horse is slightly easier to bend right then the contact issue stems from a straightness issue and the right hindleg is the one that needs to be addressed more. Let me know what the answers are and I can give exercises to help.
Simon
Click to expand...
 
Thank you, I have passed this info on to my daughter.
re bit banks. I don't think they would be possible to Belgium, thanks though. I
LJR said:
I don't have experience at this level, however it might be worth giving Hilary Vernon a call - Informed Biting. Her bits are thinner and very curved, great for horses with fleshy gums/tongue.

I use her bits, amongst others, I also know several people who compete at a high level in dressage that use her bits after experiencing problems. Do agree that a contact problem cannot be fixed by changing bits however if the horse is not comfortable in the mouth then the contact issues can never be sorted.
Click to expand...
 
trakehnersrock! said:
Firstly Simon, here in Belgium you must ride in a double bridle from M+,
Secondly, in answer to your questions, yes and yes. so any exercises you could suggest would be very interesting, thank you.
Click to expand...

Okey dokey.

The issue therefore is that the horse is not engaging the right hind enough and is falling onto the left shoulder and bracing against the left contact. this in time means that this brace causes a tongue issue which is why it only pops out to the left. The simple truth, in words, is when the right hind becomes more engaged the horse will not have to lean on the left shoulder and the left contact becomes softer and more elastic and the tongue issue will resolve itself. A little bit trickier in reality.

In halt look to see that your daughter can flex the horse through the throatlash area. This means body straight, neck straight and just flexing where the head joins the neck. When this happens the horse releases through the jaw and you should see the crest flick to the side of the flexion.

In motion look for this flexion and ability to change the flexion to either side whilst the body and neck stays straight. Keep the forward engagement of each hindleg through to the each flexion.

Sometimes although the brace feels in the left hand the rider should firstly check the quality of the opposite rein, the right rein contact. So if the tongue is popping out to the left work the horse into the right rein, drive the right hind through and then look to release the left flexion again.

Otherwise working at this level I would use shoulder-in when on the right rein, working the right hind through whilst containing the left shoulder. then you could include trot walk trot transitions whilst in shoulder-in right. The other variation is shoulder-in to renver back to shoulder-in.

On the left rein traver on a circle to again work this diagonal line through the horse of right hind to left shoulder.
I hope this helps
Simon
 
Thank you very much for that Simon! I have shown my daughter this, and she said it does make a lot of sense, and that she will be trying these. Sorry not to have replied before - laptop problems. Thanks again!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top