Which Bit To Use?

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sbsmiths

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Recently bought a 5 yr old 17hh Irish Draft X. for my daughter and myself. He's been gently schooled by the lady who bred him and with an experienced rider goes beautifully. However, I'm not an advanced rider and find him very heavy on the forehand. He was in a waterford when we viewed him and his owner said it stops him leaning so we bought one. Is there an alternative which will lighten him or is it purely down to our riding? My daughter is 5' 10" and so her legs can be effective (although she's not an experienced rider) but I'm only 5' 3" and middle-aged and my legs have less effect!! Any advice is very welcome.
 
If he goes best in that, then use the waterford. However, it isnt dressage legal, so if you want to do dressage in the future I would find an alternative
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You should be able to get him lighter by doing lots of "good" transitions, so nice and active and forward throughout, half halts and lateral work. If you want to go down the dr legal bit route, I would get a 12mm bit that is shaped to fit the horses mouth comfortably, such as a Neue Schule verbidend or Team up, or a Cotswold sport Tongue saver snaffle
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If you google Neue Schule, or Cotswold Sport, you will find them
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They are basically loose ring lozenged bits shaped away from the horses tongue, so there is less area of the bit for the horse to set on. Having Irish draft in him, he probably has a flashy tongue so not alot of room in his mouth for a bit, hence the thinner mouthpiece, as it will be more comfortable for him, and also help stop him leaning. I'm not a fan of schooling in waterfords as you never teach the horse to take a consistent contact, as its constantly moving!!!
 
My 5 year old ISH goes best by far in Myler bits. I have a ported one which is not dressage legal and just got a dressage legal one the other week (MB02 comfort snaffle)which he goes almost as well in. He definitely is lighter in this. My instructor has even commented you can hear he is lighter in his canter. When I first got him I put him in a french link and then I also had a neue schule team up but I can honestly say I see and feel a big difference in the mylers. Like a PP poser says having alot of ID probably means he has a thick tongue and so you don't want to be putting a big fat bit in there. He also probably needs a very big bit - mine goes in 6".

Of course there is no substitute for lots of schooling and transitions but it is best to be doing this schooling in a bit he is most comfortable in.
 
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