Which bit to use??

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Abbyndrocky

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Ive got a 6year old 16.2hh british warmblood who goes perfectly whilst on the flat however when we showjump he gets abit excited at runs at the jumps, to begin with he was ridden in a full cheek jointed snaffle which I changed to a French link eggbutt snaffle. i know its not a huge change but he became easier to control on the flat but when jumping, as we turn into the jump, although i can hold him to some extent, he sticks his head up, is really quite head strong and runs at it.

Its ok for the odd jump here and there but its a problem between doubles and related distances because he see's the next jump and he's off! :eek:

Its when we enter the arena his flat work changes completly because theres jumps around and he's quite rushed and hard to turn/control.

Im not sure what bit to try him in, i was thinking a waterford.. but some have told me a dutch gag and others have told me otherwise! Ive absolutely no idea... any help? :o
 
I would stick with the same bit and spend some time working on schooling around jumps and also grids. He needs to learn that they aren't the most exciting thing ever and that the same rules apply when jumps are around as when they aren't in the arena. Using your seat more when slowing will help too as he will have less to react against. Do you have a good instructor near you who can be your eyes on the ground and suggest more exercises?
 
I wouldn't neccesarily change his bit, i'd do jump exercises...grids, circles in front of jumps then approaching when calmed down, jumping on a figure of eight etc.......if its the jumping which is sooo exciting then i'd try exercises rather than changing a nit he's happy in otherwise x If he's sticking his nose up put a fluffy sheepskin noseband cover on him, this will encourage him to bring his head down as they can't see otherwise! x
 
Its literally just me and my dad.. no instructor :o

Ive tried trotting poles on the ground and to begin with he rushed them although eventually he settled.. ive tried raised trotting poles with a space in between for a few strides of trot and then back onto the poles.. he rushed them to begin with, sticking his head up and increasing his speed! Once he began to calm down i got him to stop in the middle and then go again to get him listening.. Ive tried trotting into jumps and circling just past the jumps to make him wait, we've jumped spread fences and linked jumps coming back to trot although he sees one and we're gone. :confused:

His teeth and back have been checked they're both fine..
His previous owner rode him in a dutch gag i think... what are your views on this? :confused:
 
My horse is in a happy mouth dutch gag on the second ring down, it seems to help when he's strong but i think you need to persist with the trotting poles and grids....do it constantly....round and round and round until he calms down...which he will eventually!! x You don't want a bit to hold him back as you want to be feeding him through your seat, when you approach a jump sit back on my seat bones into the saddle, which will make him push on his hocks more and prepare himself better x

Constant trotting poles until he gets bored....big praise when he doesnt rush, then raise up to grids, do it constantly, big praise when he doesnt rush.....then he'll learn that it's not as exciting after all!! x
 
Another thing i did with my horse was do walk to trot transitions before a jump....start quite far away but in line to the jump and walk 2 strides, trot 2 strides so he's listening then decide if to jump it or not, either turn away and do it again or jump it from a trot. Only let him have a couple of strides to trot into the jump, if hes too excited turn him away and keep up the transitions until he has chilled!! x
 
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