| Welcome to The Outside Course! You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features! |
| Need bit advice... | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 24 2008, 12:15 PM (312 Views) | |
| elle T | Jan 24 2008, 12:15 PM Post #1 |
|
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I just started leasing an 8 year old OTTB. His owner started college last fall and did not have time to ride, so he sat around for quite a while and is out of shape/practice. One particular problem is that he doesn't bend very well. I can't tell if it's because he is out of shape and unbalanced... Or if the bit might be hindering my communication with him. His current bit is a solid full cheek snaffle with a port. I have never seen anything like it before. I guess he was heavy on the forehand in the past, but is not like that at all now and I feel like it is way too much bit. Because the bit is not jointed, I feel like I am just pulling on his entire mouth instead of "finessing" his mouth with my inside hand around a corner. My instructor has brushed off his bending problem as being "out of practice," but I hate this bit! Should the fact that a bit is solid or jointed have any effect? Have any of you used a solid bit before and could feel the difference or felt like you could not have a soft contact with the horse's mouth? I'm sure that my instructor will eventually let me switch the bit (she said, "when he is back in shape"), but I feel like this bit is hindering our progress.... |
![]() |
|
| mercury1 | Jan 26 2008, 12:01 PM Post #2 |
|
Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I have never personally used a bit other than a loose ring, double jointed snaffle. I have had a few OTTB's and rode them in eventing. Even on cross country, I never felt that I needed any more. I think it's all about the training of the horse to understand the bit, and how the rider uses hand. Any horse can and should be ridden in the lightest bit they find comfortable. My absolute favorite is the KK bit line. I personally stick with the KK ultra loose ring. It has worked well for me and all the horses I've used it on. They never have become 'used' to the bit, they always have become softer and more responsive with time. I recently posted a similar question on here. I have a QH cross who loves to travel low, but after much thought and experimentation, I'm sticking with the KK ultra he has now. As for the lack of bend. I had that problem over and over with the OTTB's. They like to stiffen up. When you warm up, just go on a loose rein and ask for him to bend left, then right, then left, every few steps...like arobics. Then do the same in the trot, and then in the trot on a 20 meter circle (that's tough but it works). Another thing that helped my 18 year old was warming up in mostly canter rather than trot. He found the canter to be easier when he felt stiff, so that's what we'd start with after walking a bit. I didn't ask for much, just let him get moving, then went back to the bending exercise. Hope this helps |
![]() |
|
| elle T | Jan 27 2008, 01:23 PM Post #3 |
|
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thanks for the suggestions... Like I said, I just started riding this horse about a week ago, so I have no idea what he did in the past that deserved such a strong bit... I try to warm him up on a loose rein, but he just sticks his head in the air no matter how much I push him forward. We have a lot of work to do... |
![]() |
|
| Trialbyfire | Jan 27 2008, 02:38 PM Post #4 |
|
You're BANNED!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I am by no means an expert, however, I will pass on what my OTTB's trainer said about her bit - a plain old full cheek snaffle. She was thrilled that I had her in a snaffle because she said many OTTBs don't respond to slow & halt commands simply because of the differences in race training. People often start using harsher bits thinking the horse is heavy or stubborn, when in reality they have no idea what the rider is asking. So...this may not apply in your case, not sure how long the horse was raced or what retraining he has had..... I think it might be worth just switching to a plain snaffle and seeing what happens.....any chance of convincing your trainer? Or can you just try it? |
![]() |
|
| mercury1 | Feb 3 2008, 03:42 PM Post #5 |
|
Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
So the thing about him sticking his head in the air no matter how much you push him forward got my attention. Sounds like a problem I had with my first horse, which went on for years. What made the difference was an actual dressage trainer. I was shocked at my first few lessons when the trainer would watch him go around with his nose in the air, and she didn't care at all. She told me to GIVE when he does that. What she taught me was that it doesn't make a darn bit of difference where they put their head. Once you figure out how to ride their body without concerning yourself about the head, it all comes into place. Now it's so easy!! and on any horse! Since then several dressage trainers have been the same, especially with my green guys. When I do go to take jumping lessons, I just try to politely ignore the trainers who tell me to 'make him take more contact', 'make him give to your hand', or whatever vocab they choose. I simply ride my horse's body properly, use a giving allowing hand and we do just fine. Sometimes you need to do what you feel is right. |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · The Barn Aisle · Next Topic » |





![]](http://z1.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)



12:17 PM Jul 11