Trying a New Bit???????????????????????????
We have got a horse that I am sure has the wrong bit. She is currently in a thick mouth eggbutt snaffle. In an arena situation, she is quite responsive and easy to control. But to go out into the open paddock, she gets a little more forward moving (understandably) and I find her difficult to pull up or to listen to the bit (stopping and also turning her). I also use a hanovarian noseband, as she opens her mouth and chomps on the bit a lot. She is an ex racehorse, but has been off the track for 5 years and been re educated in dressage, jumping etc. I wouldn’t say she is hard mouthed, I just want something a little more effective to use out in the open. Thinking either a Dee ring snaffle or a tom thumb snaffle (not the leverage kind, just the simple one with the cheek pieces) Opinions???
Have you tried her in a simple loose ring snaffle? Most horses respond to that. If she is still not responsive, try an off-set dee ring. Tom thumbs aren’t the way to go with off the track TB’s. But before trying any complicated bits, just test her out with a plain snaffle, or off set dee. Otherwise I would consult your trainer or local saddlery as some people buy the wrong bits (very harsh ones or not harsh enough) for hard/soft mouthed horses, or they use it the wrong way.
Don’t go to harder bits. The harder bits will cause more problems to come. If you keep it to a snaffle, a loose ring snaffle it should be a little easier. But in my opinion, she has been trained for dressage and jumping, was she trained in an arena or something like that? Because the training probably disappears when she is in a paddock wear there is open space, open space which in her mind, is good for galloping in.
I say, work on halting her in the paddocks, start on the ground. Get her to back up with the slightest tug on the reins. Then start to slowly lead her around, and getting her to halt. If she is a little pulley with halting, get her to back up. Work on that until you think you can do it on her. Start with backing up, then start walking, halting, and if she pulls, get her to back up.a
My horse a standardbred, had problems with halting, and I think that may be the problem for you. That all her training goes out of her head when she is in this massive space, so try and work on that.
Try a sweet iron French link loose ring snaffle
Sweet iron is yummy
French link (or oval link or lozenger) is softer but more responsive mouth piece, also stops nutcracker action like a normal snaffle does (it annoys some horses)
Loose ring sits well in mouth
If you can’t get that but then go a loose ring snaffle and/or try a French link/oval link/lozenger bit as well, see which works better
When u r in the ring u probaly want to use and rubber bit and out in the open use a dee ring saffle