Teazle
22nd Nov 2007, 08:53 PM
My friend is looking for a dressage-legal bit for her horse. Her horse prefers a running gag, ridden on the bottom rein and we've worked out this is because he hates too much contact on his bars/tongue, prefering the bit to be lifted more in his mouth. With the gag he's a dream, relaxed, happy, settled. With an ordinary snaffle he bucks whenever you use the reins, with a french link he's ok and will go on the bit etc but isn't amazingly happy, and if he tries to take off and she has to use the bit sharply, he bucks. He's frankly scared of a pelham, being extremely unwilling to take a contact even if the curb rein is hanging in loops. He has his teeth done every six months but his jaw is overshot and set a little off due to a kick to his mouth when he was a foal, such that his poll is always a tiny bit out.
So, she has a bit for jumping, xc etc, but what could she use for dressage? The closest I could think of would be a baucher french link, but is that the only option?
Oh, and she has regular lessons etc and her hands are pretty good. Not perfect, but still in trot and with the horse in walk/canter. If anything, she has a tendency to ride with too light a contact.
So, she has a bit for jumping, xc etc, but what could she use for dressage? The closest I could think of would be a baucher french link, but is that the only option?
Oh, and she has regular lessons etc and her hands are pretty good. Not perfect, but still in trot and with the horse in walk/canter. If anything, she has a tendency to ride with too light a contact.