ideas please - horse holds it head low and pulls but dressage legal bit wanted!

[fluffy_betty]

As the title really, I want to start schooling Autumn in a milder bit with a view to entering some dressage tests.

ATM i ride in a sweet iron jointed dutch gag on the bottom hole but I don't think I really need it. I use a cavesson noseband and running martingale. In walk and trot she is very responsive (to seat and legs as well as the bit) but I feel like she is always 'backing off' from the bit a little, I have to ride with a really light, almost non-existant contact. During downwards transitions she tends to open her mouth and shake her head.In canter she is really strong and excitable and tends to hold her head very low and pull. but the bit makes no difference at all so I think its a schooling issue rather than something that will solved by bitting.

Despite all this she actually works in a fairly nice outline most of the time and always ends up with a bit of foam around the bit.I used to use a pelham but the shanks rub her bony cheekbones and she used to tuck her chin right into her chest and pull.I lunge her in a loose ring french link snaffle, she doesn't fight it but does not mouth it or produce foam, and seems to lean on it canter.


So basically..... I am looking for a dressage legal bit that will suit a TB with a very small mouth and prevent her leaning too much.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone has a similar horse (hyperactive and strong but holds head fairly low) and which bits/nosebands you use, or if anyone has any ideas that may suit? I want to go back to basics rather than use stronger and stronger tack.

I know its hard to advise without seeing her and the best thing would be to try different bits but any ideas for a starting point would help cos I'm at a total loss!!!!!!

[eml]

As a first free and safe experiment I would take off the martingale (doesn't really go with gag bit, bit raises head, martingale lowers it) and put an eatra rein on the main ring of the existing bit, so you an ride in what is essentially a sweet iron snaffle but with the security of the second rein if you really need it .

Unusual for a TB to lean, mostly they come above the bit as an evasion. My pet remedy for leaning is just to push on and totally drop the contact whenever they start to lean, be careful when doing it as confirmed leaners will often stumble when they find you are not holding their head up for them :eek:

[fluffy_betty]

Yeah the martingale is only really for jumping where suddenly she realises she can actually hold her head up herself the whole time, I'm just too lazy to change my tack when i'm not jumping:p

Definitely sounds like a good starting point!