what bit?or rather which bit?

[Alex T]

the horse im riding at the moment seems have a fairly low head carriage when ridden.he is lacking alot of muscle at the moment so i can kinda let him off.
our main problem is he seems to be heavy on the hands hes not leaning exactly but nore is he where he supposed to be!!
today i rode him out in a myler comfort snaffle with hooks i think and he seemed heavy. though he did have breaks at walk going a bit faster may have been hard work!!
im questioning getting him a cherry roller maybe?! hes an ex hunter very laid back in the school a little more forward out nothing to bad but i just felt he could if he wanted to just run through the bit i had in him today do think iv lost my nerve a little though im trying him for a novice hes very different to my arab and standardbred who are far more forward and light.
the myler is the arabs i was using it on him as its the only one i have big enough!
and the standardbred is in a pelham with one rein (bottom)(runs for cover )before you shout at me. iv tried loads of other bits and he likes this best he doesnt really like alot of contact so this is a combination that suits him

im also questioning maybe a dutch gag (for horse at start of thread )but i dont really like them to much leverage on them or poss a pelham with roundings mainly for hacking. i realise schooling is diffinatly a way to go but i want something i could hack him in and feel i had extra if i needed!!hes 15.3 dales cross so a fairly big lad for me as im about 5'4 and 8 stone
sorry this turned out rather long

If he's leaning definately a waterford mouthpiece!!

You can gat dutch gag waterfords aswell, if you go for teh dutch gag option.

[jowyles]

I had your problem, my horse now goes lovely in a kimblewick, you just need to keep working at him making sure you keep your hands mobile and remind him to lift his head and keep him in an active paces and lots of transitions and changes of rein.

[SJ wanabe]

I would use a hanging cheek snaffle as they help to make horses lighter in your hand, you have to be careful not to put a bit in that is too severe for the horse as it will make the mouth numb, therefore it will become heavier in the hand. Also doing shoulder in or other lateral exercises will help to lighten them infront. Hope this helps

[jowyles]

I disagree with the hanging cheek, my horse leans awfully in it and its a double jointed with roller one!

[SJ wanabe]

REALLY? well thats a first, but I supose all horses react differantly to differant bits!

[SJ wanabe]

Alot of show riders use wilky snaffles although these can be VERY severe if used in the wrong way!

Also steer clear from full cheeks as they tend to lean on those aswell.

[Alex T]

i havent tested him on lateral exercises yet it was hard enough to get him to trot in the school he did go on the bit a little today and started to drop a little in trot which was nice!!i guess he is kinda leaning his head practicaly drags on the floor (this is what iv observed from other peolple riding him)
dont think his schooling is great he is fairly responsive and stops very nicely from walk to halt.just felt he could run through the bit

[puzzles]

rather than change his bit - or as well as that - work on building up his muscles as horses usually lean because they cannot balance both themselves and you. no bit will remedy this. also remember that to lean he must have something to lean on; you, so don't give him that.
is he young?

[Alex T]

i will work on a bit of schooling its more when we are out hacking schooling is trying to get him to go !!maybe i was just being a scardy cat but just didnt trust him completly the girl who rode him before we had him on loan did say he was a little strong out specialy after popping over a jump!!

no hes 13 coming on 14

[Alex T]

ok so after putting in some thought and a very small research a gag would be the wrong way to go as it lowers the head which er he'll be tripping over if he puts it any lower. he fairly quirky horse really he seems to have a high head carriage till someone gets on him!!still trying to rack my brains at what might help

[jovi_y2k2]

gag bits work by raising the head not lowering it, so it could help, but as puzzles said a horse can only lean if there's something to lean on. Waterford bits are useful as a short term, as they are fluid in the mouth so dont provide anything solid for a horse to lean on, and you should have more control out hacking. But schooling will help too, my friends horse leans horredously (sp?!) and my arms ache for days after riding him, but I try to push him forward as much as I can (he's a big lazy thing!) and work on getting him to learn how to balance himself, by lots of transitions, circles, serpentines and letting go of my contact if he starts to lean badly, and he's starting to get the hang of it!