On the bit?

J

Joy Esau

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Oct 12, 2001
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On the bit?

I am competing at prelim dressage. Horse and rider are not wholly without their respective problems! I have a reasonable idea what I expect by way of an outline and what I wish to feel when the horse is on the bit. The trouble is I am beginning doubt whether what I am looking for is correct.

I remember going to view a horse as a prospective purchase with a friend at a reasonably well respected yard some years ago. The yard owner commented he always schooled on the bit and proceeded to ride in a manner which I felt lacked any poise and harmony. No doubt he was a better and more experienced rider than myself but I didn’t feel I wanted to learn to ride that way. The horses’ outline even to my rather uneducated eye looked tense and the pace very hurried. Every now and again I meet an experienced rider and I think “now THAT is how I want to be able to ride”~ some hope.

During my last lesson I was told that I needed to ask for much more contact. Now I thought I had recently been producing some reasonable trot work, if not canter. When it felt good, it was with a very light contact but consistent head carriage and I felt that the horse was responsive and using her back well. In fact I had received some favourable comments, but I couldn’t reconcile this with the picture of being “on the bit” now being described.

I am now doubting that what I am aiming for is correct, so should I be looking for more contact and if so is it possible to describe how much?
 
I heartily agree with Ros. Trust your instincts. There is so much 'bad stuff' at prelim dressage level that they call riding. Most of it is ugly and the poor horses necks are yanked into an unnatural bend and call it 'on the bit'.

I find Heathers method of using your fingers to ask for contact very good. My own mare is not 'on the bit' most of the time either but she does chomp on the bit and has lots of saliva round her mouth when schooling. However, she has lovely paces and we can only get better. I'm hoping to do some prelim tests next month on her.

I think that there is far too much focus on outline and not enough on the riding. It makes the rider paranoid and thats when you start using any method possible to get their head down. I think its really sad.
 
Prelim dressage is ride with judges who expect the horse to be in a GP outline and it's unbelievable how many people are willing to crank their horses heads in just so that the judge will mark them (incorrectly!) a bit better.

It sounds like you're on the right track and should stick with your first instincts, unless you're riding round with reins like washing lines - which I doubt you are.

I used to have instructors constantly telling me to shorten my reins and it always felt wrong and didn't show any results. Then I found a true trainer that taught me that the horse can be on the bit without you having to have your hands up round the horses ears. Made a world of difference!

Amanda
 
I also don't think that it helps that my Riding Club do their dressage tests under Horse Trials rules not BD rules. It means that you have to know the test from memory and you are not allowed a schooling whip - even at prelim level.

In fairness, one of the last tests I did, the judge told one of the competitors that her hands were far to rough on the horses mouth. She said that if she saw her in the ring again she'd disqualify her. I almost cheered!
 
Heather recently mentioned that Mike Aylemore (a previous working pupil and top class rider) and his horse Henry have had comments from dressage judges "not enough contact" despite the fact that Henry was going beautifully.

If a horse is working in self-carriage he doesn't need his rider to hang onto his mouth. What IS their problem? We're NOT going to sacrifice our principles to win dressage competitions, are we? Sooner or later those stuffed shirts will have to catch up with the times. Actually that's not true - it's modern riding ideas that are at fault, it was the old masters who got it right!
 
Sorry - just had a thought. If your horse is working in self-carriage, how else can you prove it other than by demonstrating very light contact? Surely that's exactly what judges SHOULD be looking for!
 
Please Joy, don't ruin what you've done!! Go with what you know is right and fair on the horse, she is your best teacher. Ignore what people say if it goes along the lines of snatching a horses head in. To me, and I am miles from ever being a teacher, sounds like you and your mare are doing well. If her back is soft and swinging, that is your answer. Horses can can only swing through their back when they are ridden correctly. Carry on and remember, a lot of people and judges don't know what real riding is.
 
Hi Joy,

Having had the pleasure of meeting and riding your little Kira, I would certainly not say that taking up that strong a contact is in any way the answer. Without seeing how she is going at the moment, it is difficult to say. I am not sure when I am next coming up to Wales, except to Pencoed in July, but if I am going anywhere near you, I will try to pop in and help.

Heather
 
Thank you all.

Always felt "self carriage" and having to take a firmer contact to get the horse on the bit were a bit self contradictory!

If I am being taught by someone (who I like, respect and rides well) but has a tendency towards the firmer contact school of thought, do you think there is something I can say during a lesson which will avoid a potential confrontation on this issue.

What I would like to get across is the idea that I know this person is a superior rider, and I'm not inferring that I know more than my teacher but if I choose to ride on a more subtle contact, then that itself is not necessarily wrong and follows (say) the teaching of the such and such classical school.

I would like to indicateI have given this issue some thought but at the same time am not deluding myself about the extent of my riding skills:rolleyes:

Joy
 
I was posting my last response during the advert breaks in "Buffy" so didn't see the last couple of replies until after I had posted!

Heather

If you could spare any time when you are in S Wales,that would be incredibly helpful

Thanks

Joy
 
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