bits

Question
I am rehabilitating a 12 year TB who has been out of work for 3 years. Prior to his break he was a successful hunter in the show ring. He came to me thin and out of shape in feb 2009. Since then he has been adjusted in four places (neck, withers, back, and hips) and has had his teeth done twice. He has also been treated for ulcers and is still on ranitidine when he moves. He does have a past and tends to be worried. This however has gotten much better since I took him on. He's been doing really well but recently his head has been quite a problem. I started him a plastic loose ring french link snaffle and while he was a bit heavy on the forehand his head carriage was good considering the amount of muscle he had. As he developed I began having problems with the canter-trot transition so I switched to the same bit in steel instead of plastic. This worked for a while until, he began to put all of his weight in my hands at the canter making it impossible to canter more than a few strides. This became particularly noticeable when we started working more over jumps. In order to get his head up and out of my hands I switched to a three ring french link snaffle. This worked wonderfully until his nose ended up in the air. Now I can't get his head down and when it goes down, it goes in the ground and I'm forced to hold up his front end. It's almost as though he's rooting horribly with every stride at the canter and the downside of a jump. I can't even get him to stop he pulls me so hard!  I could really use some help! I can't find a happy medium!

Answer
Hello Mollie,

Put him back in the steel French link snaffle.  The bit is not the problem.  He needs to do some basic dressage work to lighten his forehand. As a race horse and jumper, he has never had this training. This means 20 meter circles, bending his spine in an arc, both rein directions.  Canter/trot transitions on that circle. Then do long rein trot, gradually changing to collected trot on that circle. Same at canter.  You need to learn to use your seat, back and legs to ride so that he can work from back to front and not front to back.  Half-halts are a necessary part of this training. He is heavy on the forehand because he has never had training to rebalance him and place more work on his hind quarters, relieving the front of all that weight.

If you can find a dressage trainer close to you, that would be ideal.  There is a mystique to dressage and many people dislike the word, but it is only proper training to rebalance the horse and make him easier to handle without worrying about bits. It is the proper way to lighten a horse in front so he does not bear on the bit and your hands.  But you have to be taught how to do it.  So look for someone to help you get started in basic dressage with him.  He/she will need to be there with you to see what you are doing, what the horse is doing and make immediate corrections. I think you will see marvelous changes and enjoy him more. I wish I could be there to help you get started. This work will make jumping so much easier and pleasant for both of you.

Best wishes,
Dorothy