Bit question for dressage enthusiasts

[Kerbeck]

I have started doing some dressage with my fell and we have been doing very well, I am aiming to affiliate him next year. However he is shown and schooled for the ring at home in a loose ring show pelham with a small port (which is wrapped in latex bit wrap) He loves this, he hates anything with a link or joint as he has a very fleshy mouth and big tongue, I have been dressaging him in a french link hanging cheek but I don't feel he goes as well as the ported show bit, he is incredibly light and really sits up, in fact my instructor said he's the lightest native he's ever seen, not strong infact very very polite and obedient. I have just bought a cambridge snaffle (magic bit) and he is schooling very well and hacks and goes xc in this, however I am aware that this isnt dressage legal.

Does any one know the reasoning behind why it isnt dressage legal? I know a mullen is but he gets his tongue over a straight bit as it doesn't give enough tongue relief.

And does any one have any suggestions of what else I could try? I have tried the Neue Schule Verbidend without sucess and also a loose ring copper peanut but he just overbends to evade them!

Also no matter what he is in when hacking he chews the bit (a lot) which is most annoying, and occasionally whilst schooling he will open his mouth, he is very clever and can never just stand still, he always has to be keeping him self occupied which is the problem I think, I have tried a flash noseband but he hated it and you would have thought he was dying!

Thanks in advance.

[sally1]

Have you tried a hanging cheek mullen - see pic and description on this link:
www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/Mullen_mouth_Hanging_Cheek_Snaffle_filet_baucher_mullen_bit-(423).aspx

[sageandonion]

Try a KK Sprenger or a KK WH Sprenger. Now this isn't a critisism of your or your horse at all, but I do dressage natives and they will open their mouth if they are not actually going forward and carrying too low on the forehand. Do you have the BD rule book? there are numerous legal snaffles with pictures as well as descriptions.

My personal view is you should never school in a pelham (except perhaps if pony being very naughty as a correction). Pelham exerts significant poll pressure and lowers the head. This does not mean your pony 'likes' it, its the action of the bit and he lowers his head to make himself comfortable. You are therefore not schooling your horse to carry correctly because he is not carrying as he would to begin with. There is then the temptation (again no critisism its just the way it is) to hold the snaffle with slighly incorrect pressure and pony evades by overbending.

This is the time when you have to been ultra self critical, ditch the pelham and don't be tempted to go back to it just because it feels nicer and work, work, work, going what feels like backwards for a while.

[sageandonion]

Sorry I don't know what a Cambridge Magic bit is but the name would put me off! I shall google it.

Looks ok to me and I don't know why it isn't allowed but be assured there will be a good reason. Have a chat with Hilary from bit bank or there is a woman called Anna Dresseur on ebay who sells sprenger who is excellent and will give you advice.

Lastly, as your pony does not like a flash, try a drop noseband. I have never used one but have heard some dressage bods have successfully used a drop when a flash was not tolerated.

You could also join the BD forum as an Associate member and ask for help and tips on there. They are absolutely brilliant with advice and experiences and particularly helpful if they realise you are just starting off.

[GinaGeo]

A hippus bit might worth looking into. I have not used one myself, but have had friends use them with success. They do get mentioned on Horse and Hound online frequently if you want some feedback on them. I know that they are dressage legal.. Like S&O says Sprenger are fab as are many of the neue schule bits . I've never been hugely keen, but some horse's seem to like Myler's, and they are the experts The comfort snaffle might be an option for you as the action will be different to that of a jointed snaffle.

Personally, I'm not keen on flashes, don't think they do their job very humanely or effectively. Plus my current battle of trying to get a posh blingy dressage bridle for my up and coming dressage diva without a Flash noseband is proving hard going, they're irritating me at the moment, I have saved some money especially for it and I can't find what I want!

A drop noseband will do a better job, but best of all a loose fitting cavesson. My native has a tendency to open his mouth, and mouthe on the bit, he's always done it when being schooled and I think it's now a habit. If he has a flash or drop he gets distracted and spends his time and concentration on fighting it. He has a stiller mouth when he just has a loose cavesson on.

[sarahp]

I'm a bit out of date on bits, no longer riding and for ages just dug in the bit box for something suitable but daughter's old coloured horse went very well indeed in the myler comfort snaffle, she took him as demo horse to one of their demos and they sorted that one out for him.

Personally I hate any noseband that works to clamp the jaw shut - try clamping your own jaw shut and you will find all the muscles are tight and tense when you do and what do we want from a dressage horse? Soft, loose and elastic, exactly what a tight noseband prevents.

[Kerbeck]

Thanks for the advice, I don't wear rose tinted glasses and I know neither me or my pony are perfect and I am one of those riders that always strives for improvement and I have lessons with a very good trainer every week, he has only been broken 18 months and I believe it will take another 12 months before he is consistent.

I will hire a KK bit and also try a drop noseband, he is definitely moving forward and really sits up and moves from behind, I am determined to not have my native held up in front paddling with the front legs and hauled in to shape with heavy hands and a strong bit! (like so many in the show ring) he is quite a sensitive boy so you can be very subtle and get nice work from him (which is why I have been told to affiliate him) My OP was a bit confusing, I don't ride him in a pelham all the time in the school, only the couple of days before a big show, but I think next year we will make the complete transition to dressage as I am becoming very disollusioned with showing...but that's a different story! x