noseband/bit advise

[barbiegirl]

My 4 year old pony is lightly broken to ride and enjoys her work, but my problem is that when I get on her she is keen to get going and will walk off quickly or even break into trot but will open her mouth wide so that she totally evades the bit and I don't have much control over her. This happens for the first two minutes, then she settles down and stops opening her mouth and evading the bit. At this stage, I have only hacked her out with another horse which she thoroughly enjoys and she is very happy to go forward. I ride her with a light hand contact, so it's not that i'm trying to pull her head down or anything, it seems to be pure exuberance, but I feel that I would like to have a little more control over her at the beginning of our ride. Her bit is a french link with fulmer cheeks and she has a plain cavesson noseband. Should I try a different bit or noseband such as a flash or drop to try and stop this opening of mouth habit? She has had to teeth and saddle checked and there are no problems there.

[Pepper]

if her work is good in the noseband/bit I wouldn't be in a rush to change them yet as it might lead to more conflict in the longer term - perhaps start with having someone at her head when you mount? -

....and perhaps get on, make her stand, get off and then remount - repeat three or four time. Almost make it boring so she doesn't anticipate moving off every time you mount. Just a thought

[roxy93]

How about having a flash noseband? One of my mares used to open her mouth and then grab the bit when jumping i put her in a flash noseband and she hasnt opened her mouth since worked well for us. But yeah with agree with above get on and off see how she is maybe be lead around when you first get on

[flo1]

It sounds as though once she has the bit warmed up and her mouth moist she settles, so I wouldn't use a noseband to keep her mouth closed if I were you. It could lead to more problems than it solves.