Bit advice for Dartmoor

[copperfields]

Hello

I am after some advice on bitting my sons Dartmoor. He isn't strong but he pulls the reins out his hands a lot by pulling his head down. We are currently using a full cheek jointed snaffle which helps with turning but he tends to go quite pokey nosed and ridged in it. My son is hoping to come off the lead rein in the spring so want to get him going nicely over the winter.

Any advice or share of your own experience is most appreciated.

Thank you

Anna

[bigmama]

When my daughter was a dot in first ridden, she rode her 12.2hds dartmoor (pic below, daughter aged 8 or 9yrs) in a Wilkie Snaffle bit and this worked very well .. we also had a friend's small 14yrs old daughter, an excellent rider, to ride the pony once a fortnight here at home to keep him on the straight and narrow (pony was 5 or 6yrs old, he had never been a lead rein pony)

[ilovenatives]

Our Shetland used to snatch the reins when she was in a single jointed bit , perhaps try a French link or ours really likes a little pip bit ( hanging cheek ) with a port as she has a large tongue . Try and find the right mouthpiece first before resorting to a wilkie or you will only make the snatching worse . Also make sure little jockey is not hanging on the ponies mouth as this can make them snatch . Good luck , once you find a bit the pony likes it will be much easier to get pony going nicely