Bit For the Horse That Goes Over the Bit

[raave05]

I have a hot TB that, once we start jumping, will inevitably go over the bit and start pulling like a freight train once we get into course work. we are good for a jump or two, but once in course work, his engine gets revved and its hard to bring things back in-line, especially when all you see is the very tips of his ears as the rest of the head has been curled to his chest.

i've been riding him in a loose ring snaffle and recently tried him on a modified german hackamore, which helped for a bit, but he's recently figured out that even without a bit he can go over the bit.

any thoughts on where to go next? i attribute the over the bitness to too much draw reins and german martingales in his past, so its not so much a problem of needing a lot of hardware in him mouth, its more a problem of getting a bit that will keep his head up so i can actually use direct contact, in which case he's fairly responsive.

thanks in advance for your suggestions.

[spmoonie]

Dont have a suggestion for the bit, however, you could try incorperating a lot of single jumps into your flat work. As you are trotting or cantering around, pop him over a jump, then continue on working on the flat. Once he comes back and is behaving, head for another jump. Gradually, you should be able to build up to doing several jumps in a row, and then full courses.

[jumpsnake]

Horses like that are a pain to retrain sometimes.

I like moonie's idea. Also, try lifting your hands and floating the rein a bit.

[luise]

Do you mean behind the bit? If his chin is on his chest, he is more likely behind the bit. What about a gag?

[M. O'Connor]

Your description isn't really all that clear.

Horses can go 'on the bit,' 'behind the bit,' or 'above the bit.'

If overused, DR and other devices (including harsh bits) normally cause horses to overflex and go behind the bit. Many horses who are schooled in them as a substitute for correct riding (aka shortcut) will simply revert to their preferred evation tactics as soon as they are released from them.

It sounds like you need to incorporate good flatwork into your jumping work so that it will carry over, rather than look for a specific device that will make up for the holes in the horse's education. Problem with devices is that the horse usually figures them out after awhile, and they won't work well after that.

[raave05]

sorry, just to clarify, i mean that he drops well behind the bit.

m. o'connor, i'm all for correct riding, and i understand that needs to be the standard answer, but i really need some ideas for a stop gap measure. this horse had been ridden for years in draw reins and the like, so correct riding alone is going to take a loooong time to show results. i'm looking for some options that can help me control him as we move towards the end result.

luise: i've thought a lot about a gag, so maybe i'll go ahead and give that a shot.

[M. O'Connor]

Yes, sometimes it takes a long time to get things right.

What's your rush? Where's the fire?

[Horseymama]

Not sure what a "modified German hackamore" is, how is that different from a mechanical hackamore? We have a horse like this, I'm sure he was started in cranked-in draw reins and martingales, too. On the flat I actually ride him in a happy mouth mullen mouth. I find sometimes these encourage a horse to take and carry the bit. I always allow him to be up in a huntery frame with his nose poked out, but yet with a soft, following contact. He is the type of horse, that when I change something (direction, bend, gait,) his response to try and avoid my aids is to curl up. I really hate that feeling!

I do lots and lots of trot poles and poles on the ground as well as jumping funny-looking little jumps like brush boxes or flower boxes by themselves (no standards) so he picks his head up to look at where we are actually going. I try and change the pattern every time. The mechanical hackamore has worked great to keep his head up for jumping, but we also work him in the happy mouth, so he is correctly taking the contact in a bit. (Because if not, he will eventually learn to curl in the hackamore, like yours.) Lots of lateral work and going forward, forward, forward so he is pushing and getting stronger from behind. I try to never give him a moment to think about curling up.

This is a hard problem to deal with, especially with a hot horse. I sympathize with you! Our horse has gotten better, but it has taken lots and lots of work and time.

[Coppers mom]

I know it's frustrating, and can take forever when you get a project like this, but correct riding is really the only way to fix it. Ignoring the problem or covering it up with bits are really only going to eventually make the problem worse or create even more issues.

[meupatdoes]

so correct riding alone is going to take a loooong time to show results.
Yep.

Incorrect riding is what got him where he is now.
More of it ain't gonna fix it.

[JumpingBug]

"meupatdoes

Quote:
Originally Posted by raave05
so correct riding alone is going to take a loooong time to show results.
Yep.

Incorrect riding is what got him where he is now.
More of it ain't gonna fix it."


PRETTY MUCH... You can re-bit a hundred times or you can take the high long road and re-train this horse to understand his JOB. A long process but in the end makes you a better rider and helps the horse be more self reliant, confident and better with his feet which is safer for everyone. The band-aid approach is tiresome :-(