Sorry if this is long!
Ziggy currently goes in a Neue Schule 5.25" hanging cheek baucher.
In general he is very happy in it, accepts contact (when I give any :redface, is still and easy in his mouth. My RI and I chose it for him early on because we felt that the small amount of poll pressure it offers might help to correct his ridiculously high driving-pony head carriage.
These days I can fairly reliably get him to lower his head through my seat. I have noticed, and the instructor yesterday commented, that when I apply strong pressure to brake (i.e. pull) he will open his mouth really wide. She asked me why I didn't use a noseband and I said, "Because it makes no difference to how he goes". She commented on the open mouth and I said that if it was open and shouldn't be I'd rather change the bit than strap his mouth shut, and she agreed and suggested that for fast work or jumping I change to an even milder bit, as in her experience stronger ones don't really help the brakes.
She suggested a simple NS french link loose ring snaffle. I mentioned the success that peeps on here have had with the Verbindend and she said, "That's a very technical bit, I would go as simple as possible."
So what would you suggest for a pony with braking problems when excited and no idea of outline?
Fresh wild porcini mushrooms to those who got to the end!
Ziggy currently goes in a Neue Schule 5.25" hanging cheek baucher.
In general he is very happy in it, accepts contact (when I give any :redface, is still and easy in his mouth. My RI and I chose it for him early on because we felt that the small amount of poll pressure it offers might help to correct his ridiculously high driving-pony head carriage.
These days I can fairly reliably get him to lower his head through my seat. I have noticed, and the instructor yesterday commented, that when I apply strong pressure to brake (i.e. pull) he will open his mouth really wide. She asked me why I didn't use a noseband and I said, "Because it makes no difference to how he goes". She commented on the open mouth and I said that if it was open and shouldn't be I'd rather change the bit than strap his mouth shut, and she agreed and suggested that for fast work or jumping I change to an even milder bit, as in her experience stronger ones don't really help the brakes.
She suggested a simple NS french link loose ring snaffle. I mentioned the success that peeps on here have had with the Verbindend and she said, "That's a very technical bit, I would go as simple as possible."
So what would you suggest for a pony with braking problems when excited and no idea of outline?
Fresh wild porcini mushrooms to those who got to the end!