BITS

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

TRACEY LOMAX tracey@tbt.co.za
Hi, there.  Help urgently needed.  I recently acquired a 16.1 hh TB gelding rising 11yo.  He is long in the back and gets very long in his stride once you get him going (which, admittedly, doesn't take much).  His dressage is outstanding, and he has a HUGE jump.  Very bold in the country, if a bit doff.  Anyway, my problem is this : he has a mouth like concrete.  He leans terribly on my hands and is unstoppable. I know you shouldn't use your hands to stop, and on the whole I don't, but its nice to know that, if you're going XC and you have a double bouce in front of you made out of railway sleepers, you can bring him back to you!!

He has a low palate, so I've switched from a jointed egg-but to a French link egg-but (because I, like, had one!)  SHould I rather go loose-ring?  Also, what about XC?  I thought about a French link Viennese as my other boy (VERY soft mouth, and very responsive to the body, God bless him!) goes well in it.  I have also changed from a flash noseband to a cavesson, as he "grinds" the bit, which I think is a reaction against the noseband rather than the bit.


If I try to halt him in the walk, he leans terribly and really resists the downward transition - just leaning and leaning and walking squiff, which drives me NUTS, as I'm used to an instant response just from sitting into the saddle.  HOW do I train him out of this.  I have tried pulling his back teeth out (I know, I'm a pig, but when you have your arms pulled out if their sockets too often, you give in to the urge), I have tried dropping the contact when he leans, I have tried turning circles and doing lateral work to soften him up (BTW from the ground he looks stunning - on the bit, engaged, incredible cadence, its just riding him that you feel the weight in your hands)


So, guys, WHAT DO I DO?