I have a mare who’s extremely strong and quite hard in the mouth. She’s prone to biting down on the bit and running through your hand at jumps. She’s naturally very bold and stubborn and quite hard against the leg. We’ve used all kinds of bits with her, twisted full cheeks, rubber gags, pelhams, 3 rings, segundas, draw reins, and lighter bits as well. She likes to lift her head in the air and develop this choppy canter when she feels any pressure from the bit. She’s far from sensitive but wants to completely ignore you to the jump. She used to be a jumper but we’re now doing her in the hunters so this is not ideal.
For the past 5 months I’ve ridden/jumped in nothing but a loose ring snaffle or a Trust innosence with no noseband or martingale. No matter what she’s like I’m not allowed to touch the reins really. Anytime she softens she gets to relax and finish. I love the approach and believe in fixing the problem from the bottom rather than “bitting up” but this behaviour has been allowed for so long before I got her. I can throw a pelham on and sit hard on her and ride the course with full contact but we’re trying to get her to maintain her own canter and stay soft no matter what.
I’m at the point that the loose ring is nice but really makes it difficult to get anywhere during jump schools. It’s just not enough to get around a course. I’m looking for a bit that is gentle and allows me to fully soften BUT gives me a bit more control/options while jumping. Something that she won’t react to by lifting her head and bracing against it. Looking for any recommendations on what might work without making her mouth harder.
What have you used on this sort of horse?
