Bitting For Affiliated Dressage

[cathy reynolds]

Hugme Henry and I have done a couple of Prelim. affiliated dressage tests - really to see how we are 'doing' as much as anything.

Because of the BD rules I can't use Heather's pelham and 2 reins concept, so I have been schooling in a Demi-Anky Baucher, which he likes much better than the snaffle he wore previously - it was recommended by Heather at the Bit Bank and gives me a little poll pressure but doesn't pinch across the tongue.

The problem is, he is still quite 'tense' somehow, and takes ages (well, about 20 minutes of warm-up!) to relax and go onto the bridle in a really quite nice self-carriage. He finds this much easier in trot than walk and I'd appreciate it anyone has any advice to help me help him work through this phase of tensing up and sticking his neck out and clamping on the bit.

It's all 'there' - we have just started a little medium trot and it's "WOW!" - but somehow he just can't let himself relax completely.

[nix]

Hi Cathy

How long have you been using the baucher with him? It could still be a case of him settling into the bit. Is it the rubber-coated mullen mouth or a metal or jointed? I know the bitbank do the former which obviously has a similar feel in the horse's mouth to the pelham Heather recommends.

Does he behave the same way when schooling in the pelham (if you're still using it at all)? No doubt you've checked (or had checked) the usual recently ... back, saddle fit, teeth etc? If not, it may well be worth having those looked at as well.

Good luck and hope it works out okay.

Nix

[cath_wales]

Hi Cathy
I'd be interested to hear how you get on with the Demi-Anky Baucher - Heather at the bit-bank has recommended the same for Ben and I, (think its the same one with the metal mouthpiece and lozenge), but I find Ben seems happier with a straight hard rubber mouth piece, so have held off buying one.

I've stopped using the pelham though as he was ducking behind the contact all the time, even when I wasnt applying the curb rein. At the moment he's in a hanging cheek french link, but he isnt happy with that either - doesnt like french links, so I'm a bit stumped tbh

good luck with Hugme Henry, and let us know how you get on with this bit
cheers
Cath

 

[cathy reynolds]

The Demi-Anky Baucher I am using is actually a metal, jointed bit, but shaped in a way that avoids pinching. We've been using it for about 3 months now. Back and teeth have been done regularly and he has just had a new saddle fitted by Olney Saddlery's Richard (a disgustingly expensive Jaguar which is beautiful to ride in and he seems to love it). I guess I am being impatient, given what I started out with which was a written-off mess. He came in a mullen mouth pelham (an ex show hunter) but just clung onto it and had NO idea of self-carriage at all, so we took him out of that and restarted in a simple French Link snaffle.

We don't work every day, and I try to vary the work with lunging and hacking so he doesn't get seriously p***ed off. I must keep repeating - I must be PATIENT.

[nix]

Hi again Cathy,

I think that patience is definitely the key here. It sounds as though you're doing an absolutely wonderful job with him and he's come such a long way in a short time. Well done and good luck. Please keep us posted.